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Church  of  the  Brethren  January/February  2000    www.brethren.org 


CHURCH  m  ITHE  BRETHREN 

GENERAL  (OFFICES 

tIBRARY 

EEGIN.  ICLINOIS    60120 


The  Gifts  of  God 
for  the  People  of  God 


Envision  a  world 

where  the  environment 

is  protected, 

human  dignity 

is  upheld, 

and  there  is 

no  violence. 


Invest  in  that  vision 


^■"^^  I  Hi 


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The  Investment  Adviser  for  the  funds  is  Walden  Asset  Management,  a  division  of  United  States  Trust  Company  of  Boston,  who  receives  a  fee  for  their  services. The  Church 
of  the  Brethren  Benefit  Trust,  Inc.,  serves  as  a  consultant  to  the  Funds'  Adviser  on  issues  concerning  international  peace  and  justice  and  is  paid  a  fee  directly  by  the  Adviser 
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January/February  2000     www.brethren.org 


Editor:  Fletcher  Farrar 
News:  Walt  Wiltschek 
Subscriptions:  Peggy  Reinacher 
Publisher:  Wendy  McFadden 
Designer:  Marianne  Sackett 
Advertising:  Russ  Matteson 


The  Gifts  of  God  for  the  People  of  God 

On  the  cover:  The  woman  in  the  bright  red  wide- 
brimmed  hat  was  one  of  my  favorite  people  to  visit. 
She  lived  all  the  years  that  I  knew  her  in  a  nursing 
home.  Lillian  was  young  compared  to  many  of  the  people  who 
shared  those  halls.  And  she  had  multiple  sclerosis.  Lillian  went 
places  in  a  wheelchair  because  her  legs  didn't  work  so  well.  She  had 
a  hard  time  eating  and  it  got  more  and  more  difficult  to  understand 
her  words.  Still,  when  I  would  stop  to  see  her  it  often  took  some 
looking  to  find  my  friend.  Lillian  didn't  let  her  troubles  keep  her 
down.  She  didn't  miss  many  of  the 
home's  activities  and  many  afternoons 
she  was  at  her  post  folding  laundry.  She 
did  the  hand  towels,  bibs,  and  lap  robes. 
And  she  did  them  with  a  cheerful  heart 
and  a  ready  smile. 

It  wasn't  easy  work,  making  her  arms 
and  hands  cooperate  to  fold  the  linens. 
But  Lillian  was  not  going  to  give  up  her 
"job."  She  knew  something  that  can  be  easily  forgotten.  Everything 
we  have  and  every  breath  we  take  is  a  gift,  a  gift  from  God.  And  Lil- 
lian, a  gracious  recipient,  didn't  want  the  cycle  to  end  with  her.  She 
wanted  to  share  something  with  those  around  her.  And  so  she 
folded  laundry  and  shared  her  gift  of  laughter. 

The  gifts  of  God  for  the  people  of  God  can  be  so  basic  that  we 
take  them  for  granted.  We  expect  that  the  air  we  breathe,  the  com- 
fort we  find  in  being  a  part  of  a  circle  of  family  and  friends,  the 
morning  light,  will  just  keep  being  there.  With  eyes  of  faith  we  can 
begin  to  see  that  the  bread  on  the  table  is  a  gift  of  God,  sometimes  a 
symbol  of  God's  very  presence  in  our  midst.  With  eyes  of  faith  we 
can  see  that  the  sunrise  signals  another  day  to  be  lived  to  God's 
glory.  With  eyes  of  faith  we  discover  that  the  gifts  of  God  for  the 
people  of  God  are  a  delight  to  share. — Beth  Sollenberger  Mor- 


Beth  Sollenberger  Morphew,  of 
Elgin.  III.,  is  the  Congregational 
Life  Team  coordinator  in  Area  2. 
Cover  art  courtesy  of  Ecumenical 
Center  for  Stewardship  Studies. 


Departments 


2 

From  the  Publisher 

3 

In  Touch 

8 

News 

28 

Letters 

31 

Turning  Points 

32 

Editorial 

Features 

2       Women  in  ministry 

Women  have  been  given  official  full  status 
as  ministers  in  the  Church  of  the  Brethren 
since  1958,  but  statistics  suggest  that 
women  are  not  being  accepted  as  pastors 
and  called  to  serve  churches  equally  with 
men.  What's  wrong? 

17     National  Council  of  Churches 

A  delegation  of  50  Brethren  were  in  Cleve- 
land 50  years  ago  to  help  launch  the 
National  Council  of  Churches  of  Christ. 
Another  large  delegation  of  Brethren  went 
back  to  Cleveland  in  the  fall  to  help  the 
organization  celebrate  its  jubilee.  Howard 
Royer  reports  on  the  troubled  but  buoyant 
venture  in  ecumenicity  called  NCCC. 

20     Nigerian  student  at  Bethany 

Meet  Patrick  Bugu,  the  first  Nigerian  stu- 
dent in  several  years  to  receive  a  visa  to 
study  at  Bethany  Theological  Seminary. 

22     Mid-Atlantic's  new  camp 

Rustic  is  not  a  word  used  to  describe  the 
Shepherd's  Spring  Outdoor  Ministry 
Center.  It  is  a  beautiful  new  year-round 
facility,  with  a  mission  of  changing  lives 
for  Christ. 

24     On  Earth  Peace  Assembly 

OEPA  marked  25  years  of  peacemaking 
witness  with  a  five-day  celebration  in 
October.  As  with  all  good  birthdays,  the 
event  prompted  plans  for  a  bright  future. 

26     Caring  for  disaster's  children 

Soon  after  EgyptAir  Flight  990  crashed 
into  the  Atlantic,  a  call  went  out  to  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  disaster  child  care 
team  to  respond.  Here  is  Lydia  Walker's 
firsthand  report  on  what  it's  like  to  care  for 
children  who  have  lost  so  much. 


January/February  2000  Messenger  1 


im  Ik  Piliskr 


In  all  my  years  of  traveling,  I  have  never  accumulated  enough  miles  on  any  airline 
to  get  anything — no  upgrades  to  first  class,  no  free  hotel  rooms,  no  specials  on 
rental  cars,  and  no  free  tickets  anywhere.  I  don't  travel  that  much,  and  what  flying  I 
do  seems  to  be  spread  out  on  a  number  of  airlines. 

Recently,  one  of  those  airlines  sent  a  special  offer  to  me  and  the  other  members  of 
my  family:  We  could  cash  in  our  miles  for  free  magazine  subscriptions.  We  had  used 
this  carrier  to  fly  to  Annual  Conference  in  Long  Beach,  but  doubted  we'd  be  using  it 
again  anytime  soon. 

I  paid  little  attention  to  the  offer,  but  my  husband  scrutinized  the  list  of  magazines 
and  ordered  as  many  as  it  took  to  use  up  his  miles.  Within  a  few  weeks  the  maga- 
zines began  pouring  in.  On  top  of  all  the  other  reading  material  that  accumulates 
around  our  house  in  guilt-inducing  piles,  we  now  receive  a  slew  of  other  magazines, 
most  of  which  I  had  never  heard  of  before.  That  means  we're  all  set  to  keep  up  with 
cars,  handyman  projects  for  the  house,  pop  culture,  and  Reader's  Digest  jokes. 

This  offer  was  a  reminder  of  the  plethora  of  special-interest  magazines  that  come 
and  go.  It's  amazing  how  many  magazines  populate  our  newsstands,  especially  given 
the  competition  from  electronic  forms  of  communication.  For  every  niche  that 
emerges  there  quickly  is  a  magazine  to  appeal  to  its  devotees. 

Our  own  Messenger  is  directed  at  one  of  the  smaller  niches — members  of  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren.  Unlike  some  of  the  other  magazines  (both  small  and  large), 
however,  it  has  been  around  for  a  very  long  time.  Its  history  stretches  back  149 
years.  In  the  early  years,  The  Gospel  Messenger  and  its  predecessors  sought  to  pro- 
vide a  forum  for  dialog  and  a  means  for  bringing  the  far-flung  Brethren  together. 
We're  even  more  far-flung  today,  and  those  tasks  are  no  less  important.  In  fact,  in 
the  cacophany  of  voices  surrounding  all  of  us,  its  message  is  startlingly  simple:  We 
belong  together. 

It's  sort  of  like  the  reverse  of  that  offer  from  the  airline.  In  this  case,  subscribing  to 
the  magazine  gets  you  more  frequent-flyer  points.  And  eventually  all  that  traveling 
around  the  rest  of  the  church  earns  you  upgrades — upgrades  worth  a  lot  more  than 
a  free  hotel  stay. 


How  to  reach  us 

Messenger 

1451  Dundee  Avenue 
Elgin.  IL  60120 

Subscriptions: 

preinacher_gb(5  brethren.org 
Phone:  847-742-5100 
Fax:  847-742-6103 

Display  advertising: 

rmatteson_gb(g  brethren.org 
Phone:  800-523-8039 
Fax:  847-742-1407 

Editorial: 

ffarrar_gb(a  brethren.org 
Phone:  217-525-9083 
Fax:  217-525-9269 

Subscription  rates: 

$16.50  individual  rate 
$12.50  church  individual  plan 
$10.50  church  group  plan 
$10.50  gift  subscriptions 

If  you  move,  clip  address  label 
and  send  with  new  address  to 
Messenger  Subscriptions,  at  the 
above  address.  Allow  at  least  five 
weeks  for  address  change. 

Connect  electronically: 

For  a  free  subscription  to 
Newsline,  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren  e-mail  news 
report,  write  cobnews@aol.com. 

To  view  the  official  Church  of 
the  Brethren  Web  site,  point 
your  browser  to  http://www. 
brethren.org. 


Messenger  is  the  official  publication  of  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren.  Entered  as  periodical  postage  matter 
Aug.  20,  1 9 1 8,  under  Act  of  Congress  of  Oct.  1 7, 
1917.  Filing  date,  Nov.  I.  1984.  Member  of  the 
Associated  Church  Press.  Subscriber  to  Religion 
News  Service  &  Ecumenical  Press  Service.  Biblical 
quotations,  unless  otherwise  indicated,  are  from 
the  New  Revised  Standard  Version.  Messenger  is 
published  1 1  times  a  year  by  Brethren  Press,  Church 
of  the  Brethren  General  Board.  Periodical  postage 
paid  at  Elgin,  III.,  and  at  additional  mailing  office, 
April  1998.  Copyright  1999,  Church  of  the  Brethren 
General  Board,  ISSN  0026-0355. 
Postmaster:  Send  address  changes  to  Messenger, 
1451  Dundee  .-Vve.,  Elgin,  IL  60120, 


® 


Printed  on  recycled  paper 


2  Messenger  January/February  2000 


H   T 

111  ■ 


Don  Fogelsanger  c/cW/'esses  Chambersburg  Church  of  the  Brethren  members  upon  receiving 
a  certificate  from  Don  Fechen  director  of  the  Brethren  Pension  Plan. 

Pension  Plan  honors  its  1000th  recipient 

Longtime  Church  of  the  Brethren  pastor  Don  Fogelsanger  was  honored  Oct.  24  at 
Chambersburg  (Pa.)  Church  of  the  Brethren  by  Brethren  Benefit  Trust's  Pension  Plan 
for  his  role  in  helping  the  Plan  reach  a  significant  milestone. 

When  Fogelsanger  notified  the  Pension  Plan  in  October  that  he  was  ready  to  begin 
receiving  his  retirement  benefits,  the  group  of  Brethren  Pension  Plan  members  who 
actively  draw  on  their  retirement  became  1,000  strong. 

In  honor  of  Fogelsanger  being  identified  as  the  Pension  Plan's  1,000th  active  recipient, 
Don  Fecher,  Brethren  Pension  Plan  director,  presented  Fogelsanger  with  a  certificate  at 
the  Chambersburg  church  during  morning  worship. 

The  certificate  recognized  Fogelsanger's  more  than  30  years  of  financial  stewardship  as 
a  Pension  Plan  member  during  his  nearly  36  years  as  a  pastor.  It  also  acknowledged  the 
four  churches  he  served  during  his  full-time  career  for  believing  in  the  importance  of 
making  contributions  to  Fogelsanger's  pension  account  —  Chambersburg,  Lebanon 
(Pa.)  Church  of  the  Brethren.  Harrisonburg  (Va.)  Church  of  the  Brethren,  and  28th 
Street  Church  of  the  Brethren,  Altoona,  Pa. 


Brethren  teen  speaks 
at  National  Press  Club 
against  violence 

The  National  Press  Club, 
in  Washington,  D.C.,  fea- 
tured a  speaker  from  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  on 
Oct.  18. 

Others  represented 
included  the  Christian 
Coalition,  the  Family 
Research  Council,  and  Lt. 
Col.  David  Grossman, 


author  of  Stop  Teaching 
Our  Kids  to  Kill. 

Grossman  was  featured 
in  the  General  Board's  live 
report  at  Annual  Confer- 
ence in  Milwaukee.  He 
was  impressed  with  what 
the  Brethren  are  doing  to 
curtail  violence  against 
children. 

Grossman  contacted  the 
the  General  Board's  Wit- 
ness Office  to  invite 
someone  to  share  ways  the 


Brethren  are  witnessing 
against  violent  toys  and 
games.  Amy  Rhoades,  an 
18-year-old  member  of 
Trinity  Church  of  the 
Brethren  in  Botetourt 
County,  Va.,  and  an  intern 
in  the  Witness  Office, 
answered  the  call. 

She  spoke  at  the  National 
Press  Club  about  the  toy 
trade-in  a  Colorado  con- 
gregation sponsored.  Her 
speech  was  broadcast  by 


January/February  2000  Messenger  3 


In 


C-SPANandFox. 

A  recent  high  school 
honor  graduate,  Amy 
served  on  Virhna's  Youth 
Cabinet  for  three  years  and 
on  the  National  Youth 
Peace  Travel  Team  last 
summer.  She  will  visit  the 
Dominican  Republic  in 
January  2000  for  six 
months  of  mission  service. 


What  is  Lima's  Beanie  doing 
in  the  church  kitchen? 

Beanie,  the  mascot  of  Lima,  Ohio,  stopped  by  for  a 
visit  at  Elm  Street  Church  of  the  Brethren  on  national 
Make  a  Difference  Day,  Oct.  23,  where  neighborhood 
women  were  preparing  chili  for  the  noon  meal. 

Approximately  100  children  and  adults  from  the  imme- 
diate neighborhood  came  to  the  church  for  chili,  games, 
and  face-painting  for  the  Fall  Fest  sponsored  by  the 
Midway  East  neighborhood  association. 

In  addition,  neighborhood  men  gathered  enough  trash 
to  fill  two  dumpsters  the  city  placed  on  the  church 
grounds.  The  association  has  met  monthly  at  the  church 
for  the  past  four  years  to  solve  problems  and  to  plan  pro- 
jects to  improve  the  neighborhood. 

Co-pastors  Wesley  and  Sue  Richard,  association  mem- 
bers, say,  "It's  wonderful  to  see  30  to  40  people  coming 
together  who  didn't  used  to  talk  with  each  other." 

The  pastors  recently  began  a  weekly  noon  prayer  meeting 
at  the  church.  They  invited  neighbors  to  come  to  pray 
together  for  neighbors  and  neighborhood  concerns.  — Wes 
Richard 


Her  task  will  be  translating 
for  workcamps  and  teach- 
ing English  as  a  second 
language. 


Bible  Conference 
tradition  continues 

The  Sebring  (Fla.)  Church 
of  the  Brethren  has  sched- 
uled its  annual  Bible 
Conference  for  Jan. 
23-30,  to  be  led  by 
Donald  Miller,  professor 
emeritus  of  Bethany  Theo- 
logical Seminary  and 
former  general  secretary  of 
the  Church  of  the  Brethren 
General  Board.  There  are 
worship  services  nightly 
and  Bible  study  sessions 
each  morning. 

The  conference  contin- 
ues an  annual  tradtion 
begun  in  1918,  when  the 
first  Bible  Conference  was 
led  by  A.  C.  Wieand,  a 
founder  of  what  is  now 
Bethany  Theological  Semi- 
nary. Other  outstanding 
speakers  over  the  years 
have  included  Otho 
Winger,  Charles  Ellis, 
Edward  Ziegler,  Harold 
Bomberger,  M.  R.  Zigler, 
Paul  M.  Robinson,  and 
Robert  Neff. 

For  information  call 
Cecil  Hess  or  Ralph  Eber- 
sole  at  863-385-1597. 

Spiritual  renewal 
conference  scheduled 
at  Elizabethtown 

Richard  Foster,  the 
acclaimed  Quaker  author 
oi  Celebration  of  Disci- 
pline and  other  books  on 


spiritual  practices,  will 
lead  a  major  spiritual 
renewal  conference  MarchI 
10  and  11  at  Ehzabeth- 
town  College. 

The  conference,  titled 
"RENOVARE:  A  Journey 
of  Personal  Spiritual 
Renewal,"  is  sponsored  by 
the  Atlantic  Northeast  Dis 
trict  of  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren  and  is  an  out- 
growth of  the  work  of  the 
district's  Spiritual  Renewa 
Team.  Foster,  along  with 
Emilie  Griffin  and  George 
Skramstad,  will  lead  par- 
ticipants in  ways  to  grow 
in  six  areas:  the  prayer- 
filled  life,  the  virtuous  life, 
the  spirit-empowered  life, 
the  compassionate  life,  the 
Word-centered  life,  and 
the  sacramental  life. 

The  conference  is  sched- 
uled for  6-10  p.m.  Friday, 
March  1 1,  and  8:30  a.m.-4 
p.m.  March  11.  Registra- 
tion is  $25  before  Feb.  1; 
$35  after.  Attendees 
arrange  their  own  lodging, 
For  more  information  or  t( 
register  contact  Atlantic 
Northeast  District  Church 
of  the  Brethren.  500  East 
Cedar  Street,  Elizabeth- 
town,  PA  17022.  Tel. 
717-367-4730. 


District  hosts  session 
on  children's  ministry 

Fifty  people  attended  the 
Southeastern  District  Nur 
ture  Commission's 
Children's  Ministry  Work- 
shop Nov.  6  at  the  Jackson! 
Park  Church  of  the 
Brethren  in  Jonesborough, 
Tenn.  The  workshop  fea- 


4  Messenger  January/February  2000 


sured  many  talented  people 
rom  the  Southeastern  Dis- 
rict  who  routinely  work 
vith  children's  ministry. 

Kathy  Blair,  a  resident  of 
onesborough  and  member 
)f  the  National  Storytellers 
Vssociation,  conducted  a 
.ession  on  storytelling  as  a 
ninistry.  Curtis  Rhudy, 
)astor  of  the  lackson  Park 
;hurch,  described  the  Youth 
Hub,  which  involves  40 
;hildren  in  a  Wednesday 
;vening  program  of  Bible 
;tudy,  crafts,  music,  and 
■ecreation.  The  Handbell 
Zhoir  of  lackson  Park  gave 
i  demonstration  of  how  to 
ise  handbells  in  worship. 
£ddie  Wooten,  youth  min- 
ster of  Little  Pine  Church 
i)f  the  Brethen  in  Ennice, 
M.C.,  presented  a  session 
)n  getting  youth  involved 
ind  excited  in  the  local 

hurch.  The  junior  High 
Zhoir  of  Spindale  (N.C.) 

hurch  of  the  Brethren, led 
ly  lane  Blackwell,  demon- 
strated their  talents  in 
songs  of  worship.  The  Pup- 
3eteers  from  Beaver  Creek 

hurch  of  the  Brethren, 
iCnoxville,  Tenn.,  led  by 
(Cathi  lones,  brought  humor 
:o  worship  through  their 
ise  of  puppet  skits. 
— Donna  Shumate 


Stewardship  seminars 
ilield  in  CLT  Area  1 

The  Congregational  Life 
Team  of  Area  1  recently 
oartnered  with  Christian 
Community  to  present  two 
itewardship  seminars. 
Christian  Community  is  a 
lonprofit  organization 


doing  research  and  pro- 
gram development. 

The  seminars  were  at  the 
Hagerstown  (Md.)  Church 
of  the  Brethren  on  Oct.  23 
and  the  HoUidaysburg  (Pa.) 
Church  of  the  Brethren  on 
Oct.  30. 

The  resource  leader  was 
Steve  Clapp,  president  of 
Christian  Community.  The 
three  main  topics  were 
stewardship  and  the  spiri- 
tual life,  effective 
stewardship  education 
strategies,  and  practical 
ways  to  increase  congrega- 
tional giving  without 
manipulation.  More  than 
1  10  participants  represent- 
ing 40  congregations 
attended  the  seminars. 


District  board  learns 
Worshipful  Work 

The  Western  Pennsylvania 
district  board  focused  on 
Worshipful  Work  during  its 
annual  retreat  Nov.  6. 

The  retreat  was  at  the 
Westmont  Church  of  the 
Brethren,  Johnstown,  Pa. 
Resource  leaders  were 
Ronald  St.  Clair,  pastor  of 
the  Scalp  Level  Church  of  the 
Brethren,  Windber,  Pa.,  and 
Linda  McCauliff,  Congrega- 
tional Life  Team  Area  1 . 

Worshipful  Work  focuses 
on  intentionally  introducing 
spirituality  into  a  board's 
business  agenda.  The  retreat 
included  group  building, 
storytelling  with  biblical  and 
theological  reflection,  Bible 
study,  and  opportunity  to 
revise  the  agendas  of  the 
four  commissions. 

For  more  information 


A  life  devoted 
to  nonviolence 
education 


Di 


David  jehnsen 


(avid  lehnsen  has 
had  a  passion  and 
commitment  to  nonvio- 
lence and  peacemaking 
since  1962. 

His  commitment 
originated  from  his 
early  experiences  in 
Michigan  and  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren. 
His  parents  had  served 
as  pastor  and  leaders  of 
Brethren  congregations 
for  more  than  55  years. 
His  nonviolence  com- 
mitment was  stimulated  while  serving  as  a 
conscientious  objector  in  Brethren  Volunteer  Service 
1962-64  and  working  closely  with  Martin  Luther 
King,  Jr.'s  nonviolence  civil  rights  campaigns  from 
1962-68.  In  1962  he  participated  with  a  national  del- 
egation of  interfaith  leaders  that  joined  King  in  jail  in 
Albany,  Ga.,  for  several  days.  He  served  as  a  field 
staff  coordinator  (1965-68)  with  the  Chicago  Project 
-  End  Slums  Movement. 

Since  1968  his  focus  has  been  on  institutionalizing 
the  capacity  for  training  and  education,  research,  and 
public  information  about  nonviolence  conflict  recon- 
ciliation. 

Since  1978,  David  has  served  as  volunteer  chair  of 
the  Institute  for  Human  Rights  and  Responsibilities. 
Today  he  writes  and  publishes  nonviolence  and 
democratic  social  change  educational  materials  for 
use  in  training  programs  in  the  US  and  other  coun- 
tries. Since  1997  he  has  helped  expand  the  capacity 
of  an  institution  in  Havana,  Cuba,  to  conduct 
Kingian  nonviolence  education  there.  And,  with  col- 
league Bernard  LaFayette,  he  is  helping  to  lead  a 
series  of  annual  international  conferences  on  nonvio- 
lence that  began  in  1998  and  are  planned  through  the 
year  2010. 

David  lives  with  his  wife  Deborah  in  Galena,  Ohio, 
and  is  one  of  the  founding  members  of  the  New 
Covenant  Church  of  the  Brethren  in  Columbus,  Ohio. 
He  joined  the  On  Earth  Peace  Assembly  board  in 
1999. — Mike  Leiter 


about  the  Worshipful-Work 
Network,  call  the  Congre- 


gational Life  Ministry 
Office  at  800-323-8039. 


January/February  2000  Messenger  5 


an 


d 


The  look  of  the  new 
Annual  Conference 

Shorter,  but  better,  and  the  best  is  preserved 


Everything's  up  to  date 
in  Kansas  City,"  as 
the  music  of  Richard 
Rodgers  informed  us 
in  Oklahoma.  And  Kansas 
City  is  where,  appropriately. 
Annual  Conference  debuts  its 
new  schedule  for  "2000  and 
beyond." 

In  a  departure  from  the  old 
Tuesday-Sunday  schedule, 
this  Conference  begins  the 
evening  of  Saturday,  luly  1  5, 
and  closes  at  noon  on 
Wednesday.  A  weekend  with 
two  worship  services  and  a 
"Brethren  Ministries  Live" 
presentation  lay  the  spiritual 
basis  for  doing  the  business  of 
the  church  beginning  Sunday 
evening.  Seminars,  work- 
shops, and  other  educational 
events  have  been  scheduled 
after  Conference. 

Recognizing  that  Annual  Confer- 
ence is  vital  to  the  life  of  the 
denomination  in  providing  for  com- 
munity worship,  renewal  of 
friendships  among  Brethren,  and  a 
setting  to  do  the  business  of  the 
church,  the  Program  and  Arrange- 
ments Committee  wanted  to  preserve 
the  best  of  the  old  while  making 
room  for  the  new. 

The  committee  said  it  wanted  to 
build  a  better  spiritual  base  for  the 
Conference  event  by  having  two 
major  worship  services  prior  to  start 
of  business.  By  beginning  with  back- 
to-back  worship  services  on 
Saturday  night  and  Sunday  morning. 
Conference  can  offer  a  weekend  of 
worship  and  fellowship  to  those  who 
may  not  be  able  to  attend  the  whole 


Family  fun  at  the  1999  Annual  L  unlciciit 


Conference. 

The  committee  also  recognized 
that  Annual  Conference  is  the  "main 
event"  and  that  many  of  the  pre- 
Conference  events  were  sapping  the 
energy  and  enthusiasm  from  the 
Annual  Conference  itself.  So,  in  the 
new  schedule,  many  of  those  events 
have  either  been  eliminated  or  have 
been  changed  to  post-Conference 
events. 

The  abbreviated  schedule  addresses 
increasing  concerns  about  the  cost  of 
Conference  from  attendees  and  agen- 
cies. Reducing  the  schedule  by  one 
day  will  also  help  the  Annual  Confer- 
ence Fund  to  balance  its  budget. 

However,  according  to  Duane 
Steiner,  Conference  executive  direc- 
tor, the  best  has  been  preserved. 
"We'll  continue  to  have  lots  of  good 


fellowship  among  Brethren, 
the  Conference  choir,  and 
time  to  do  the  business  of  the 
denomination,"  he  said.  As 
usual,  there  will  be  age  group 
activities  (new  this  year  are 
two  groups  for  children: 
kindergarten  through  second 
grade,  and  third  through  fifth 
grades),  insight  sessions,  Bible 
studies,  and  early  evening 
concerts.  As  usual,  there  will 
also  be  a  hall  full  of  exhibits, 
as  well  as  the  quilt  auction 
sponsored  by  AACB  (Associa- 
tion of  the  Arts  for  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren)  following  the 
closing  worship  on  Wednes- 
day. 

Special  to  "Kansas  City 
2000"  are  the  ecumenical 
leaders  presented.  They 
include: 

•  David  Haas,  director  of  the 
Emmaus  Center  for  Music,  Prayer, 
and  Ministry  in  Eagan,  Minn.  He  will 
share  his  talents  in  music  and  worship 
on  Sunday  afternoon  around  Brethren 
Ministries  Live,  plus  an  early  evening 
concert  and  an  insight  session. 

•  Emanuel  Cleaver,  pastor  of  St. 
lames  United  Methodist  Church  and 
immediate  past  mayor  of  Kansas 
City,  Mo.  He  will  be  the  preacher  for 
Tuesday  evening. 

•  Thomas  Troeger,  professor  of 
preaching  and  communications  at 
Iliff  School  of  Theology,  Denver. 
Colo.  He  will  bring  the  message  at 
closing  worship  on  Wednesday 
morning.  He  is  also  the  featured 
speaker  at  the  Ministers'  Association 
event  following  Conference. —     rrj- 
Fletcher  Farrar  r^' 


6  Messenger  January/February  2000 


"if  we  suddenly  find  ourselves 
face  to  face  with  dying,  we  come  up 

against  ultimate  questions After 

I  received  the  diagnosis  of  advanced 
lung  cancer,  1  needed  to  deal  with 
those  questions  more  intensely 
than  I  ever  had  before.^' 


.    Hope 

Beyond^ 

Healing 


A  Cancer  Journal 


s»S^ 


£ 


by  Dale  Aukerman 
Foreword  by  Jim  Wallis 


-DALE  AUKERMAN 


The  first  thing  many  people  think  of  upon  hearing  a 
diagnosis  of  cancer  is  death.  But  for  Brethren  activist 
and  author  Dale  Aukerman,  the  first  thought  was  life. 
When  Dale  learned  he  had  lung  cancer,  his  impulse 
was  to  vigorously  renew  his  focus  on  Jesus  Christ  and 
God's  presence  in  his  life. 

Hope  Beyond  Healing:  A  Cancer  Journal  is  Dale's  record 
of  his  faith  and  life  during  his  nearly  three-year  battle 
with  cancer.  Up  to  the  last  hours  of  life,  he  shares  the 
highs  and  lows  of  his  illness,  pointing  others  beyond 
physical  healing  toward  the  hope  that  comes  from 
faith  in  Christ. 

Hope  Beyond  Healing:  A  Cancer  Journal  by  Dale 
Aukerman  available  February,  2000  from  Brethren  Press 
for  $  14.95  plus  shipping  and  handling  charges. 


r 


r 

Brethren  Press 

This  day. 

I45I  Dundee  Avenue,  Elgin,  IL  60I20-I694 

phone  800-441-3712       fax  800-667-8188 

e-mail  brethrenpress_gb@brethren.org 


Phil  Jones,  pas/or,  with  Dennis  Lipton. 

Conscientious  objector 
dismissed  from  military 

His  conscientious  objector  claims 
denied,  Dennis  Lipton  pled  guilty  in 
a  Nov.  16  court  martial  trial  at 
Maxwell  Air  Force  base  in  IVlont- 
gomery,  Ala.  After  eight  hours  of 
testimony  and  arguments  by  the 
defense  and  prosecution,  Lipton,  a 
medical  doctor,  was  dismissed  from 
the  Air  Force  with  a  $30,000  fine 
and  five  days  of  confinement. 

Lipton  began  his  path  toward  con- 
scientious objection  over  two  years 
ago.  Even  as  the  military  was  paying 
for  his  medical  school  education,  he 
was  haunted  by  the  Hippocratic 
Oath,  as  well  as  by  the  teachings  of 
)esus. 

"As  a  physician,  I  am  called  to  pro- 
mote and  protect  life.  In  war,  the 
military  takes  life.  As  a  Christian,  a 
follower  of  the  Prince  of  Peace,  I  am 
to  love  my  enemies,  turn  the  cheek, 
and  do  unto  others  what  I  would 
have  them  do  unto  me.  To  me,  war  is 
a  violation  of  all  these  commands, 
and  I  must  continue  to  live  my  life  in 
opposition  to  participation  in  war  in 
any  form,"  Lipton  said  in  his  state- 
ment to  the  court. 

The  Air  Force  had  earlier  denied 


his  CO.  claim,  in  spite  of  strong 
supporting  testimony  from  military 
officers  and  civilians  who  knew 
Lipton.  He  had  previously  attempted 
to  reach  a  settlement  with  the  Air 
Force  by  offering  to  repay  its  invest- 
ment in  his  education,  but  had  the 
offer  turned  down. 

Dennis  and  his  wife,  Melissa, 
attend  the  Shalom  Church  of  the 
Brethren  in  Durham,  N.C..  near 
where  they  currently  live.  Shalom 
pastor  Phil  [ones  testified  at  the  trial, 
and  the  congregation  has  become  a 
spiritual  home  for  the  Liptons  since 
they  first  discovered  it  in  September. 
Present  at  a  pre-trial  worship  service 
and  at  the  trial  itself  were  members 
of  the  Shalom  fellowship,  other 
Brethren  from  as  far  away  as  Penn- 
sylvania, and  Mennonites,  Friends, 
Roman  Catholics,  and  other  Chris- 
tians. Representing  the  General 
Board  was  Brethren  Witness  director 
David  Radcliff. 

"This  level  of  support  in  a  trial  like 
this  was  unusual.  It  meant  a  great 
deal  to  Dennis  and  certainly  had  an 
influence  on  the  proceedings,"  noted 
Louis  Font,  Dennis"  civilian  attorney. 

To  assist  in  paying  Lipton's  legal 
fees  and  court-imposed  fines,  a  legal 
defense  fund  has  been  established  by 


8  Messenger  January/February  2000 


the  General  Board.  Contributions 
can  be  sent  to  the  General  Board, 
designated  for  Dennis  Lipton. 

Emergency  Disaster  Fund 
responds  to  many  needs 

The  crash  of  EgyptAir  Flight  990 
brought  quick  response  from  the 
General  Board's  Emergency 
Response/Service  Ministries. 
ER/SM"s  Childcare  Aviation  Incident 
Response  team  was  activated  Nov.  1 
by  the  National  Transportation 
Safety  Board  and  American  Red 
Cross  to  provide  child  care  in  Rhode 
Island  to  family  and  friends  of  vic- 
tims of  the  disaster. 

ER/SM  staff  member  Lydia  Walker 
served  as  administrator  of  the  CAIR 
team,  which  also  included  Church  of 
the  Brethren  member  Sharon  Gilbert 
of  Fullerton,  Calif.,  and  several  care- 
givers from  other  denominations  (see 
article  p.  26). 

The  Church  of  the  Brethren  Gen- 
eral Board  made  a  number  of  recent 
allocations  from  the  Emergency  Dis- 
aster Fund: 

•A  grant  of  $  1 0.000  will  go  to 
support  relief  efforts  in  the  wake  of 
severe  flooding  in  central  and  south- 
eastern Mexico.  The  request,  from 
Emergency  Response/Service  Min- 
istries manager  Stan  Noffsinger, 


BVS  Orientation  Unit  #236  brought  together  1  7  volunteers  from  Germany,  japan, 
the  Netherlands.  Switzerland,  and  all  over  the  US  at  the  Brethren  Service 
Center  in  New  Windsor.  Md.  For  three  weeks  they  lived  together  as  a  community 
and  studied  such  topics  as  Church  of  the  Brethren  beliefs  and  practices,  health 
care,  conflict  resolution,  peacemaking,  and  capital  punishment.  They  spent  a 
day  in  Baltimore.  Md.,  working  for  Chesapeake  Habitat  for  Hiunanity,  learning 
about  building  houses  for  loiv-income  owners.  A  weekend  was  also  spent  at  I 
Can.  Inc..  a  Baltimore  homeless  shelter,  meeting  the  men.  listening  to  their 
stories,  and  learning  about  issues  they  face. 

Included  in  the  picture,  from  left  to  right,  top  row:  Dennis  Rosas.  Hauke  Steg, 
Mike  Lawrence,  and  Sue  Grubb  (staff).  Middle  row:  Frank  Schumann.  Mariko 
Sato,  Don  Vermilyea,  Mariana  Marie.  Rebekah  Seilhamer,  Regina  Bode,  and 
Timon  Trondle.  Bottom  row:  Matt  Stauffer  (staff).  Ruth  Heidingsfelder.  Carrie 
Fennig,  Caitlin  Keeler.  Daniela  Wurz.  Bethany  Williams.  Jacki  Hartley,  and 
Avke  Pietsch. 


comes  in  response  to  a  Church 
World  Service  appeal  for  $100,000 
in  denominational  support. 

•An  allocation  of  $1,725  will  go  to 
meet  an  ER/SM  request  for  shipping 
50  cartons  of  beef  chunks  to  El  Sal- 
vador. The  shipment  will  be  sent  to 
Doctors  for  the  Right  to  Health  in 


San  Salvador,  the  capital.  Audrey  E. 
Lenhart,  a  member  of  the  Manassas 
(Va.)  congregation  who  is  in  El  Sal- 
vador, will  assist  the  doctors  with  the 
distribution  of  the  beef  chunks  to 
needy  persons  as  the  doctors  travel 
from  village  to  village  in  their  moving 
clinic. 


January/February  2000  Messenger  9 


•An  allocation  of  $25,000  was 
approved  in  support  of  the  Church 
World  Service/  Emergency  Response 
appeal  for  earthquake  relief  in 
Taiwan. 

•Another  grant  allocates  an  addi- 
tional $20,000  to  support  ER/SM's 
response  to  Hurricane  Floyd  in  Vir- 
ginia and  North  Carolina.  Six  weeks 
of  Disaster  Child  Care  response  was 
completed  in  November,  and  ER/SM 
is  laying  the  groundwork  for  two 
long-term  repair  and  reconstruction 
projects. 

•An  allocation  of  $9, 1 00  will  sup- 
port Interfaith  Disaster  Response's 
recovery  efforts  following  Hurricane 
Bret  in  Falfurrias,  Tex.  The  storm 
struck  early  in  the  hurricane  season 
and  received  only  minimal  response 
from  the  American  Red  Cross  and 
federal  agencies.  Funds  will  be  used 
to  purchase  materials  for  14  roofing 
projects  for  low-income  families  who 
have  "fallen  through  the  cracks." 

•A  grant  for  $30,000  will  support 
the  work  of  North  Carolina  Interfaith 
Disaster  Response,  also  in  the  wake 
of  Hurricane  Floyd.  NCIDR  is  an 
experienced  disaster  relief  agency 
working  at  meeting  emergency  and 
long-term  needs  of  the  survivors  of 
the  hurricane.  The  aid  includes  food, 
baby  and  hygiene  items,  cleaning 
supplies,  building  materials,  and 
counseling. 

First  Alexander  Mack  Festival 
draws  a  crowd  and  dollars 

About  1,500  people  attended  the  first 
Alexander  Mack  Festival  at  Camp 
Mack  in  Milford,  Ind.,  on  Oct.  2. 


The  festival,  celebrating  the  50th 
anniversary  of  12  large  Church  of  the 
Brethren  history  murals  at  the  camp, 
netted  nearly  $18,000.  More  than 
$  1 0,000  of  that  came  from  an  auc- 
tion. 

Some  of  the  funds  are  earmarked 
for  a  new  mural  being  painted  by 
Margie  Retry  to  bring  the  Church  of 
the  Brethren  history  up  to  date. 

Next  year  will  mark  the  camp's 
75th  anniversary.  Andrew  Young, 
former  ambassador  to  the  United 
Nations  and  mayor  of  Atlanta,  Ga., 
who  was  recently  named  president  of 
the  National  Council  of  Churches, 
will  speak  at  a  celebration  service 
following  a  golf  tournament  on  May 
20,  when  the  new  mural  will  also  be 
unveiled. 

McPherson  inducts  first  nine 
into  Athletic  Hall  of  Fame 

McPherson  (Kan.)  College  launched 
its  Athletic  Hall  of  Fame  on  Oct.  23 
with  nine  inductees. 

The  charter  group  included  Earl 
Kinzie  (Class  of  '28),  Guy  Hayes 
('34),  Doris  Coppock  ('48),  George 
Keim  ('54),  Ed  Delk  ('59),  leanne 
Suellentrop  Boucek  ('77),  Craig 
Holman  ('79),  Denise  Race  ('87), 
and  coach  Sid  Smith. 

Coppock  and  Smith  taught  athlet- 
ics at  the  school,  and  all  but  Smith 
starred  in  a  variety  of  sports  there. 

McPherson  also  recently 
announced  its  1999  Young  Alumni 
Award  recipients,  honoring  signifi- 
cant achievements  of  McPherson 
alumni  who  have  graduated  in  the 
past  25  years.  Awards  went  to  Jeffrey 


Bach  ('79),  now  a  professor  at 
Bethany  Theological  Seminary; 
family  therapist  Carol  White  Leland 
('74);  and  McPherson  theatre  pro- 
fessor Rick  Tyler  ('74). 

Video  on  workcamps  is  now 
available  in  district  offices 

The  2000  Workcamp  Video  is  now 
available  from  the  Youth  and  Young 
Adult  Ministry  office  of  the  General 
Board.  The  video  provides  an 
overview  of  each  of  the  22  junior 
high,  senior  high,  and  young  adult 
workcamps  offered  during  the 
summer  of  2000  and  explains  what 
the  workcamp  experience  is  all  about 
through  interviews  with  coordinators 
and  past  participants. 

Those  interested  in  viewing  the 
video  should  contact  their  district 
office,  which  has  a  copy  available  to 
be  loaned  out,  or  call  Jacki  Hartley 
or  Alan  Edwards  in  the  Youth  and 
Young  Adult  Ministry  office  at  800- 
323-8039. 

Bethany  conducts  training  for 
interim  ministry  specialists 

Training  for  effective  interim  min- 
istry was  the  focus  of  a  seminar  held 
at  Bethany  Theological  Seminary  on 
Nov.  6.  About  25  people  from  Men- 
nonite,  Quaker,  Brethren,  and  other 
churches  gathered  to  learn  how 
interim  ministry  specialists  can  effec- 
tively help  congregations  through  a 
time  of  transition. 

lames  Bower  of  Earlham  School  of 
Religion  spoke  about  the  specialized 
work  of  an  intentional  interim  minis- 


1 0  Messenger  January/February  2000 


ter  in  moving  through  the  five  devel- 
opmental tasks  in  transition  ministry. 
Tara  Hornbacker  of  Bethany  moder- 
ated the  discussion  of  panelists  Opal 
Pence  Nees,  lames  Davis,  and  Donna 
Moore,  all  of  whom  have  experience 
'.in  interim  ministry. 

Those  attending  this  training  event 
included  seminary  students,  active 
pastors,  retirees  who  may  be  looking 
forward  to  possible  interims,  and 
several  persons  currently  serving  as 
interims. 

Leadership  conference 
^planned  for  June  at  Juniata 

!The  Area  1  (Northeast)  districts  and 
the  Ministry  Office  of  the  General 
Board  are  sponsoring  a  lune  8-10 
event  called  "Leadership  2000  .  .  . 
Preparing  Church  Leaders  for  the 
New  Millennium." 
The  conference,  designed  for  pas- 

Uors,  licensed  ministers,  deacons, 
other  congregational  leaders,  district 
leaders,  and  district  and  associate 
executives,  will  be  at  |uniata  College 
in  Huntingdon,  Pa. 

i     A  focus  on  pastoral  and  district/ 

lassociate  executive  leadership  issues 
will  run  all  three  days,  while  a  focus 
on  district  and  congregational  lay 
leadership  issues  will  run  [une  9-10. 
Messiah  College  president  Rodney 

'Sawatsky,  St.  Paul  School  of  Theol- 
ogy president  Lovett  Weems,  and 
Jeff  Woods  of  the  Alban  Institute  will 
be  the  keynote  speakers.  Christina  A. 
Bucher,  chair  of  the  department  of 
religion  at  Elizabethtown  (Pa.)  Col- 
lege will  be  the  Bible  study 
presenter. 


on  the  Young  Adult  Steering  Com- 
mittee, written  articles  for 
Messenger,  and  assisted  the  com- 
munication team  at  two  Annual 
Conferences  and  at  the  1998 
National  Youth  Conference.  He  has 
also  been  active  in  Southern  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Mid-Atlantic  districts,  and 
in  his  local  congregations. 

Wiltschek  has  nearly  eight  years  of 
experience  on  two  different  newspa- 
per staffs,  the  York  (Pa.)  Daily 
Record  and  the  Carroll  County  (Md.) 
Times. 


Staff  changes 

Steven  Abe  has  been  called  as  dis- 
trict minister  for  West  Marva 
District,  effective  |an.  1 .  Abe  has 
been  pastor  of  the  Elkins,  W.Va., 
congregation  since  1992.  He  and  his 
family  will  move  to  the  district  par- 
sonage in  Oakland,  Md. 

•  Steve  Gregory  has  accepted  the 
call  as  half-time  Congregational  Life 
Team  Member,  Area  5  (West),  begin- 
ning )an.  1 .  Prior  to  this  assignment, 
Gregory  was  half-time  district  execu- 
tive for  Oregon - 
Washington  District. 
He  has  pastored  the 
Outlook  (Wash.), 
Ladera  (Calif.),  and 
Mountain  View 
(Idaho)  congrega- 
tions. He  has  also 
held  various  district 
offices  in  Pacific 
Southwest,  Idaho, 
and  Oregon-Wash- 
ington districts. 

•  Walt  Wiltschek 
begins  |an.  5  1  as 
manager  of  news 
services.  An  ordained 
minister,  Wiltschek 
is  associate  pastor  of 
the  Westminster 
(Md.)  Church  of  the 
Brethren.  He  also  is 
editor  of  the  denomi- 
national young  adult      Brethren  Volunteer  Service  Unit  #235,  sponsored  by 
newsletter.  Bridge.         Brethren  Revival  Fellowship,  completed  orientation  at 
serves  on  the  |unior       Roxhury.  Pa.  They  are.  from  left  to  right  top  row: 
High  Task  Force,  and    Shannon  Lehigh.  Lowell  Ebersole.  and  Regina  Zook. 
is  interim  Newsline        Bottom  row:  Heidi  Lehigh.  Morgan  Lehigh  (baby). 
editor.  He  has  served     Pertrevian  Toledo.  Clara  Witmer  and  Lowell  Witmer 


January/February  2000  Messenger  1 1 


^rcQcfi,  sisters ! 

tDemen  fiQue  f\Q§  officio  I  full  rigfits  os  m  misters  for  uears,  ^ut  tee  few  are  coHeSte  serve 

BY  Christy  J.  Waltersdorff 

1  2  Messenger  January/February  2000 


"Z  uuill pour  out  mu  spirit  on  oil 
(flesf\;uour  sons  onduour  Sougfiters 
snoll propnesu. . . .  -j^/sas 


y:^^omen  were  with  Jesus  from  the  cradle  to  the  cross. 
vJO'On  Easter  Sunday  morning,  who  was  the  first  to  see 
and  recognize  the  risen  Christ?  A  woman.  Knowing  all  of 
this,  why  in  the  world  would  human  beings  think  that 
God  would  not  want  women  to  preach  the  gospel?" 

These  words  were  spoken  to  me,  with  emotion,  by  an 
elderly  Brethren  woman  1  visited  many  years  ago.  She  was 
in  her  90s  and  wore  the  traditional  Brethren  garb, 
prayer  covering,  plain  black  dress,  and  plain  black 
shoes.  This  dear  woman  was  a  lifelong  member  of 
the  Church  of  the  Brethren  and  a  committed  fol- 
lower of  Christ.  On  our  visits  she  would  often 
quote  scripture  and  share  her  memories  of  the 
church  in  years  past.  She  was  overjoyed  to  meet  me 
because  I  was  the  first  woman  pastor  to  ever 
enter  her  home.  She  thought  it  was  quite  sad 
that  she  had  to  wait  until  she  was  93  to  meet 
an  ordained  woman. 

Even  though  three  women  were  among  the  origina 
eight  people  to  be  baptized  in  the  Eder  River,  thus  giving 
birth  to  the  church  called  "Brethren,"  women  have  had 
to  struggle  to  find  acceptance  and  to  claim  their  God 
given  role  in  leadership  in  the  church.  In  1892  the 
General  Conference  granted  women  "all  the  privileges 
which  brethren  claim  for  themselves." 

In  the  late  1800s  and  early  1900s  women  were  ordained 
and  served  as  pastors  and  preachers.  That  blessing  came 
to  an  end  in  the  1920s  and  '30s  when  the  church  reversed 
its  decision  and  women  lost  the  right  to  be  ordained.  That 
privilege  was  not  reinstated  until  1958. 

Currently  there  are  2,286  licensed  and  ordained  minis- 
ters in  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  and  only  343,  or  1  5 
percent,  are  women.  There  are  1 , 1 94  ordained  ministers 
serving  in  pastoral  positions  and  only  154,  or  13  percent, 
are  women. 


Z3  strong  contingent  of  ordained  and  licensed  women 
vOgathered  at  the  Cenacle  Spiritual  Retreat  House  in 
Warrenville,  111.,  in  April  1999.  Gathering  for  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren  Women  in  Ministry  retreat  were  70 
women  who  serve  as  chaplains,  students,  writers,  coun- 
selors, social  workers,  educators,  and  pastors.  They  came 
from  all  over  the  United  States  to  spend  four  days  focus- 
ing on  the  theme  "Spirit  Bound,  Spirit  Free!" 

They  were  a  diverse  group,  representing  a  variety 
of  ages,  experiences,  theological  understandings, 
and  educational  background.  What  they  held  in 
common,  though,  was  greater  still  than  their  dif- 
ferences. They  are  women  who  have  heard  the  call 
of  God  in  their  lives.  They  are  women  who 
responded  "yes"  to  that  call  and  who  continue  to  learn 
what  it  means  to  be  in  ministry.  They  are 
women  who  claim  the  Church  of  the  Brethren 
as  their  church,  although  they  have  not  always 
felt  welcome.  Most  of  all,  they  are  women  of  Spirit. 

This  diverse  group  formed  a  community  where,  for  four 
days,  they  worshiped  and  prayed,  sang  and  enjoyed  silence, 
earned  and  shared,  laughed  and  cried.  Women  shared  their 
gifts  of  leadership  and  friendship  freely  and  graciously. 

Author  Sue  Bender  was  the  keynote  speaker  and  shared 
wisdom  and  insights  from  her  books.  Plain  and  Simple 
and  Everyday  Sacred.  Many  arrived  at  the  retreat  tired, 
spent,  and  distracted,  and  left  feeling  renewed,  empow- 
ered, and  refreshed. 

\^J»^hen  women  in  ministry  gather  together  they  share 
vJC/not  only  the  joy  of  their  calling,  but  also  the  pain. 
Many  women  in  ministry  find  themselves  in  a  very  per- 
plexing position  at  the  dawn  of  a  new  century.  At  a  time 
when  the  executive  director  and  the  chair  of  the  General 
Board,  as  well  as  the  moderator  of  Annual  Conference, 


January/February  2000  Messenger  1 3 


are  female,  only  1 3  percent  of  our  pastors  are  women. 

At  a  time  when  some  women  find  great  freedom  in 
their  calling,  others  find  themselves  bound  by  stereo- 
types, false  assumptions,  and  outdated  (and  decidedly 
unchristian)  patriarchal  structures. 

At  a  time  when  the  church  cries  out  about  the  "leader- 
ship shortage,"  competent  and  committed  women  are 
not  called  to  serve. 

At  a  time  when  the  church  is  celebrating  the  gifts  of 
women  in  major  leadership  roles,  congregations  and  dis- 
tricts are  overlooking  the  necessity  of  gender  equality  on 
committees  and  commissions. 

Those  of  us  who  believe  that  God  created  male  and 
female  in  God's  own  image;  those  of  us  who  seek  to 
follow  in  the  footsteps  of  lesus  who  welcomed  all  people; 
those  of  us  who  believe  that  the  Holy  Spirit  is  poured  out 


on  all  flesh,  have  a  responsibility  to  nurture  and  to  call 
forth  the  gifts  of  God's  children  regardless  of  gender. 

Z!i  t  its  October  meeting,  the  General  Board  affirmed  a 
T'D"Resolution  on  Women  in  Ministry"  [see  below]. 
The  Office  on  Mmistry  raised  the  concern  that  the 
number  of  women  being  trained  for  ministry  is  higher 
than  those  being  placed  in  ministry  positions.  The  reso- 
lution calls  for  the  denomination  to  reaffirm  its  1958 
Annual  Conference  decision  to  grant  "full  and  unre- 
stricted rights  in  the  ministry"  to  women.  The  General 
Board  encourages  and  challenges  congregations  and  dis- 
tricts to  celebrate  the  gifts  of  both  men  and  women  and 
to  seek  to  look  at  both  equally  when  calling  persons  to 
licensing  and  ordination. 

(continued  on  p.  16) 


^  ^esolutm 


*-  1 


er)  uuomer)  m  minisxr^ 


The  1958  Annual  Conference  responded  with 
"request  granted"  to  a  query  from  the  First  Dis- 
trict of  Virginia  (now  the  Virlina  District)  requesting 
that  "women  be  granted  full  and  unrestricted  rights  in 
the  ministry"  (Annual  Conference  Minutes,  1958, 
Women  in  the  Ministry,  p.  113). 

Polity  papers  on  ministry  in  1975,  1985,  and  1999 
state,  "The  Church  of  the  Brethren  has  two  degrees  for 
its  ministerial  leadership:  the  licensed  and  ordained 
ministry.  The  policies  of  both  apply  equally  to  men  and 
women"  (  Ministerial  Leadership,  1999,  p.  2). 

The  Church  of  the  Brethren  has  made  progress  in 
granting  "full  and  unrestricted  rights  in  ministry"  to 
women  during  the  past  41  years.  We  need  to  affirm 
and  celebrate  the  church's  response  to  the  challenge  by 
the  1958  Annual  Conference. 

Statistics,  however,  indicate  that  the  progress  has 
been  slow.  Currently,  we  have  2,286  licensed  and 
ordained  ministers  in  the  denomination,  and  only  343 
( 1 5  percent)  are  women.  There  are  1,1 94  ordained 
ministers  serving  as  pastors,  and  only  154  (13  percent) 
are  women,  and  many  of  them  are  in  associate  pastoral 
positions.  One  has  to  ask  why  the  numbers  are  so  low 
for  women  in  these  leadership  positions. 

The  number  of  women  being  trained  for  ministry  is 
much  higher  than  the  placement  numbers.  Clearly, 
many  women  have  experienced  a  call  from  God  and  are 
eager  to  serve  in  a  wide  variety  of  leadership  positions, 
especially  as  pastors,  but  some  in  the  church  are  reluc- 


tant to  accept  and  appreciate  women  in  leadership 
positions. 

T^ere^ere,  tfie  General  'Board: 

I  .Calls  the  denomination  to  reaffirm  the  decision  by 
the  1958  Annual  Conference  to  grant  "full  and  unre- 
stricted rights  in  the  ministry"  to  women. 

2.  Encourages  and  challenges  congregations  and  dis- 
tricts to  treat  men  and  women  equally  when  persons 
are  being  considered  for  the  licensed  and  ordained 
ministry. 

3.  Encourages  and  challenges  congregations  and  dis- 
tricts to  treat  men  and  women  equally  when  they 
search  for  and  call  ordained  leaders  to  fill  pastoral 
vacancies. 

4.  Asks  the  Office  of  Ministry  to  develop  a  study 
guide,  as  a  companion  piece  to  the  1999  paper  on 
Ministerial  Leadership,  with  special  emphasis  on  bibli- 
cal, historical,  and  contemporary  materials  bearing  on 
the  issue  of  women  in  ministry,  for  congregations  and 
district  ministry  commissions. 

Approved  by  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  General 
Board,  October  18,  1999. 

In  accordance  with  the  resolution,  the  Office  of  Ministry  is 
currently  preparing  a  study  guide  on  tlw  1999  Ministerial 
Leadership  Paper  to  include  a  major  section  on  women  in 
nnnistry.  Publication  of  the  study  guide,  to  be  part  of  the  In 
Our  Midst  series  of  study  materials,  is  planned  for  mid-year 


1 4  Messenger  January/February  20U0 


yf\e(first  uuerDor)  oreocfier 

oleuu  6dd^  recounts  tf\e  uncemmQr)  h(fe  of  §)QrQf)  '^lofiter  OTloJor 

C^arah  Righter  Major  (1808-1884)  was  famous  in  her  own  circles  in  the  mid- 1800s  for  being  a  woman  preacher  in  a 
Cptradition  dominated  and  controlled  by  men,  but  few  people  know  much  about  her  today.  Iny4n  Uncommon  Woman, 
Nancy  Kettering  Frye  provides  many  of  the  details,  facts,  and  stories  about  the  life  of  Sister  Sarah,  the  first  woman 
preacher  in  the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  Frye  places  Sister  Sarah  in  the  context  of  the  early  19th  century  and  introduces 
us  to  the  many  women  and  men  who  influenced  her  life  and  supported  her  preaching  ministry. 

A  special  feature  of  the  book  is  an  appendix  that  contains  the  complete  text  of  a  letter  written  by  Sarah  Major  in  1835 
to  a  critic  who  challenged  her  call  to  preach.  That  letter,  to  Jacob  Sala,  an  Ohio  printer,  later  appeared  in  The  Gospel 
Messenger.  Dec.  28,  1935,  and  excerpts  from  it  are  reprinted  here. 


Lower  Merrion,  April  1,  1835 

Respected  Stranger  and  Brother:  May  Grace,  Mercy  and  Peace  be  with  thee  and  all  those  who  love  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ — 
to  whom  be  praise  now  and  forever.  Amen. 

Let  me  say,  Christ  has  not  only  honored  your  sex,  but  he  has  comforted  mine. 

When  he  was  to  come  into  the  world,  he  sent  his  angel,  not  to  Joseph,  but  to  Mary,  face  to  face,  to  tell  her  she  was  "bless'd 
among  women"  and  by  the  Holy  Ghost  gave  her  words  to  magnify  God  with  Elizabeth  in  a  loud  voice,  in  the  very  city  of  the 
priests,  where  Zachariah  dwelt. 

When  he  came  first  in  the  temple,  his  spirit  moved  the  lips  of  Simeon  and  Anna,  and  some  historians  whose  sects  oppose  a 
woman's  testimony,  call  her  the  first  herald  of  the  gospel,  and  say  she  went  from  house  to  house,  and  to  the  towns  of  Israel, 
proclaiming  to  them  that  Christ  the  Messiah  had  come. 

And  when  he  burst  the  bars  of  death,  his  few  disciples  are  in  fears  and  tears — at  home,  but  Mary  seeks  him — living  or  dead, 
and  finds  him  alive  and  receives  his  dear  command  to  go  and  tell  his  disciples  and  Peter  too,  that  he  is  risen  from  the  dead. 

But  when  the  day  of  Pentecost  was  fully  come,  you  know  they  were  all  together  with  one  accord  in  one  place,  the  number  of 
the  disciples  was  120  (men  and  women)  in  prayer  and  supplication  they  waited  for  the  promise  to  endue  them  with  power 
from  on  high,  and  cloven  tongues  like  as  of  fire  sat  on  each  of  them,  and  they  were  all  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  spake 
with  other  tongues  as  the  spirit  gave  them  utterance,  even  so  that  none  of  their  many  enemies  could  dispute  Peter's  testimony 
when  he  said  to  them,  This  is  that  which  was  spoken  by  the  prophet  Joel,  "And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  the  last  days  I  will  pour 
out  my  spirit  on  all  flesh  and  your  sons  and  your  daughters  shall  prophesy." 

And  that  this  gift  continued  in  the  church,  just  as  they  received  the  Holy  Ghost,  I  am  well  convinced,  and  was  the  gift  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  to  some  women  at  Corinth,  to  whom  Paul  wrote,  to  prophets  male  and  female,  how  they  should  dress,  when  either 
of  them  pray'd  or  prophesied.  Let  Paul  explain  prophesy.  "He  that  prophesieth,  speaketh  to  edification,  exhortation  and  com- 
fort," and  the  gift  of  speaking  to  edify,  to  exhort  and  comfort  is  not  given  at  the  schools,  nor  at  any  time  we  please,  nor  by  the 
power  of  man. 

Therefore,  I  conceive  it  would  be  very  inconsistent  in  an  apostle,  who  had  laid  his  hands  on  men  and  women,  and  pray'd  over 
them,  that  they  might  receive  the  Holy  Ghost,  to  quench  the  gift  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  because  it  was  given  to  a  woman — in 
answer  to  prayer — when  at  that  time  it  may  not  be  given  in  such  measure  to  more  experienced  Christians.  God  always  gave  his 
gifts  freely  where  they  were  willing  to  use  them,  and  I  believe  in  Christ  Jesus  male  and  female  are  one,  just  as  Jew  and  Gentile 
are  made  one. 

Every  one  should  do  as  much  as  they  can  to  glorify  God  with  the  different  gifts  of  the  Spirit  of  God.  You  once  thought  in  ref- 
erence to  the  church  the  apostle  said  "Let  the  women  be  silent."  Now  in  two  places  in  the  scriptures  they  tell  me,  Paul  says 
so — but  there  is  much  in  the  Old  Testament  about  holy  women,  in  the  old  and  new  church  of  Moses  and  of  Christ. 

Now  if  all  the  rest  of  the  scriptures  prove  that  Paul  in  these  two  passages  forbids  all  women  to  speak  by  the  spirit  of  God,  to 
edify,  exhort  and  comfort  the  church  of  believers,  and  convince  the  unbelieving  men  and  women  of  the  truth,  then  it  might  be 
so  believed.  But  if  the  rest  of  the  testimony  proves  the  contrary,  then  Paul  in  these  two  letters  is  not  understood. 

My  love  to  all  who  love  the  Lord,  etc. 

Philadelphia. 

SARAH (Major) 

An  Uncommon  Woman:  The  Life  and  Times  of  Sarah  Righter  Major  by  Nancy  Kettering  Frye.  has  been  pitbUshed  by  Brethren 
Press  in  association  with  the  Brethren  Historical  Committee.  The  64 -page  paperback  retails  at  $6.95.  The  book  (#8224)  can  be 
ordered  from  Brethren  Press  at  800-441-3712.  fax  800-667-8188.  or  via  e-mail  at  brethren _press_gb(a:brethren. org. 


January/February  2000  Messenger  1  5 


Three  top  leaders  of  tlw  Church  of  the  Brethren  are  all 
ordained  women.  Emily  Miunma,  left,  moderator,  is  pastor 
of  the  Hollidaysbiirg,  Pa.,  congregation.  Judy  Mills  Reimer. 
General  Board  executive  director,  was  pastor  of  Smith 
Mountain  Lake  Fellowship  Church  of  the  Brethren  in 
Virginia  before  she  assumed  her  current  position.  Mary  Jo 
Flory-Steury,  chair  of  the  General  Board,  is  pastor  of  the 
Prince  of  Peace  congregation.  Kettering.  Ohio. 


(continued  from  p.  14) 

Z3  s  followers  of  Jesus  Christ,  we  are  called  to  live  by  his 
T  Oexample.  Over  and  over  again  in  the  Gospels  we  see 
lesus  reaching  out  to  all  people —  male  and  female,  young 
and  old,  insiders  and  outsiders,  lews  and  foreigners,  rich 
and  poor,  the  broken  and  the  whole.  How  can  we  believe 
ourselves  to  be  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  while  refusing 
to  accept  the  gifts  of  those  he  has  called  in  his  name? 
How  can  we  recite  the  Scriptures,  worship  together,  and 
pray  as  one  body  while  refusing  the  leadership  of  women 
who  have  truly  experienced  the  call  of  God  in  their  lives? 
As  we  begin  a  new  century  and  move  ever  closer  to  the 
500th  birthday  of  our  denomination,  it  is  vital  that  we  cel- 
ebrate the  gifts  of  all  of  God's  children.  The  church  can 
truly  be  the  church  only  when  it  calls  forth  the  best  in 
each  of  us.  If  we  expect  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  to 
continue  to  be  faithful  to  God  in  the  years  to  come,  now 
is  the  time  to  strip  away  all  of  the  barriers  that  keep  us 
apart.  Now  is  the  time  to  celebrate  and  nurture  the  gifts 
for  ministry  in  our  boys  and  our  girls,  in  our  young  men 
and  young  women,  in  our  old  men  and  our  old  women.  If 
we  do  this,  we  shall  truly  be  the  community  of  faith  called 
together  in  the  name  of  Christ.  Like  my  wise  old  \ii 

friend  asked,  "Why  would  God  not  want  that?"  ^ — ' 

Christy  Waltersdorff  is  pastor  of  York  Center  Church  of  the 
Brethren  in  Lombard,  III.,  and  is  a  member  of  the  General  Board. 


Wfiere  are  ifieu  now 


? 


Tie  Bethany  Theological  Seminary  Class  of 
1995,  pictured  at  left,  had  12  graduates,  all 
receiving  master  of  divinity  degrees.  Of  the  six 
women,  four  were  Church  of  the  Brethren  mem- 
bers and  three  of  them  are  currently  pastors. 

In  the  Bethany  Class  of  1996,  five  of  the  1 1 
master  of  divinity  graduates  were  women,  all  of 
them  Brethren.  Three  of  the  women  are  cur- 
rently pastoring,  one  is  seeking  a  pastorate, 
and  one  is  working  in  an  interfaith  ministry. 

Two  women  graduated  in  1997  with  master 
of  divinity  degrees.  Both  are  currently  serving 
as  pastors. 

The  Bethany  Class  of  1998  had  eight  men 
and  six  women  graduating  with  master  of 
divinity  degrees.  All  of  the  women  are 
Brethren.  Four  of  the  six  are  pastors,  one  is 
working  for  a  Christian  education  resources 
organization,  and  one  is  in  chaplaincy. 
The  Bethany  Class  of  1 999  had  1  5  master  of  divinity  graduates,  including  five  women.  One  had  been  called  to  serve 
as  a  pastor  before  she  died  in  an  automobile  accident.  One  is  currently  not  seeking  a  pastorate,  and  the  other  three  are 
in  clinical  pastoral  education  programs.  — information  courtesy  Bethany  Theological  Seminary 


1  6  Messenger  January/February  2000 


Photos  and  story 
BY  Howard  E.  Royer 


In  Cleveland,  both  savory  moments  and  vexing 
questions  marked  the  50th  anniversary  assembly 
of  the  National  Council  of  Churches  of  Christ 

If  a  portrait  were  to  be  drawn  of  the  National 
Council  of  Churches  of  Christ  at  age  50,  its  face 
would  be  lined  with  celebration  and  struggle. 

Celebration  over  breakthroughs  in  reconciliation, 
significant  advances  in  Bible  translation,  engagement 
with  the  arts,  and  advocacy  for  marginalized  peoples. 
Struggle  over  fiscal  viability,  administrative  prowess, 
and  council  priorities. 

This  was  the  picture  that  emerged  in  November 
from  the  NCCC  General  Assembly  convened  in  Cleve- 
land, the  city  of  its  birth.  At  its  chartering  in  1950 
attended  by  more  than  50  Brethren  (see  sidebar),  del- 
egates were  confronted  with  a  snowstorm  that  left 
travelers  stranded  en  route.  For  the  50th  anniversary, 
the  festivities  were  blessed  by  a  week  of  unseasonably 
mild  temperatures. 

But  the  omen  of  favorable  weather  dare  not  blind 
the  NCCC  community  to  storm  clouds  on  the  hori- 
zon: A  $4  million  deficit  to  be  retired.  The  depletion 
of  reserves.  A  major  structural  shift  to  be  imple- 
mented. One  third  of  the  work  force  to  be  released. 


Host  to  the  NCCC  jubilee  was  Cleveland,  a  city  of  arts, 
sports,  and  interclnirch  cooperation. 


Even  so,  the  mood  of  the  delegates  was  determined 
and  hopeful,  buoyed  in  part  by  a  fervent  desire  of 
member  communions  to  work  together  in  the  21st 
century  and  by  expectations  that  a  new  management 
team  will  invigorate  the  council.  Plus  the  recognition 
that,  as  retiring  general  secretary  Joan  Brown  Camp- 
bell put  it,  "justice  never  comes  easily,  never  without 
a  struggle.  But  justice  comes — just  as  sure  as  the 
scripture  says  to  us.  It  will  roll  down." 

Sioiis  of  reconciliation 

Recounting  signal  events  from  her  nine  years  of  exec- 
utive leadership,  Campbell  cited  the  council's 
unflagging  support  of  the  anti-apartheid  struggle  in 
South  Africa,  the  campaign  to  rebuild  burned 
churches  in  the  US,  and  her  office's  role  in  freeing 
American  soldiers  held  hostage  in  Belgrade. 

Unfolding  during  the  assembly  itself  was  a  face-to- 
face  meeting  of  four  survivors  of  a  luly  1950 
massacre  in  Korea  and  three  veterans  from  the  US 
military  that  launched  the  attack.  The  incident  in  the 
hamlet  of  No  Gun  Ri  left  hundreds  of  refugees  killed. 
A  noonday  service  of  recognition  and  remembrance  at 
Old  Stone  Church  on  Cleveland's  Public  Square  was 
seen  as  a  step  toward  healing  and  reconciliation. 

"Reconciliation  is  the  glue  of  the  good  society  and 
it  is  the  ecumenical  task,"  declared  Campbell  in  a 
sermon  based  on  the  parable  of  the  prodigal  son. 
Delivered  at  Old  Stone  Church  on  the  Sunday  pre- 
ceding the  assembly,  the  sermon  set  the  tone  for  the 
week  of  celebration. 


January/February  2000  Messenger  1 7 


Iiistalktioii  sendee 


New  at  NCCC  helm  are  general  secretary  Robert  Edgar,  at 
left,  and  president  Andrew  Young. 


In  worship,  the  high 
point  was  the  installation 
service  for  the  new  presi- 
dent of  the  NCCC, 
Andrew  Young,  United 
Church  of  Christ  minis- 
ter and  former  US 
ambassador  to  the 
United  Nations.  Some 
1 ,200  worshipers  packed 
Cleveland's  Roman 
Catholic  Cathedral  of  St. 

[ohn  the  Evangelist  for  the  two-hour  ceremony,  for 
which  the  principal  sermon  was  delivered  by  Otis  Moss 
Jr.,  senior  pastor  of  a  large  Baptist  congregation  in 
Cleveland. 

Prayers  and  music  came  from  various  traditions, 
including  works  by  Beethoven,  Fannie  Jane  Crosby,  and 
lames  Weldon  [ohnson.  The  service  concluded  with  a 
candlelight  recessional  and  the  stirring  "Siyahamba" 
led  by  the  75-voice  Shaker  Heights  High  School  Choir. 

Jesse  lackson  was  among  several  clergy  who  spoke, 
and  outgoing  NCCC  president  Craig  Anderson,  an 
Episcopal  bishop,  led  the  installation  ceremony. 

From  a  common  candle  General  Board  executive 
director  [udy  Mills  Reimer,  who  represented  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren  in  the  procession,  lit  one  of  the  35  can- 
dles symbolizing  the  member  communions. 


Comiiioiitask 


On  an  earlier  evening  a  private  concert  by  the  Cleveland 
Orchestra  performed  the  works  of  Berlioz,  Debussy, 
Hoist,  Dvorak,  and  contemporary  composer  Bernard 
Rands,  who  was  present,  on  the  theme  "Inspiration."  A 
panel  discussion  followed,  lifting  up  the  spiritual  power 
of  music  and  a  task  that  music  and  religion  share  in 
common,  expressing  the  inexpressible. 

Other  ventures  into  the  arts  and  culture  included 
announcement  of  a  forthcoming  documentary  on  the 
council's  leadership  in  Bible  translation;  the  release  of 
New  Songs  for  Unity  in  Christ,  hymns  commissioned  by 
seven  member  churches  for  the  anniversary  celebration; 
a  full  jazz  liturgy  and  eucharist  led  by  the  Chicago  )azz 
Mass;  biblical  storytelling;  forums  including  a  seminar 
at  Cleveland's  Rock  and  Roll  Hall  of  Fame;  and  art 
exhibits,  poetry  readings,  and  dramatic  and  choral  per- 
formances by  area  young  people. 

A  sales  exhibit  of  international  crafts  from  developing 
countries  was  mounted  by  SERRV,  and  a  festive  CROP 


Walk  was  led  by  staff  of 
Church  World  Service. 

Budget  concerns 

The  dominant  business  items 
before  delegates  were  budget 
considerations  and  a  plan  of 
restructure. 

The  council's  deficit  of  $4 
million  is  the  result  in  part  of 
a  $2.4  million  expenditure 
since  March  1998  for  man- 
agement consultant  fees  and 
corrective  measures.  Also  contributing  to  the  deficit 
were  one-time  adjustments  in  pension  fund  payments,  a 
Burned  Churches  Fund  allocation,  authorized  but 
unbudgeted  expenses  over  recent  years,  and  a  10  per- 
cent "set  aside"  in  future  budgets  to  replenish  financial 
reserves. 

The  budget  situation  was  deemed  by  observers  to  be 
the  severest  financial  crisis  in  the  council's  history. 


Restnictiu'e 


A  plan  of  restructure  for  the  council  calls  for  Church 
World  Service  and  Witness  to  become  semi- 
autonomous,  accountable  directly  to  the  NCCC  General 
Assembly  and  handling  its  own  administration.  The  bulk 
of  the  remaining  council  program  is  to  be  lodged  in  a 
single  unit  called  Unity  and  Service. 

The  restructure  calls  for  the  elimination  of  34  of  122 
positions  for  the  New  York  staff.  Another  250  staff  are 
based  elsewhere.  The  cuts  will  trim  three  associate  gen- 
eral secretary  positions  and  four  director  positions. 

The  restructuring  plan  passed  by  the  assembly  is  so 
complex  and  fluid  that  the  2000  budget  was  yet  to  be 
developed. 


Other  actions 


In  other  deliberations,  the  General  Assembly  adopted  a 
policy  statement  on  interfaith  relations,  urged  the  US 
Congress  to  pass  legislation  to  pay  off  the  $2  billion 
owed  by  the  US  government  to  the  United  Nations,  and 
dealt  with  measures  addressing  racism  and  family  vio- 
lence. 

Still  another  action  set  the  stage  for  the  Alliance  of 
Baptists,  a  Washington.  D.C. -based  communion  of 
60,000  Baptists  and  125  congregations,  to  become  the 
36th  member  of  the  council  at  the  next  assembly. 


1 8  Messenger  January/February  2000 


Ni-wexeciirive 


Elected  as  the  council's  new  general  secretary,  beginning 
)an.  1,  was  Robert  W.  Edgar,  an  ordained  United 
Methodist  elder.  Since  1990  he  has  been  president  of 
Claremont  (Calif.)  School  of  Theology.  Formerly  he 
served  seven  terms  as  a  member  of  the  US  Congress  from 
Pennsylvania. 

Edgar  sees  himself  as  a  salvager  who  can  bring  back 
troubled  institutions,  and  also  as  an  optimist,  a  futurist, 
and  a  coalition-builder.  Those  skills  will  be  useful  as  he 
addresses  the  funding  and  restructuring  challenges  of  the 
council  and  drives  what  he  terms  a  "35-hump  camel." 

Not  unlike  the  varied  interests  that  may  be  present  within 
a  congregation,  the  NCCC  holds  in  membership  "families" 
with  distinct  leanings.  Included  are  seven  denominations 
that  provide  90  percent  of  the  funding,  another  seven  that 
represent  the  historic  Black  churches,  a  cluster  of  Ortho- 
dox communions,  and  smaller  bodies  such  as  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren,  Friends,  and  Swedenborgians.  Such  diver- 
sity virtually  assures  that  decision-making  will  not  be 
readily  cohesive. 


('alliii2: 


On  issues  surrounding  funding  and  direction-setting, 
Ambassador  Young  recalled  a  lesson  from  the  civil  rights 
movement.  "If  we  stayed  on  the  mission,  the  money 
would  come,"  he  said.  "When  the  mission  and  message 


Bretken  at  the  National  (ioiuiciJ 
Asseniljlv— now  and  then. 


1 1 


Six  delegates  from  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  partici- 
pated in  the  NCCC  General  Assembly  in  Cleveland: 
Connie  Burkholder,  Ankeny,  Iowa:  Michael  Hostetter, 
Roanoke,  Va.;  Richard  Speicher,  North  Lima,  Ohio: 
Mary  jo  Flory-Steury,  Dayton,  Ohio;  and  Mervin 
Keeney  and  Judy  Mills  Reimer,  Elgin,  111. 

Thirty  other  Brethren  or  people  from  Brethren-related 
agencies  also  were  present,  including  the  Interchurch 
Relations  Committee,  which  was  hosted  by  the  Brook 
Park  Church  of  the  Brethren. 

Other  Brethren  participants  included  three  NCCC 
staff  who  work  in  regional  offices  of  Church  World  Ser- 
vice: Barry  Henry,  |efferson  City,  Mo.:  lulie  Liggett, 
Denver,  Colo.;  and  Dennis  Metzger,  Springfield,  111. 

More  than  50  Brethren  attended  the  convention  which 


were  not  clear,  the  management  and  the  money  were 
always  inadequate. 

"I  have  seen  that  when  the  church  gets  a  clear  vision,  it 
is  empowered  by  the  Holy  Spirit  to  change  the  world  and 
help  make  all  things  new,"  he  added,  citing  examples  of 
what  he  viewed  as  the  church  being  decisive  and 
prophetic  in  its  witness.  The  list  included  reconstruction 
in  post-war  Europe,  civil  rights  in  the  US,  and  racial  rec- 
onciliation in  South  Africa. 

"The  strains  of  the  council  have  come  from  attempting 
to  live  up  to  the  call  of  |esus  Christ  in  the  last  half  of  the 
20th  century"  Young  stated.  "The  challenge  is  to  hear  the 
call  of  Christ  for  the  2 1  st  century." 


(jiftofimitv 


What  the  council  will  look  like  at  age  60  or  75  is  anyone's 
guess,  though  change  is  a  given.  What  is  known  is  that 
the  member  communions  care  a  great  deal  about  claiming 
the  gift  of  unity  in  Christ  that  God  has  given  to  the 
churches,  and  that  remains  a  key  motivator  in  the 
cause  of  common  witness. 


m 


Howard  Royer  is  staff  for  interpretation  for  the  General  Board. 
Among  communication  tasks  he  has  carried  with  the  NCCC  was 
to  chair  the  committee  that  developed  the  council's  logo  a  decade 
ago  and,  while  on  sabbatical  in  1992.  to  cover  Church  World 
Service  programs  in  Kenya.  Somalia,  and  Zimbabwe. 


Church  of  the  Brethren  delegates,  left  to  right,  front.  Mary  Jo 
Flory-Steury.  Merv  Keeney.  Richard  Speicher:  rear. 
Michael  Hostetter,  Judy  Mills  Reimer.  and  Connie 
Burkholder. 

chartered  the  National  Council  in  Cleveland  in  November 
1950.  Delegates  from  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  were 
Rufus  D.  Bowman,  Paul  M.  Robinson,  Mrs.  E.  R.  Fisher, 
C.  Ernest  Davis,  Raymond  R.  Peters,  and  R.  E.  Mohler. 


January/February  2000  Messenger  1 9 


From 


At  last,  another  Nigerian 

student  gets  clearance 

to  enroll  at  Bethany 

BY  MaRCIA  SUHILI-R 


It  has  been  a  long  journey  lor 
Patrick  Bugu  to  realize  a  dream. 
Long  in  distance  —  he  is  thousands 
of  miles  from  home.  Long  in  wait- 
ing —  including  four  years  and 
many  trips  to  the  LS  F.mbassy  in 
Nigeria.  But  thanks  to  his  patience, 
and  the  continuing  efforts  of 
Bethany  Theological  Seminary  and 
the  Church  of  the  Brethren  General 
Board,  his  dream  of  studying  at 
Bethany  has  finally  come  true.  An 
ordained  pastor  in  the  Ekklesiyar 
Yan'uwa  a  Nigeria  (Church  of  the 
Brethren  in  Nigeria)  Bugu  arrived 
in  the  United  States  Aug.  23  and 
has  settled  in  on  the  Richmond, 
Ind.,  campus. 

Bugu  was  first  invited  to  come  for 
study  in  1 995,  but  in  spite  of  annual  ■' ' 
attempts  he  was  not  granted  a  study 
visa  from  the  US  government  until 
last  summer.  He  has  been  a  pastor, 
but  recently  carried  the  function  of 
librarian  at  the  Theological  College 
of  Northern  Nigeria  in  Bukuru, 
Plateau  State,  an  ecumenical  seminary  of  which  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  is  a  founding  member.  A  second 
leader  who  had  been  invited  since  1995,  Abraham  Wuta 
Tizhe,  has  discontinued  his  bid  to  come  for  study  at  this 
time  due  to  similar  difficulty  in  obtaining  the  study  visa 
and  his  election  as  general  secretary  of  EYN  in  early 
1999. 

Filibus  Gwama  had  been  the  most  recent  Nigerian 
leader  to  study  at  Bethany.  He  graduated  in  1995  and 
currently  serves  the  Maiduguri  congregation  in  northern 
Nigeria,  thought  to  be  the  largest  Church  of  the  Brethren 
congregation  in  the  world. 


A  dream  come  true.  Patrick  Bugu  had  to  wait 
four  years  to  receive  a  visa  to  come  from 
Nigeria  to  study  at  Bethany  Seminary. 


"We  are  delighted  to  have  a 
Nigerian  church  leader  among  us 
again.  Patrick  is  an  able  leader  and 
a  fine  scholar,"  said  Merv  Keeney, 
ihe  General  Board's  director  of 
Global  Mission  Partnerships.  "We 
eagerly  look  forward  to  the  contri- 
butions he  will  make  to  the 
Bethany  community  and  to  our 
relationship  as  sister  churches." 
Providing  scholarships  for  Niger- 
ian church  leaders  to  study  at 
Bethany  has  been  a  joint  effort  of 
the  seminary  and  the  Global  Mis- 
sion Partnerships  office. 

Bugu  says  his  initial  experiences 
in  America  do  not  fit  the  Nigerian 
perception  of  a  nation  of  individu- 
alists each  going  their  own  way. 
He  got  lost  in  Chicago's  O'Hare 
International  Airport,  unable  to 
find  those  who  had  come  to  greet 
him.  An  American  Airlines 
employee  arranged  for  Patrick  to 
spend  the  night  in  a  motel,  though 
he  had  not  flown  on  that  airline. 
"At  that  point,  all  ideas  I  had  about 
America  —  I  just  dropped  them," 
Bugu  said.  His  time  at  Bethany  has  been  more  of  the 
same,  and  the  warm  welcome  from  students  and  profes- 
sors has  impressed  him.  "Every  professor  is  concerned 
that  I  will  do  well,"  he  said.  "They  ask.  Are  you  under- 
standing me?'" 

David  Shetler.  Bethany's  coordinator  of  enrollment 
management,  worked  with  him  through  the  admissions 
process  and  continues,  through  his  work  in  student  devel- 
opment, as  a  resource  now  that  Bugu  is  on  campus.  This 
is  Shetler's  first  experience  with  an  international  student, 
which  has  been  both  enjoyable  and  challenging.  "I  have 
found  that  helping  international  students  adjust  to  semi- 


20  Messenger  January/February  2000 


Closing  the  culture  gap.  Patrick  with  housemates  Barbra  Davis  and  Patricl<  Starkey. 


nary  life  takes 
time,  care,  and 
availability.  We 
deal  with  all 
kinds  ol'  ques- 
tions and 
situations," 
Shetler  said.  He 
taught  Bugu 
how  to  maintain 
a  checking 
account, 
arranged  for 

furniture  and  clothing,  and  found  a  computer  for  him  to 
use.  Shetler  also  had  the  pleasure  of  accompanying  him 
on  his  first  trip  to  the  grocery  store,  and  taking  him  to  a 
restaurant  where  he  had  his  first  taste  of  pizza  and  ham- 
burgers. 

Dale  and  Claire  Ulrich  from  Bridgewater,  Va.,  serving 
as  short-term  volunteers  as  Brethren  House  hosts  at 
Bethany,  were  also  able  to  help.  Dale  tutored  Bugu  on  the 
computer,  and  they  transported  him  to  the  Richmond 
Church  of  the  Brethren  for  Sunday  worship.  "They  treat 
me  just  like  their  own  son,"  Bugu  said. 

The  West  Charleston  Church  of  the  Brethren  near  Tipp 
City,  Ohio,  donated  clothing,  furniture,  and  kitchen 
items.  Lucy  Godbey,  who  coordinated  the  effort,  com- 
ments, "The  people  at  West  Charleston  like  to  help  when 
we  see  a  need.  We  feel  especially  called  to  do  what  we  can 
for  Patrick  as  he  prepares  to  help  his  people  and  to  help 
the  church  in  Nigeria  'continue  the  work  of  [esus:  peace- 
fully, simply,  together.'  We  feel  sure  he  has  been  and  will 
be  an  instrument  of  God's  peace  in  this  country." 

Bugu  shares  a  house  with  two  students,  senior  Patrick 
Starkey  from  Roanoke,  Va.,  and  first-year  student  Barbra 
Davis  from  Ankeny,  Iowa.  The  trio  has  met  the  challenge 
of  tackling  cultural  barriers,  and  the  added  muddle  of  two 
Patricks  living  in  the  same  house.  "Our  neighbor  decided 
she  is  going  to  make  it  easier  on  herself  and  call  me  Pat," 
Barbra  joked. 

Both  housemates  said  they  are  delighted  with  the 
opportunity  to  live  with  and  learn  from  their  new  Niger- 
ian friend.  Starkey  has  served  on  Bethany's  Educational 
Policies  Committee  and  knew  of  the  recent  struggle  to 
bring  a  Nigerian  student  to  Bethany.  "I  was  thrilled  when 
we  were  finally  able  to  have  a  Nigerian  student  again," 
Starkey  said.  "When  I  found  out  he  would  be  living  here, 
that  was  a  bonus."  The  two  Patricks  have  developed  an 
informal  "1  won't  do  that"  list,  referring  to  occasions  that 
are  common  in  the  US  that  the  sometimes  reluctant  Bugu 
has  not  experienced,  such  as  swimming  and  going  to  the 
movies.  He  has  already  crossed  swimming  off  the  list, 
thanks  to  a  trip  to  nearby  Hueston  Woods  State  Park  in 
Ohio  with  professor  Dan  Ulrich  and  family. 


Housemate 
Barbra  Davis 
served  in  Ireland 
through  Brethren 
Volunteer  Ser- 
vice, and  this 
experience  has 
helped  her 
understand 
Bugu's  mixture 
of  British  and 
American  Eng- 
lish. For  example, 
she  knew  that  when  he  asked  for  a  torch  for  his  bicycle,  it 
was  not  a  flaming  stick  that  he  wanted,  but  a  light. 

She  has  enjoyed  the  long,  good  discussions  on  issues 
and  Bugu's  descriptions  of  the  cooperation  of  1  I  denomi- 
nations to  run  TCNN  library.  "Patrick  says  that  the 
Brethren  send  more  visitors,  and  other  denominations 
provide  more  books,"  Davis  commented,  "and  the  people 
there  would  rather  have  more  visitors  than  books  to  make 
a  personal  connection  with  other  parts  of  the  world.  This 
opened  my  eyes  to  what  we  consider  mission  and  the 
importance  of  sending  people.  I  think  we  should  do  more, 
and  I  would  like  to  visit  Nigeria  myself." 

It  was  through  visitors  that  Bugu  began  to  consider 
coming  to  Bethany.  A  visit  by  Murray  Wagner,  professor 
emeritus,  and  seminary  students  sparked  his  interest,  as 
did  conversations  with  other  Nigerian  Bethany  students. 

For  Bugu,  his  wife,  Rebecca,  and  their  five  children 
ages  5-18,  the  next  two  years  of  separation  will  be  long  as 
he  studies  for  his  master  of  arts  in  theology  degree.  He 
says  that  this  opportunity  for  study  "brought  a  mixture  of 
both  sadness  and  joy."  He  gave  daughters  Nuwa,  1  8,  and 
Koni,  16,  instructions  to  give  extra  help  to  their  mother. 

Bugu  is  especially  interested  in  Christian  education  and 
hopes  to  apply  his  new  knowledge  at  home  in  Nigeria. 
EYN  congregations  are  looking  for  ways  to  teach  parents 
that  Christian  education  is  not  just  a  concern  for 
churches  and  schools;  parents  also  have  a  role  in  raising 
children  in  the  faith. 

In  turn,  Bugu's  presence  will  enrich  the  Bethany  commu- 
nity. "Patrick  willingly  shares  in  class  about  his  experiences 
in  Nigeria  and  how  they  differ  from  ours  in  the  US,"  Ulrich 
said.  Starkey  added,  "It's  one  thing  to  study  missions  in  an 
academic  way.  It's  another  to  hear  an  actual  Nigerian  voice 
speaking  about  missions  and  the  relationship  of  the 
EYN  to  the  Church  of  the  Brethren." 


M. 


Marcia  Shetler  has  been  coordinator  of  public  relations  at 
Betlmny  Tlieological  Setninary  since  1996.  Prior  to  that,  she  ivas 
on  staff  at  the  Soiitliern  Ohio  District  office  for  seven  years.  She 
is  from  New  Paris.  Ohio,  and  a  member  oftlie  Oakland  Church 
of  the  Brethren.  Gettysburg.  Ohio. 


lanuary/February  2000  Messenger  21 


A  different  kind 
of  church  camp 


i 


The  newest  Church  of  the  Breth 

Shepherd's  Spring  Outdoor  Mini 

develops  its  ministry  for  all 


STORY  AND  PHOTOS 

BY  Walt  Wiltschek 

Pastor  Pete  Haynes  of  the 
Long  Green  Valley 
Church  of  the  Brethren, 
Glen  Arm,  Md.,  remembers 
going  to  Shepherd's  Spring 
Outdoor  Ministry  Center 
for  its  first  official  summer 
camp  season,  a  youth  camp 
in  the  summer  of  1991. 

The  group  slept  in  tents 
pitched  in  a  field  and  ate  in 
another  large  tent.  Portable 
restroom  units  provided  the 
bathroom  facilities.  Show- 
ers came  during  outings  to 
swimming  pools  in  the  area. 
The  following  few  summers 
saw  meals  served  at  tables 
in  the  garage  of  the  mainte- 
nance building. 

Like  the  quiet  waters  of 
the  small  spring  trickling 
through  the  land  near 
Sharpsburg,  Md.,  the  camp 
on  the  property  surrounding  it  and 
bearing  its  name  had  humble  begin- 
nings. But,  more  like  the  wide 
Potomac  River  that  marks  the  prop- 
erty's boundary,  it  has  grown  and 
flourished  since  then. 

"That  was  the  most  rustic  Shep- 
herd's Spring  ever  was,"  Haynes 
said,  reflecting  on  his  summers  in  the 


Shepherd's  Spring, /or  which  the  camp  was  teamed. 


tents.  "It's  been  gratifying  to  see  it 
evolve  step  by  step,  seeing  the  cabins 
go  up  (in  1992)  and  later  the  lodge 
(1994-95)." 

Beginning  a  new  camp,  the  first 
new  camp  facility  in  the  denomina- 
tion since  the  1970s,  didn't  come 
without  some  pain  and  risk.  The 
camp's  owner,  Mid-Atlantic  District 


ren  camp, 
Sivy  Center         ^ 
ages 

closed  beloved  facilities  at 
Carnp  Woodbrook,  slated  to 
become  a  reservoir  in  Mary- 
land, and  Camp  Shiloh  in 
northern  Virginia.  It  also 
incurred  a  substantial  debt 
from  the  various  start-up 
costs  for  such  a  major  pro- 
ject. 

Rex  Miller  knew  the  chal- 
lenges when  he  was  called  out 
of  a  general  contractor  posi- 
tion in  Michigan  to  become 
the  center's  administrator  in 
1990.  But  he  also  saw  the 
opportunities.  He  saw  a 
chance  to  reshape  the  face  of 
outdoor  ministry. 

"We  felt  if  we  developed  a 
camp  for  kids  it  couldn't  sus- 
tain itself  in  a  timely 
manner,"  Miller  said.  "There- 
fore we  had  to  develop  a 
center  for  all  ages,  an  across- 
the-board  ministry.  The 
facilities  were  going  to  have 
to  be  different." 
And  they  are.  The  village's 
six  cabins  each  contain  their  own 
bathroom  and  a  state -mandated  water 
fountain.  The  lodge  has  the  look  and 
feel  of  a  ski  chalet.  A  gleaming  in- 
ground  swimming  pool  sits  next  to  a 
spacious  bathhouse.  Higher  rental 
prices  reflect  a  business  approach.  For 
some  in  the  district,  used  to  more 
rustic  camp  settings,  it  required  a 


22  Messenger  January/February  2000 


.change  in  thinking. 

"There  was 
(always  a  bit  of 
'hesitancy  about  its 
'Size  and  scope," 
said  Sue  Ellen 
^Wheatley,  chair  of 
the  district's 
strong  Outdoor 
Ministry  Commis- 
sion. "The  hardest  thing  is  to  get 
people  to  think  differently  about 
camp.  It's  not  how  most  of  us  grew 
up  thinking  about  camping. 

"The  people  who  go  out  and  e.xpe- 
^rience  it  have  nothing  but  positive 
things  to  say.  though.  They  like  the 
facility  and  the  hospitality  there." 

Hospitality  has  been  one  of 
^Miller's  key  points  in  developing  the 
center,  as  has  been  partnering  with 
other  agencies. 

He  joined  forces  with  Hagerstown 
(Md.)  Community  College  to  offer 
Elderhostel  programs  at  the  center. 
Shepherd's  Spring  and  Camp 
Mardela  —  the  district's  other  camp, 
on  the  Eastern  Shore  of  Maryland  — 
•have  joined  forces  to  offer  a  number 
of  specialty  camps  each  summer.  On 
I  Earth  Peace  Assembly  has  held 
[events  there. 

Miller  has  more  dreams  for  the 
center,  too,  some  of  which  are 
'already  moving  forward. 

This  past  fall's  Mid-Atlantic  dis- 
►  tnct  conference  approved  an 
additional  loan  of  586,000  to  winter- 
ize the  existing  cabins  and  refurbish 
a  basement  room  in  the  lodge  as  an 
additional  conference  room.  With 
many  more  groups  wanting  to  use 
the  camp  than  the  current  facility 
permits.  Miller  hopes  to  significantly 
increase  usage  with  the  extra 
options.  Year-round  program  staff 
members  are  also  being  sought. 
In  addition.  Shepherd's  Spring  is 


A  view  of  the  lodge  at  Shepherd's  Spring  Outdoor  Ministry  Center 


launching  a  youth  spirituality  pro- 
gram called  "The  God-Centered 
Life."  with  a  session  for  parents, 
mentors,  and  other  interested  adults 
this  spring,  and  a  week-long  spiritu- 
ality-focused camp  for  youth  in  early 
|uly.  A  partnership  with  the  General 
Board's  Youth/Young  Adult  office 
facilitated  the  project,  and  a  planning 
committee  from  across  the  denomi- 
nation has  helped  to  develop  it. 

Some  funding  for  the  spirituality 
program  also  came  via  the  insurance 
proceeds  from  a  fire  that  destroyed 
the  maintenance  building  in  1998. 
another  case  of  success  arising  from 
challenge. 

"My  hopes  are  that  we  are  able  to 
develop  a  model  where  youth  go  into 
adulthood  with  a  more  adult  faith 
than  they  do  now,  because  many 
drop  out."  said  Miller,  a  member  of 
the  Hagerstown  (Md.)  congregation. 
"We  think  it's  going  to  enliven  the 
church  when  youth  get  excited. 
We've  seen  it  happen." 

Amid  all  that,  the  initial  debt  of 
more  than  $1  million  (out  of  a  $5.5 
million  project)  has  been  decreasing, 
to  less  than  $880,000  as  of  Aug.  5  1 . 
Three  capital  fund  campaigns  helped 
pay  for  the  start-up  costs  and  subse- 
quent principal  and  interest 
payments.  Much  of  the  bank  debt 
was  taken  over  by  loans  from  congre- 
gations and  individuals  in  the 
district. 

Shepherd's  Spring  has  already  been 


able  to  carry 
about  two-thirds 
of  the  debt  load 
out  of  its  own 
operations,  just 
under  a  decade 
since  its  birth. 
Gifts  have  pro- 
vided the  funds  to 
cover  the  rest. 
There  have  been  other  blessings, 
such  as  the  fact  that  the  Dunker 
Meetinghouse  on  Antietam  Battlefield 
is  nearby.  Haynes,  the  chair  of  the 
camp's  board  for  1999,  said  it  has 
provided  an  important  opportunity  to 
teach  the  denomination's  history  and 
heritage  to  a  wider  community. 

And  as  the  peaceful  meetinghouse 
was  situated  in  the  center  of  a  bloody 
Civil  War  battle,  Haynes  said  the 
nearby  outdoor  ministries  of  Shep- 
herd's Spring  can  be  another  way  of 
Brethren  being  "right  in  the  middle" 
of  meeting  people's  needs  today. 
That  echoes  Miller's  mission  of 
making  the  center  a  "source  of 
renewal."  Paying  off  the  remaining 
debt  and  filling  the  ongoing  need  for 
volunteers  remain  as  challenges,  but 
he  feels  good  about  the  ministry  that 
is  being  provided. 

"After  10  years,  it's  still  exciting  to 
go  to  the  office  every  morning," 
Miller  said.  "I  think  when  I  applied 
for  the  job  I  had  some  goals  that 
were  unstated.  I  wanted  to  be  open 
to  the  Spirit  and  the  energy  in  the 
district.  In  many  ways,  what  has  hap- 
pened at  Shepherd's  Spring  has  far 
exceeded  anything  I  ever  envi-      rjri 
sioned."  i      1 

WaU  Wihsciiek  is  associate  pastor  of 
the  Westminster  (Md.)  Church  of  t lie 
Brethren.  On  fan.  31  he  begins  his  new 
position  as  manager  of  news  services  for 
tlie  General  Board. 


January/February  2000  Messenger  23 


Celebrating  25  ^ears 
ofpeacemaKing 

With  a  proud  past, 
)n  Earth  Peace  Assembly  plans  its  future 


STORY  AND  PHOTOS 

BY  Walt  Wiltschek 

Blessed  are  the  peacemakers. 
One  group  of  them  certainly 
was  blessed  as  it  gathered  for  five 
days  in  late  October. 

The  approximately  120  people  who 
came  to  western  Maryland  for  On 
Earth  Peace  Assembly's  25th 
anniversary  celebration  found 
renewal,  insight,  revitalization,  and 
even  warm  sunshine. 

Tom  Hurst,  OEPA's  executive 
director,  deemed  the  event  an  all- 
around  success.  "Who  would  have 
thought  that  in  late  October  it  would 
be  sunny  and  warm  the  whole 
week?"  Hurst  said.  "Everything  went 
beyond  expectations.  It  was  wonder- 
ful. I  think  we  planned  the  individual 
parts  well,  but  it's  like  God  took  over 
and  made  the  whole  more  than  the 
sum  of  its  parts.  As  I  hsten  to  people 
share,  it's  obvious  that  it  became 
much  more." 

Some  of  the  denomination's  leading 
musicians;  speakers  and  teachers  in 


Andy  Murray  accepts  recognition  for 
peacemaking  efforts  on  behalf  of 
Juniata  College  peace  studies  program. 

24  Messenger  January/February  2000 


peace,  justice,  and  service  issues;  and 
experts  in  Brethren  history  gathered 
for  the  event,  held  at  Shepherd's 
Spring  Outdoor  Ministries  Center  and 
the  Hagerstown  (Md.)  Church  of  the 
Brethren. 

Hurst  developed  the  vision  of  a  mul- 
tiple-day event  as  he  talked  with  OEPA 
board  members  and  others,  then 
began  working  with  his  staff  to  line  up 
all  the  details  over  the  past  year.  He 
wanted  to  find  ways  to  celebrate  the 
past,  present,  and  future  of  the  organi- 
zation as  it  entered  the  next  25  years. 

The  final  product  offered  an  initial 
three  days  featuring  a  series  of 
courses  led  by  Don  Durnbaugh, 
Phyllis  Carter,  and  Ken  l-Creider,  each 
focusing  on  different  aspects  of 
peacemaking.  General  Board  staff 
members  David  Radcliff,  Dan 
McFadden,  and  Merv  Keeney  added 
presentations  on  current  Brethren 
involvement  in  their  areas  of  exper- 
tise. In  addition,  small-group 
interaction  times  allowed  more  in- 
depth  exploration  of  one  of  these 
areas  of  interest,  and  "coffeehouse" 
story-sharing  times  gave  opportuni- 
ties for  participants  to  share 
powerful  stories  and  assorted  memo- 
ries with  each  other. 

Hurst  said  that  folksinger  Ruth 
Fitz  of  York,  Pa.,  provided  "the  glue" 
by  leading  early-morning  worship 
experiences  that  set  the  focus  for 
each  day.  Air  Force  doctor  Dennis 
Lipton,  seeking  classification  as  a 
conscientious  objector,  also  managed 
to  come  as  a  last-minute  addition  to 
the  program  [see  News,  p.  8].  Partic- 
ipants surrounded  him  in  a  prayer 
circle  and  promised  support. 

Those  days  led  into  a  two-day  week- 
end program,  bringing  a  choice  of 
workshops  on  Saturday  morning  led 


by  OEPA  director  Hurst,  OEPA  board 
members  Dale  Brown  and  Illana 
Naylor,  and  Ministry  of  Reconciliation 
coordinator  Bob  Gross.  In  the  after- 
noon, participants  could  learn  about 
the  people  and  programs  to  be  recog- 
nized at  that  evening's  banquet,  hear 
from  Brethren  Volunteer  Service 
worker  Bridget  Marchio  of  Finksburg, 
Md.,  or  take  a  tour  of  the  Dunker 
Meetinghouse  on  nearby  Antietam 
batriefield.  Dale  Brown,  dressed  in 
black  and  sporting  his  old-style 
Brethren  beard,  gave  a  history  of  the 
meetinghouse  and  drew  in  several 
curious  tourists  during  his  talk. 

Recognized  by  OEPA  at  the  ban- 
quet were  the  peace  studies 
programs  of  Manchester  and  Juniata 
colleges,  praised  for  providing 
"another  way  of  learning  and  living," 
along  with  death  penalty  abolition 
activist  SueZann  Bosler  and  Baker 
Peace  Institute  director  Andy 
Murray.  The  Brethren  folk  group 
Kindling  (minus  member  Lee 
Krahenbiihl,  who  had  another 
engagement)  wrapped  up  the 
evening  with  a  concert.  The  Lee-less 


SueZann  Bos\er  addresses  the  group 
after  receiving  the  Barbara  Date 
Reconciliation  Recognition. 


(three  gave  a 
moving  and 
inspirational  per- 
formance: pianist 
Shawn  Kirchner 
joked  that  the 
group  wanted  "to 
pull  out  as  many 
of  our  overt 
peace  songs  as 
we  could"  as  he 
introduced 
"Peace  Pilgrim's 
Prayer." 

Following  a 
cotteehouse  time  at  Shepherd's  Spring  on  Saturday 
evening,  the  celebration  concluded  back  at  Hagerstown 
Sunday  morning  with  a  time  of  worship.  Roger  Schrock, 
chosen  as  someone  "who  could  push  us  into  the  future 
without  fear  and  make  us  think  about  what  it  means  to  be 
peacemakers,"  according  to  Hurst,  delivered  the  morning 
message  of  "Mirroring  Peace." 

Hurst  said  the  event  has  convinced  him  that  OEPA 
needs  to  be  more  involved  with  adults  rather  than  just 
working  with  youth,  as  it  primarily  has  in  recent  years. 
He  said  he  also  hopes  to  work  at  more  projects  in  con- 
junction with  General  Board  staff  to  combine  the 


Bridget  Marchio,  who  just  finished  a  Brethren  Vohinteer  Service  term  near 
Littleton.  Colo.,  was  one  of  the  workshop  presenters,  describing  her  experiences 
there.  Here  she  plays  with  the  children  of  OEPA  program  coordinator  Barb 
Leininger  Dickason.  Morgan  and  Sean. 


strengths  of  the  two 
organizations.  "We 
once  again  need  to 
find  ways  to  do 
events  that  not  only 
lift  up  people  of 
peace,  but  teach 
and  prod  also," 
Hurst  said. 

OEPA  program 
coordinator  Barb 
Leininger  Dicka- 
son, meanwhile, 
summed  up  the 
spirit  of  the 
anniversary  event  as  she  concluded  a  historical  recitation 
about  the  organization.  Since  its  founding  by  M.R. 
Zigler,  OEPA  has  been  a  General  Board  program,  an 
independent  entity,  and  now  an  Annual  Conference 
agency.  "One  senses  that  the  best  is  yet  to.  come,"  Dicka- 
son said.  "It  is  a  storied  history  that  is  part  of  God's 
history  in  the  world  and  the  history  of  the  Church  of    rrri 
the  Brethren."  'iHzJ 

Walt  Wiltschek  is  associate  pastor  of  the  Westminster  (Md.) 
Church  of  the  Brethren.  On  fan.  31  lie  begins  his  new  position  as 
manager  of  news  services  for  the  General  Board. 


Brethrening 


Family  values 

My  future  daughter-in-law  gave  me  a  baffled  look  when  I 
mentioned  the  possibility  of  a  picnic.  This  was  her  first 
time  to  attend  one  of  our  family  gatherings,  so  I  assumed 
she  was  perhaps  shy. 

The  weather  had  been  sunny  and  dry  all  week.  A  beach 
outing  with  sandwiches,  fruit,  some  chips,  dessert  seemed 
fine  to  me. 

After  we  ate  and  fed  scraps  to  the  gulls  we  walked, 
enjoyed  the  waves  whooshing,  lapping  our  bare  feet,  the 
sun  warming  our  backs.  But  she  was  quiet — polite,  but 
she  appeared  to  be  pining  for  something. 

I  hoped  she  wasn't  disappointed  in  our  family.  We  gave 
no  signs  of  discord.  All  seemed  placid.  The  only  scream- 
ing was  that  of  the  sea  birds. 

Later  I  learned  the  cause  of  her  discontent.  She  was 
used  to  a  traditional  Thanksgiving  feast — turkey,  dress- 
ing, mashed  potatoes,  gravy,  turnips,  corn,  pies,  as  the 
Pilgrims  had  instituted.  She  must  have  had  an  inkling  that 
day  that  the  family  she  was  about  to  join  was  non-conven- 
tional. Our  only  adhering  to  our  foreparents'  custom  was 
the  turkey  in  the  sandwiches. 


Another  shock  to  our  son's  wife  occurred  a  few  years 
ago,  during  the  Christmas  season.  The  week  before  the 
holiday  she  stopped  in,  looked  around  the  family  room, 
and  faced  me,  hands  on  hips.  No  longer  shy  nor  even 
bewildered  at  our  failure  to  follow  established  custom, 
just  occasionally  questioning  our  sanity,  she  asked, 
"Where's  your  tree?" 

I  pointed  to  a  small  stool  beside  the  couch.  On  it  stood 
my  six-inch-high  Christmas  cactus,  adorned  with  tiny 
lights  and  balls.  She  shook  her  head,  rolled  her  eyes,  left. 
The  next  day  she  brought  a  small  potted  Norfolk  pine. 
"You  need  a  real  tree,"  she  said. 

Today  that  pine  stands  in  the  corner  of  the  back  yard. 
12  feet  tall. 

She  has  occasionally  confided  that  the  thought  of  a  hol- 
iday picnic  rather  than  all  of  the  kitchen  work  sounds 
inviting,  but  the  smell  of  the  meat  roasting  when  we  go 
there  for  Christmas  dinner  each  year  is  hard  to  beat, 
maybe  even  better  than  turkey  sandwiches  on  the  beach. 
— Iean  Lersch 

lean  Lersch  is  a  member  of  First  Church  of  the  Brethren.  St. 
Petersburg.  Fla. 


January/February  2000  Messenger  25 


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26  Messenger  January/February  2000 


Flashbacks  from  a  disaster  scene 


BY  Lydia  Walker 


For  1  1  days  in  early  November,  I  was  one  of  those 
nameless  persons,  mentioned  in  news  reports 
under  the  category  of  "hundreds  of  emergency 
relief  personnel"  who  lived  and  worked  in  a 
secured  compound  in  Newport,  R.I. 

The  crash  of  an  airliner,  especially  one  as  mysterious 
and  terrible  as  EgyptAir  Flight  990,  generates  much 
media  attention.  Government  agencies,  the  New  York 
Police  Department,  American  Red  Cross,  all  leap  into 
emergency  mode.  I  am  asked  frequently  what  it  was  like 
being  there  with  families  of  victims,  FBI  investigators. 
Red  Cross  workers,  government  personnel?  "How  are 
\ou  feeling?  Are  you  okay?" 

1  realize  these  are  expressions  of  love  and  concern  .  .  . 
as  though  I  might  have  become  a  victim  of  this  tragedy, 
too.  Even  now.  in  my  more  or  less  normal  routines,  I  still 
;  jump  to  turn  up  the  radio  at  the  mention  of  Flight  990.  I 
think  about  the  children  who  became  part  of  our  CAIR 
family  during  those  days.  I  ask  myself,  what  if  I  had  lost 
loved  ones  on  this  flight? 

I  have  flashbacks  of  the  twilight  scene  at  the  memorial 
service  on  the  shore  of  the  Atlantic.  A  bright  orange  Coast 
Guard  helicopter,  with  a  basket  of  flowers,  hovered  for 
what  seemed  an  eternity  before  turning  and  disappearing 
beyond  the  horizon. 

I  am  okay.  Changed,  yes,  but  not  damaged,  as  our  Red 
I  Cross  CAIR  Team  training  taught  us.  So  why  make  a  big 
deal  out  of  this?  Does  anyone  get  excited  and  sentimental 
about  thousands  of  children  who  die  of  disease  and  star- 
vation every  day?  Or  people  who  are  dying  from  AIDS  or 
breast  cancer?  All  of  the  statistics  of  the  disaster  plus  all 
of  the  statistics  of  what  Emergency  Response/  CAIR 
Team  personnel  did  in  Newport,  R.I.,  can  be  stated  in  one 
paragraph.  "XX  people  died  on  Flight  990.  A  team  of  X 
volunteers  worked  a  little  over  a  week  and  cared  for  X 
number  of  children." 

I  ponder  this.  In  some  ways,  this  operation  was  like 
many  other  disaster  responses  with  which  Brethren  folk 
are  so  familiar.  One  goes  to  help  others,  finds  compan- 
ions on  the  way,  encounters  obstacles  and  frustrations, 
sleeps  poorly  in  a  strange  bed,  goes  without  meals,  gets 
lost  in  a  strange  town,  comes  home  relieved  to  be  home 
but  satisfied  to  have  been  able  to  serve. 

But  the  untold  story,  the  faces,  the  sounds,  the  reflec- 
tions burned  into  one's  memory,  cannot  be  summarized 
in  one  paragraph.  Scraps  from  my  journal  help  me  to 
understand  what  really  happened  in  Newport. 

Getting  a  call  early  Sunday  morning.  I  am  already  on 
my  way  to  church.  Getting  on  an  airplane  to  fly  to  the 
very  same  airport  where  the  ill-fated  jet  took  off  only 
hours  earlier. 


Why  am  I  doing  this?  Because  it's  my  job.  Not  because 
it's  my  "paid"  job.  Because  I  made  the  commitment  to 
drop  everything  if  the  CAIR  Team  is  called  out  with  our 
partner,  the  American  Red  Cross.  "We  have  a  plane 
down.  Get  to  JFK  by  mid-afternoon  today." 

I  am  going  to  be  a  comforting  presence  for  the  families 
and  the  youngsters  who  are  all  waiting  to  hear  news, 
already  grieving  what  they  cannot  admit  is  true.  I  am 
going  because  my  team  is  counting  on  me,  five  others 
waiting  to  be  told  when  to  leave  their  home  bases  and  join 
me  in  a  CAIR  Team  operation. 

In  New  York,  my  ID  is  checked  by  tired  police  who  have 
been  up  all  night.  An  early  morning  commuter  flight  takes 
me  through  fog  to  Newport,  R.I. 

I  reflect  on  how  the  western  mind  screams  out  for  con- 
clusive answers.  Why?  How?  Who  did  it?  A  world  view 
that  obsesses  on  numbers  —  how  many  casualties,  how 
many  bodies  found,  the  size  in  millimeters  of  pieces  of 
debris  retrieved.  Focused  on  preventing  the  next  tragedy. 
But  still  grieving. 

Then  I  reflect  on  the  Middle  Eastern  mind,  particularly 
the  Islamic  tradition,  accepting  Allah's  will,  focused  on 
the  faithful  acts  of  prayer,  not  trying  to  discern  God's 
reasons.  And  still  grieving.  How  far  apart  we  seem.  How 
difficult  the  language  barriers.  How  easy  to  judge  and  to 
stereotype.  Yet  how  close  we  are  as  humans,  created  by 
the  One  God. 

Now  1  see  a  chaplain  put  his  hand  gently  on  a  man's 
shoulder  and  watch  as  the  grieved  one  crumples  into  the 
arms  of  the  chaplain.  I  see  two  women,  two  different  cul- 
tures, speaking  the  language  of  motherhood.  "Help  me 
understand  my  child.  How  do  I  tell  my  son  about  his 
grandmother?"  I  see  an  exhausted  infant,  limp  with  sleep, 
snuggled  across  the  broad  chest  of  a  CAIR  Team  member, 
a  dad  himself.  I  see  bouquets  of  flowers  and  cards  hand 
drawn  by  school  children,  expressions  of  sympathy  from 
Americans. 

A  new  friend  wipes  away  her  own  tears  and  hugs  me.  I 
see  love  in  action  in  this  outpouring  of  concern  for  the 
families  of  2 1  7  victims  of  EgyptAir  Flight  990.  I  watch 
the  ocean,  ebbing  and  flowing,  as  though  nothing  out  of 
the  ordinary  had  happened  at  all. 

The  God  of  Hope  is  present  in  each  of  these  moments.  I 
open  to  receive  the  grace  in  each  experience;  there  are 
gifts  in  every  personal  encounter,  each  child's  request  to 
play  or  be  held,  each  wave  reaching  for  the  shore, 
each  new  dawn. 


M. 


Lydia  Walker,  of  Berkeley  Springs.  W.Va..  is  coordinator  for 
training  and  outreach  for  Emergency  Response/Service  Min- 
istries, a  program  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  General  Board. 


January/February  2000  Messenger  27 


Li 


e 


The  October  issue  asked  readers  to  write  in  with 

their  dreams  for  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  in  the 

21st  century.  Below  are  some  of  the  dreams  we  received. 


Courage  to  speak  out 

I  pray  that  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren  will  honor  its  heritage  by 
continuing  to  speak  for  what  is  right, 
but  equally  important  is  to  have  the 
courage  to  speak  out  against  all 
wrongs  throughout  the  world.  We 
must  be  willing  to  commit  our  lives 
to  peace  and  be  a  church  where  all 
are  welcome  to  have  a  strong  rela- 
tionship with  God  through  Christ. 

Robert  D.  Garner 
Lititz.  Pa. 

Keep  name  to  save  energy 

My  dream  for  our  church  is  that  we 
use  our  energies  to  reach  out  to 
those  who  have  not  claimed  the  name 
of  fesus,  not  using  that  energy  to 
change  our  Brethren  name.  Isaiah 
62:2  tells  us  we  will  be  given  a  new 
name.  Let's  wait! 

Velina  Bowman 
New  Windsor.  Md. 

Emphasize  common  beliefs 

1  dream  of  the  day  when  the  gospel 
will  be  taught  that  lesus  came  to 
show  and  teach  by  His  living  how 
God  the  creator  would  have  people 
live  with  all  others  of  His  creation. 
Christmas  celebrations,  worship  ser- 
vices, and  teaching  would  emphasize 
Jesus"  living  of  God's  "way,"  not 
emphasize  the  name  of  |esus. 

Worship  should  emphasize  the 
common  beliefs  of  all  of  God's 
people.  It  should  not  emphasize  their 
differences.  A  person  filled  with 
God's  spirit  does  not  have  a  spirit  of 
competition  and  exclusive  knowl- 
edge. 

This  has  been  my  dream  since  1 
was  a  young  adult  and  I  am  now  84 


years  old.  I  feel  sad  to  hear  so  much 
emphasis  on  the  Christian  religion 
compared  to  other  religions.  I  do 
believe  there  are  many  of  God's 
people  who  are  not  called  Christian. 
The  world  needs  to  know  and  feel 
God's  love  for  them. 

D.  Maxine  Naragon 

Pine  Creehi  CImrch  of  the  Brethren 

North  Liberty.  Ind. 

Gospel  is  the  power  of  God 

I  have  a  vision  of  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren  accepting  the  challenge  of 
Romans  1:16.  I  dream  of  the  church 


being  empowered  by  the  gospel. 

I  dream  that  we  call  all  to  salvation 
in  Christ.  That  we  call  all  to  Bible 
study.  That  we  call  all  to  be  peace- 
makers. That  we  call  all  to  be  Good 
Samaritans.  That  we  call  all  to  for- 
give as  God,  in  Christ,  has  forgiven 
us.  That  we  call  all  to  cultivate  the 
fruits  of  the  spirit.  And  that  we  call 
all  to  accept  the  anointing  of  their 
baptism  and  begin  their  ministry. 

It  is  my  dream  that  we  all  become 
open  to  the  power  of  the  gospel — the 
power  of  God! 

Don  Flint 
Sterling  Heights,  Mich. 


Would  you 
drop  a  bomb 
on  this  child? 


Then  why  do  you  pay  someone  who  would? 

All  U.S.  citizens  are  required  to  pay  for  war 
through  their  taxes.  The  Peace  Tax  Fund  would 
allow  people  opposed  to  war  because  of  deeply- 
held  moral  or  religious  beliefs  to  stop  paying  for  it. 
They  could  pay  their  full  taxes  into  a  fund  that 
would  be  used  for  non-military  purposes  only. 

For  more  information,  contact: 


*^ 


14\TioNAL  Campaign  For  A 
Peace  Tax  Fund 

2121    Decatur    Place    NW 
Washington    DC      20008-1923 
(202)  483-3751 


28  Messenger  January/February  2000 


Brethren  Service  in  Europe 

1  am  blessed  to  see  the  November 
Messenger  with  its  update  on  BVS 
in  Europe.  It  is  a  joy  to  see  the  mean- 
ingful evolvement  of  projects  since  I 
served  in  Germany  in  the  1950s. 

Clyde  Carter 
Daleville.  Va. 

Can  CPT  become  an  arm  of 
the  Church  of  the  Brethren? 

I  was  ready  to  share  the  following  at 
an  open  microphone  session  at 
Annual  Conference  in  Milwaukee,  a 
session  which  never  happened. 

So  now  I  share  it  with  the  Messen- 
ger readership: 

War  happens  and  so  peacemaking 
must  happen.  Peacemaking  comes 
from  the  soul  of  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren;  it  is  authentically  us.  In 
these  times  of  war  and  violence,  the 
church  has  a  task.  Peacemaking  is 
active.  It  is  the  act  of  planting  little 
colonies  of  life  directly  in  the  path  of 
death  and  its  scourges. 

Peacemaking  can  be  a  fearful  act, 
but  in  Christian  Peacemaker  Teams  we 
have  experienced  it  as  a  joyful  act. 
Our  experience  has  been  that  God 
carries  us  in  that  peacemaking  action. 

In  CPT  we  need  active,  spiritual 
peacemakers  of  all  ages  who  are  will- 
ing to  act  to  prevent  the  violence, 
racism  and  injustice  of  war  before  it 
destroys  people.  The  Church  of  the 
Brethren  has  done  well  the  task  of 
rebuilding  after  wars;  it  is  time  now 
for  God"s  people  to  take  the  initia- 
tive. We  must  be  peacemakers  before 
and  during  to  stop  the  wars. 

CPT  recently  has  had  requests  for 
violence  reduction  help  from  Puerto 
Rico,  Colombia,  centers  of  urban 
injustice  and  violence  in  the  US,  abo- 
riginal groups  in  Canada,  the  conflict 
between  Eritrea  and  Ethiopia,  and 
from  India.  God's  call  is  for  an  abun- 


dance of  peace  warriors. 

This  time  and  this  call  is  uniquely 
ours  in  the  Church  of  the  Brethren. 
This  task  can  become  our  identity 
(and  perhaps  impact  our  name  as  the 


editor  suggests).  How  can  we  graft 
CPT  on  as  an  ecumenical  arm  of  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren? 

Cliff  Kindy 
North  Manchester.  Ind. 


yvhy  is  Sarafi  Major  smiCing 
after  aCC these  years? 


'Because  her  story  is  now  Being  toCcQ 

Infamous  in  the  mid  1800s  as  a  woman  preacher  in  a  tradition  controlled  by 
men,  Sister  Sarah  bravely  preached  the  gospel  wherever  people  invited  her  to 
speak.  In  An  Uncommon  Woman,  Nancy  Kettering  Frye  provides  details,  facts, 
and  stories  about  the  life  of  the  first  woman  preacher  in  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren.  Step  into  the  early  19'"  century  and  meet  the  men  and  women  who 
influenced  Sarah  Righter  Major's  life  and  supported  her  preaching  ministiy 


New  from  Brethren  Press 

An  Uncommon  Woman: 

The  Life  and  Times 
of  Sarah  Righter  Major 

by  Nancy  Kettering  Frye 


Brethren  Press 


1451  Dundee  Avenue 

Elgin,  Illinois  60120-1694 

phone  800-441-3712 

fax  800-667-8188 

e-mail  brethrenprcss_gl')@brethrcn.org 


$6  ^~  plus  shipping  &  handling 


January/February  2000  Messenger  29 


Classified  Ads 


CONFERENCES 

A  Regional  Conference  on  Spiritual  Renewal,  Renovare, 
with  Richard  Foster  and  team  is  being  sponsored  by  the 
Atlantic  Northeast  District  on  March  10th  and  11th,  2000 
at  Elizabethtown  College.  The  conference  will  benefit 
those  seeking  a  balanced  approach  to  spirituality.  Call 
the  District  Office  at  717-367-4730  to  register  at  $25.00. 
Seating  limited  to  840.  David  Young,  co-chair  Spiritual 
Renewal  Team,  young_dsy464@desupernet.net. 

INVITATION 

First  Church  of  the  Brethren  in  Winter  Park.  Florida, 

will  be  celebrating  its  75th  Anniversar)'  on  February  12 
and  13, 2000.  All  former  members  and  friends  are  invited 
to  join  in  a  Saturday  evening  time  of  memory  sharing 
and  a  Sunday  morning  celebration.  Greetings,  pictures 
and  memorabilia  will  be  appreciated.  To  send  items, 
obtain  additional  information,  or  make  reservations  for 
a  Sunday  noon  Anniversary  Dinner,  please  write  to  First 
Church  of  the  Brethren,  1721  Harmon  Avenue,  Winter 
Park,  FL  32789  (telephone  and  fax;  407-644-3981). 

Yes,  there  is  a  Church  of  the  Brethren  in  Jack- 
sonville, Florida.  It  is  nestled  one  mile  south  of  I-IO 


(exit  55)  between  1-95  and  1-295  -(between  Ca.ssat  and 
Hamilton).  Pastor  Herb  Weaver  invites  you  to  come 
and  worship  with  us.  Phone  904-384-3375. 

Stay  at  the  Hospitality  House  in  St.  Petersburg 
Fla.— a  week,  two  weeks,  a  month— any  time  of  the 
year.  Everything  furnished  but  your  food.  Sleeps  up  to 
8  conveniently  (all  of  one  party).  Clergy  or  laity  families 
welcome.  Reasonable  donation  requested.  Contact  for 
details,  cost,  scheduling,  and  reservation  form:  First 
Church  of  the  Brethren,  3651 71st  Street  North,  St.  Peters- 
burg, FL  33710-(727)381-0709-PnJLersch(a)juno.com. 
Come  and  let  us  enjoy  your  friendship! 

TRAVEL 

Travel  with  a  purpose  to:  Eastern  Europe  and 

the  "Passion  Play,"  July  31  to  August  l4,  2000,  with 
Wendell  and  Joan  Bohrer.  Visit  Prague,  Vienna, 
Budapest,  Bratislava,  Krakow,  Warsaw  and  much  more. 
First  Class  tickets  to  the  Passion  Play,  Folklore  Show 
in  Warsaw,  Prague  and  Budapest.  A  Danube  River  Cruise 
in  Budapest.  Buffet  breakfast  and  dinner  throughout. 
Contact  the  Bohrers  bv  mail— 
3651  US  Hwv  27  S.  #40,  Sebring,  FL  33870.0  Tel/Fax 


94l-382-93"l.  E-mail  rdwboh(«  strato.net  ! 

Travel  with  us  by  coach  to  Annual  Conference  i 

in  Kansas  City  leaving  Elizabethtown,  July  13,  return- 
ing July  21.  Visit  Bethany  Seminar)'  in  Richmond,  Indiana 
enroute.  For  information,  please  write  to  J.  Kenneth 
Kreiiler,  1300  Sheaffer  Rd,  Elizabethtown  PA  17022.    ,' 

Travel  to  the  White  Continent— Antarctica— includ-  ! 

mg  Ai'gentina  and  Urugua\-,  January  2001.  Optional  visiLs  | 

to  Iguassau  Falls  and  Chile  available.  Write  to  J.  Kenneth  j 

Kreider.  1300  Sheaffer  Road,  Elizabethtown  PA  r022.  | 

POSITION  AVAILABLE 

Second  Mile  peace  curriculum  is  seeking  a  graphic  [ 
ilcsigiicr  to  work  on  a  contract  basis.  Responsibilities  [ 
include  design  and  layout  for  all  components.  Bulk  of  [ 
work  will  be  in  fall  2000,  some  in  summer  2001.  Appli- 
cants are  to  submit  a  portfolio.  Short-listed  applicants 
will  be  asked  to  provide  sample  design.  Apply  by  Feb.  ! 
15,  2000.  For  more  information  contact  Doug  Krehbiel,  I 
316-283-5100,  dougk@'gcmc.org.  Second  Mile  mate-  i 
rials  will  help  congregations  proclaim  and  be  signs  of  j 
Christ's  peace  in  a  broken  world. 


H 

,^9  Alexander  ;»,^^ 

V^^^                God's  Leading...  Our  Legacy                    ^ 
Celebrating  75  Years!  (1925-2000) 

We  invite  you  to  our  special  anniversary  events  in  2000: 

January  16 "1  Have  a  Dream"  Friends  Dinner                  Sentember  8-9/15-16 District  Ctinffirencfis  (S  Mack 

February  11-12 Sweetheart  Weekend 

March  31 -April  2 "Spring  into  Wellness"  Weekend 

April  21-22 Good  Friday  Easter  Play  Retreat 

September  24 RM.  Golf  Outing  @  Honeywell 

October  7 Alexander  Mack  Festival 

November  19 Volunteer  Honors  Banquet 

May  20 A.M.  Golf  Outing;  Afternoon 

December  2-9 Caribbean  Cruise 

Worship  w/  Andrew  Young 
&  Dedication  of  New  Mural 

&  Shamberger  Cabin 

June  25 P.M.  Concert  w/  Youth  Camp 

Julys Family  Carnival 

August  12-13 Staff  Reunion  Weekend 

We  need  your  help!!! 

If  you  know  the  whereabouts  of  any  past  Camp  Mack  staff  members, 
please  notify  us  so  that  we  may  invite  them  to  our  Staff  Reunion. 

Phone:  (219)658-4831  •Email:  campmack@npcc.net •  W^ebsite:  www.campmack.org 

30  Messenger  January/February  2000 


t\lew  members 

kiir  Creek.  IXiMiMi.  Ohio:  Melissa 
liiKlKT,  Diislin  O'Hair,  Marcic 
D Hair,  l.indsev  Wenzel 
Jliick  Rock,  Glenville.  Pa.:  Megan 
\tiwlin.  Nicole  Stremmel.  Gerald 
(.icbharl,  Wynne  Hoffacker 
riiarlollcsville,  Va.:  Dan  and  Mary 

\kCombs 
rio\er  Creek,  Fredericksburg,  Pa.: 
C.iri  ic  King.  Kalie  Lynn.  Kelly 
Sniilh.  Tyler  Steele,  lusline  Ware- 
ham.  Pamela  Acker.  Kathryn  Byler. 
David  Criswell.  Chelsea  Doutt. 
Mallhew  Hoover 

Covcniry,  Poltslown.  Pa.:  lames  Pad- 
gelt.  Sandra  Bacon.  Bethany  EgoM, 
Briana  Kecne.  Zachary  Batdorf. 
Aaron  Farman.  David  High.  Sara 
High.  Christina  Hosletter.  |oey 
lohnson.  Kenneth  Long.  Barbara 
Ranreri.  Roger  Clark.  Carol  Clark. 

I     Catherine  Taylor.  Kim  lohnson. 

i     Melissa  Mclroy.  Kathi  O'Brien. 
David  Pence,  lane  Pence 

jFaith.  Batavia.  111.:  Brenda  Caniras, 
Ltiiore  Freitag.  Wayne  Goebel 

Friendship,  Linthicum.  Md.:  Chris  and 
Tara  Adams.  Ralph  Fletcher 

•Gortner  Union,  Oakland.  Md.:  Anthony 
Sean  McGoldrick.  Patricia  Graham 

IGrecn  Tree,  Oaks,  Pa.:  joe  and  Lorie 
Corallo.  Stan  and  Barbara  Reinhold. 
Connie  Young 

IHanover,  Pa.:  Alex  Despines,  Alison 
Despines.  Darby  |o  Kline.  Michael 

^     McClain.  Sonia  McClain.  Allison 

\     McClain.  Charles  Sell.  Shirley 

;     Stuart 

(Independence.  Kan.:  Dale  McMaster. 
Dchr.i  McMaster.  Pauline  Wolf 

iLeakes  Chapel,  Stanley.  Va.:  Cindy 
Good.  Vanessa  Hilliard.  lason  lenk- 
ins.  Bryan  Nevitt.  Vicki  Nevitt.  Lynn 
Huft'man,  Brittany  Huffman. Eric 
Turner.  Darlene  Comer.  Wesley 
Atkins.  Adam  .Atkins.  April 
Atkins. Chris  Turner.  Chris  Dinges. 

■     Frances  Moyer.  lean  Silvious. 

'  Christina  Sylvious.  William  Cara- 
cofe.  nil  Young.  Peggy  Lucas.  Lisa 
Turner 

'Lebanon.  .Mt.  Sidney.  Va.:  lav  and 
Faith  McDowell 

.Lewislon,  Minn.:  Bill  Hemsey.  Marlenc 
Henisey.  Myrna  Rian 

Long  Green  Valley,  Glen  Arm.  Md.: 
Tcrri  Smyth,  |ohn  Ness 

Maple  Grove,  .Ashland,  Ohio:  Angela 
Barr,  lack  Gray,  lohn  Stutzman. 
Brooke  Wesner 

iMohler,  Ephrata,  Pa.:  lennifer  Miller. 
Stephanie  Miller.  Devon  Goodman. 
Alysia  Goodman.  Deborah  Berry, 
Zacharcy  Duty,  Laura  Shupp, 
Norniie  Ressler,  Elizabeth  Duty 

Pasadena,  Calif.:  Malissa  .Maria  Bishop 

Philadelphia  First,  Wyndmoor,  Pa.: 
.Angela  Finet 

iPlcasant  View,  Burkitlsville,  Md.:  Am> 
Lorraine  Moser 

Ridgcly,  Md.:  loshua  ludy.  Jeffrey 
\oorhees.  Brandi  Moody 

Si.  Petersburg,  Fla.:  Christian  Figueroa 

San  Diego,  CaiiL:  Susan  Sanner.  Carol 
Ha>dcn.  lohn  Davis 

Sebring,  Fla.:  Paul  Becker,  lorge 
Cordero.  Felicita  Cordero.  Bernard 
Cornetta.  Cheryl  Cornetta.  Mildred 


Kington.  Lela  Lilyquist.  Richard 
McAninch.  Linda  McAninch.  Robert 
McAninch.  )udy  McAninch.  lane 
Robinson.  Frank  Peilfer.  lane  Peiffer 

Stanley,  Wis.:  Laverne  Kroeplin.  Betty 
Kroeplin.  Megan  Schunk.  Stacy 
Sherwood.  Travis  Alger.  Sarah 
Alger.  Lori  Alger.  Steve  Shilts,  Mar- 
garet Sprague.  Lynette  Reineke 

Stover  Memorial,  Des  Moines.  Iowa: 
Doris  Covalt 

Trolwood,  Ohio:  Eric  Bohannon. 
Heather  Boos.  Ryan  Snyder.  Keisha 
Ford 

Tucson,  Ariz.:  Dorothy  Gruhn.  Ralph 
Gruhn.  Mary  Stephey.  lohn  Barnes. 
Denise  Abshear.  Kristy  Ramirez. 
Kenneth  Ramirez 

Wedding 
anniversaries 

Bechlclhcimcr,  lohn  and  Retha.  Glcn- 
dale.  Ariz..  50 

Bollinger,  lacob  and  Miriam.  Ephrata. 
Pa..  50 

Bouse,  Wayne  and  Marie.  Silver  Lake. 
Ind..  65' 

Bowser,  D.  Luke.  Ir..  and  Lola.  Mar- 
tinsburg.  Pa..  55 

Brookins,  Wilbur  and  Fern.  Goshen. 
Ind..  60 

Pike,  Earle  |r.  and  lean.  Bridgewater. 
Va..  50 

Fryman,  Robert  and  Waneta.  New 
Lebanon.  Ohio.  50 

Haltry.  Ross  and  Marv.  Shippensburg. 
Pa.'.  60 

Heggcnstaller,  |oe  and  Doris.  Logan- 
ton,  Pa..  50 

Hertzler,  Earl  and  Eva,  Mechanics- 
burg.  Pa.,  55 

Keim,  Maurice  and  Naomi.  Sebring. 
Fla..  65 

Mast,  Fred  and  Frances.  Shire- 
manstown.  Pa..  50 

Rogers,  Charles  and  Grace.  New  Paris. 
Ind..  55 

Snavely.  Harold  and  Rowena.  Fruit- 
land.  Idaho.  50 

Ziegler,  lesse  and  Harriet.  Dayton. 
Ohio.  60 

Deaths 

Allison,  Anna.  91.  Dallastown.  Pa.. 

April  I 
Ammcrmann,  Eleanor  Ruth.  59. 

Roanoke.  Va..  Oct.  28 
Applegate,  Wavne.  82.  Norton.  Kan.. 

Sept.  22 
Baker,  Kenneth  M..  81.  Martinsburg. 

Pa.,  luly  8.  1998 
Beahm,  Robert  W.  81,  Lurav.  Va.. 

Sept.  26 
Bollinger,  Eva  M..  98.  Thurmont.  Md.. 

Oct.  50 
Brant,  Phyllis  M..  71.  Spring  Grove. 

Pa..  Sept.  19 
Brumbaugh,  Arlan  Scott.  55.  Martins- 
burg, Pa..  Oct.  9 
Brumbaugh.  Barbara  lo  "Buffy. "  55. 

Martinsburg.  Pa..  Oct.  9 
Bucher,  Ethel.  96.  Canton.  111..  July  14 
Buryanck,  Ruth.  94.  McPherson.  Kan.. 

Oct.  25 
Carpenter,  Larry  Joseph.  Shepherd- 

stown.  W.Va..  Oct.  51 
Cash,  Alma  F..  83.  Harrisonburg.  Va.. 

Oct.  9 
Clayton,  Anna  F.,  98,  Glen  Arm.  -Md.. 


Oct.  14 
Corle,  I.  Milton.  82.  Martinsburg.  Pa.. 

March  8.  1998 
Corle,  Richard  E..  52.  Martinsburg. 

Pa..  Sept.  9.  1998 
Dilling,  Howard  A..  84.  East  Freedom. 

Pa..  Dec.  16.  1997 
Downie,  Mark.  50.  Glenville.  Pa..  May  10 
Driver,  Sara  Louise.  93.  Bluffton. 

Ohio.  Sept.  30 
Fulk,  Vada  V,  86.  Fulks  Run.  Va..  Oct.  22 
Funkhouser,  Clyde  W..  64,  Strasburg. 

Va..  Oct.  7 
Gartland,  G.  Harold,  80,  Martinsburg. 

Pa..  Oct.  27 
Gebhardi,  Anne  E..  95.  Oaks,  Pa.,  lune  19 
Groff,  Everett.  Sebring.  Fla..  Oct.  9 
Hecfner,  Martha.  99,  Waynesboro,  Pa.. 

Oct.  7 
Heisey,  Wilbur.  78.  Brighton.  Mich.. 

Nov.  2 
Hildreth,  Lucille.  79.  San  Diego. 

Calif..  Aug.  7 
Howe,  S.  Ruth.  98.  Bridgewater.  Va.. 

Oct.  10 
Hunsberger,  A.  Marie.  88. 

Phoenixville.  Pa.,  luly  27 
Ingram,  Cleta  A..  84.  Pottstown.  Pa.. 

Oct.  10 
Jones,  Marcia.  71.  La  Place.  111..  Oct.  31 
Kaiser,  Rodney.  53.  Hanover.  Pa..  |uly  19 
Keith,  Clair.  93,  Roaring  Spring.  Pa. 
Kinzie,  Virgil  M..  93,  Haxtun,  Colo.. 

Aug.  13 
LaRoche,  Earl.  92.  Live  Oak.  Calif.. 

Oct.  20 
Laughman,  Rov  M..  Sr..  90.  New 

Oxford.  Pa..  Oct.  27 
Laughman,  Ruth.  90.  Glen  Rock.  Pa.. 

lune  7 
Leininger,  Verne  E..  81.  Stryker.  Ohio. 

Sept.  28 
Louey,  Daisy.  87.  New  Oxford.  Pa.. 

March  14 
McDaniel,  Constance.  85.  Weyers 

Cave.  Va..  Oct.  1 
March,  William  C.  66.  Phoeni.xville. 

Pa..  April  1 
Marshall,  Doris.  66,  Hanover.  Pa.. 

Nov.  16 
Marshall,  Melvin,  84,  Hanover.  Pa.. 

April  9 
Metzler,  Elwood  D..  84.  Curryville.  Pa.. 

Oct.  27 
Michael,  lames  L.  66.  Mt.  Solon.  Va.. 

Sept.  25 
Middlekauff,  |ohn,  Sebring,  Fla..  Oct.  18 
Montel,  Lamoin.  79,  N.  Manchester. 

Ind..  April  1 
NotI,  Machree.  84.  Millers.  Md..  Sept.  21 
Peters,  Kathryn.  Sebring.  Fla..  Oct.  24 
Ready,  Robert.  62.  Charlottesville.  Va.. 

Oct.  18 
Rill,  R.  Vernon.  59.  Hanover.  Pa..  May  14 
Ross,  Earl  Franklin.  75.  Kansas  City. 

Kan..  Oct.  7 
Schechtcr,  Anna  Rolston,  94.  Sheldon. 

Iowa.  Dec.  27.  1998 
Shaffer,  Wilbur,  72.  Hanover.  Pa.. 

Sept.  1  3 
Shull,  Harriett  M..  65.  Clavpool.  Ind.. 

Oct.  28 
Simmons,  Dorothy  W.,  65,  Char- 
lottesville. Va..  Aug.  28 
Smith,  Carl  L..  5 1 .  Williamsburg.  Pa.. 

Oct.  7 
Snook,  Edna.  83.  Yuma.  Colo..  April  19 
Steele,  William  L..  71.  Roaring  Spring. 

Pa..  March  4.  1998 
Steward,  Virginia.  87.  Ashland.  Ohio. 


Oct.  25 
Sue,  lenny.  53.  Fenton.  Mich..  Oct.  25 
Swiharl,  Ruby.  84,  N.  Manchester. 

Ind..  Ian.  20 
Underwood,  lim.  Haxtun.  Colo.,  luly  29 
Warlilncr,  Alice  v..  91.  Harrisonburg. 

Va..  Nov.  2 
Weaver,  Rufus  L..  85.  Fredericksburg. 

Pa..  Oct.  28 
Weller,  Helen.  78,  Newburg,  Pa..  Sept.  7 
Werner,  Alice.  83.  Lineboro.  Md..  Aug.  19 
Whisler,  Kathryn  Freed.  87.  N.  Man- 
chester. Ind..  Nov.  7 
Wilcox,  Sean  C.  21.  Kalamazoo. 

Mich..  Oct.  26 
Wildasin,  Hilda  M..  86,  Hanover,  Pa., 

Aug.  1  3 
Wildasin,  Roy  H..  85.  New  Oxford. 

Pa..  Oct.  28 
Wine,  Clarence.  86.  Mt.  Sidney.  Va.. 

May  27 
Wittier,  Albert.  Sebring.  Fla..  May  2 
Wood,  Tom.  87.  Charlottesville.  Va.. 

Sept.  I  1 
Woodward,  lanice  D..  43.  Stanley.  Va.. 

Oct.  13 
Woriey,  Laverne.  81.  New  Oxford.  Pa.. 

luly  30 

Licensings 

Bollinger,  Genhi,  Sept.  1  1.  Thurmont, 

Md. 
Brockway,  Bonnie  |..  May  7.  New 

Enterpise.  Pa. 
Burkindine,  Catherine.  Sept.  1 1.  Reis- 

terstown.  Md. 
Dinterman,  Dale.  Sept.  I  1.  Piney 

Creek.  Taneytown,  Md. 
Keegan,  Jeremy.  Sept.  1 1.  Danville. 

Ohio 
Moats,  Susan.  Sept.  1 1.  Reisterstown.  Md. 
Myers,  Peter,  Sept.  1  1.  Frederick.  Md. 
Naill,  lanet,  Sept.  1  1.  Locust  Grove. 

Mount  Airy.  Md. 
Tate,  Ted.  Sept.  1 1.  Painesville,  Ohio 

Ordinations 

Davis,  Linda  E.  S..  Sept.  1 .  Church  of 

the  Living  Savior.  McFarland.  CaliL 
Elmore,  Carolyn.  Sept.  1  1.  Midland. 

Va. 
Flory,  Brian  T.  Oct.  19.  Bridgewater, 

Va, 
Gaver,  B.  loanne,  Sept.  1 1.  Thurmont,  Md. 
Knolts,  Donald,  luly  17.  Brookside. 

Aurora.  W.Va. 
Lindley,  Kyle.  Aug.  21,  Salkum.  Wash. 
Petcher,  Richard  L..  May  15.  Cedar 

Creek.  Citronelle.  Ala. 
Rose,  Harold  W..  May  1  5.  Cumberland. 

Clintwood.  Va. 

Pastoral  placement 

Coatcs,  Earl  E..  to  Wawaka.  Ind. 
Prey,  William  R..  Sr..  from  Wiley. 

Colo.,  to  Roanoke.  La. 
Handley,  Randall,  from  Trinity. 

Blountville.  Tenn..  to  Pleasant 

Grove.  Red  Hill.  Tenn. 
Hood,  Dana,  to  Guernsey.  Monticello. 

Ind. 
lohnson,  Terry,  from  White  Horn. 

Bulls  Gap.  Tenn.,  to  Walnut  Grove, 

Damascus.  Va. 
Konlra,  Pete,  from  Oakland.  Bradford. 

Ohio,  to  Spring  Creek.  Hershey,  Pa. 
Tate,  Ted.  to  Painesville.  Ohio 
Yelinek,  Prue,  from  interim  to  perma- 
nent, Wavnesboro.  Pa. 


January/February  2000  Messenger  31 


Bible  study  and  the  Kingdom  of  God 


"IT  That  is  the  kingdom  of  God  lil<e  for  you?  The  pastor 
VV  asks  the  question  and  we  are  off  into  another  Bible 
study,  this  one  on  the  parables  of  Matthew. 

You'd  think  after  so  many  of  us  have  spent  a  lifetime 
going  to  Bible  studies  we'd  have  that  book  pretty  well  fig- 
ured out  by  now,  but  we  keep  going  back  for  more,  don't 
we?  I  enjoy  the  kind  of  Bible  studies  that  are  like  college 
lectures  led  by  a  scholar,  the  kind  that  are  offered  at  Annual 
Conference.  And  I  recall  a  few  study  sessions  which 
brought  to  life  a  scripture  passage  so  that  I  will  ever  after 
associate  the  scripture  with  that  time  and  place.  But  most 
Bible  studies  are  neither  scholarly  nor  particularly  memo- 
rable, they  just  quietly  add  a  litde  more  understanding  of 
God's  Word  and  a  little  more  texture  to  life.  At  our  church 
we  usually  just  grapple  together,  freely  sharing  our  igno- 
rance and  our  experience,  hoping  that  through  it  God  will 
feed  us  a  little  something  new.  Mechtild  of  Magdeburg,  the 
13th-century  poet,  described  the  modest  gain  of  such  an 
exercise:  "Of  the  heavenly  things  God  has  shown  me,  I  can 
speak  but  a  litde  word,  not  more  than  a  honeybee  can  carry 
away  on  its  foot  from  an  overflowing  jar." 

But  what  is  the  kingdom  of  God  like?  "To  me  the  king- 
dom of  God  is  like  having  your  family  home  for  the 
holidays,"  says  one  of  us.  "To  me  the  kingdom  of  God  is 
like  peace  in  Northern  Ireland,"  says  another.  We  ponder 
together  whether  the  kingdom  is  personal  or  political.  Is  it 
now  or  not  yet?  We  go  to  the  Bible  to  see  if  it  will  tell  us  the 
answer  but  it  gives  us  more  questions.  An  exasperated  lady 
told  the  leader  of  one  Bible  study  that  her  husband  always 
asks  her  what  she  learned,  but  she  has  to  tell  him  she 
comes  away  with  more  questions  than  answers.  "We  must 
learn  to  appreciate  the  mystery  of  God,"  the  leader  said. 
"Thank  God  for  the  questions." 

What  is  the  kingdom  like?  "The  kingdom  of  heaven 
may  be  compared  to  someone  who  sowed  good  seed  in 
his  field;  but  ...  an  enemy  came  and  sowed  weeds 
among  the  wheat  .  .  .  ."  We  turn  our  attention  to  the 
parable  of  the  weeds  among  the  wheat,  Matthew  13:  24- 
30.  The  householder  told  his  workers  to  let  the  weeds 
and  the  wheat  grow  together  until  the  harvest.  From  an 
example  in  our  study  material  we  agree  that  church  life  is 
like  weeds  and  wheat  growing  together.  Sometimes  our 
fellow  church  members  are  the  weeds  we  need  to  toler- 
ate; other  times  we  ourselves  become  the  weeds  others 
have  to  tolerate. 

Bible  study  is  a  place  for  me  to  learn  tolerance.  For 
years  I  was  in  study  groups  with  Charlie  who,  no  matter 
what  the  point  or  the  question,  always  had  the  same 


answer.  "It  all  comes  back  to  love,  the  love  we  have  for 
each  other  and  the  love  God  has  for  us."  Though  that 
was  more  often  true  than  not,  there  were  times  when  I 
wanted  to  wrap  Charlie's  love  around  his  throat  and 
strangle  him  with  it  if  he  said  it  one  more  time!  There 
was  another  case  in  point  when  our  "weeds  and  wheat" 
discussion  veered  naturally  to  the  school  situation  in 
Decatur,  the  next  town  east  of  us,  where  |esse  Jackson 
was  making  national  news  for  his  efforts  to  get  boys  who 
had  been  expelled  back  into  school.  To  my  mind  anybody 
who  reads  the  Bible  seriously  would  agree  that  the  boys 
deserved  a  second  chance.  But  my  Bible  study  colleague 
seemed  equally  convinced  that  [esse  Jackson  should  go 
back  home  and  mind  his  own  business.  I  left  thinking  my 
brother  in  Christ  was  making  a  real  weed  of  himself 
tonight. 

Studying  the  Bible  together  we  get  to  know  each  other. 
When  we  came  to  the  parable  of  the  mustard  seed,  we  got . 
chuckle  from  discovering  which  of  us  were  the  baby 
boomers  who  remembered  the  mustard  seed  necklaces  girl; 
used  to  wear.  Others  were  too  old  or  too  young.  We  got  to 
know  Alberta,  new  to  our  church,  when  the  birds  of  the  air 
came  to  make  nests  in  the  mustard  tree's  branches  (Matt. 
13:32).  We  learned  she  is  an  avid  birdwatcher,  so  devoted 
to  the  creatures  who  visit  her  feeder  she  gives  them  names. 

Often  in  Bible  studies  I've  noticed  there  is  one  who 
doesn't  say  much  but  when  that  person  speaks  people 
listen.  When  we  came  to  the  "pearl  of  great  price"  (Matt. 
1  3:45)  we  spent  a  lot  of  time  on  the  question  of  what  is 
valuable  in  life.  For  what  would  we  sell  all  we  have  to 
buy?  We  would  mortgage  all  we  own  for  a  house,  but 
would  we  do  that  for  Jesus?  Some  said  probably;  some 
said  maybe.  Then  as  we  all  were  running  our  mouths 
about  what  price  we  would  be  willing  to  pay  for  God, 
Becky  said  quietly,  "Fve  been  thinking."  We  all  stopped 
to  listen.  "We  are  the  pearl."  What?  "We  are  the  pearl  of 
great  value.  For  us  God  gave  all  he  had." 

Well,  she  turned  that  story  around,  and  turned  me 
around  with  it.  Of  course!   It's  not  about  what  1  do  for 
God  but  what  God  has  done  for  me.  Being  called  a  pearl 
left  me  speechless  for  once.  And  I  understood  better  the 
lines  in  Matthew  13:15  that  explain  why  Jesus  told  his 
followers  parables — so  they  might  "look  with  their  eyes, 
and  listen  with  their  ears,  and  understand  with  their 
heart  and  turn — and  I  would  heal  them."  Soon  after,  oui 
pastor  brings  this  session  to  a  close,  saying,  "The  king- 
dom of  heaven  is  like  studying  the  Bible  together  around 
a  table  with  friends." — Fletcher  Farrar 


32  Messenger  January/February  2000 


IN  AN  AFFORDABLE  EDUCATION: 
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personalize  the  learning  environment. 

A  Values  Centered  Education  -  Learning  for  life 

that  goes  beyond  textbooks  to  include  exploration 

of  values  such  as  peace,  justice,  non-violence, 

human  dignity  and  service. 

Leadership  Opportunities  -  Through  participation 

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Check  us  out:  Call  1-800-323-8039 
email  us:  cobcoa   gb@brethren.org 
visit  our  website:  www.cobcoa.org 


COBCOA 


Gifts  of  Living  Water 

Out  of  the  believer's  heart  shall  flow  rivers  of  living  water.  — John  7:38b 


Loving  God,  in  you  we  find  healing  waters  for  weary  hearts, 

soothing  waters  for  aching  feet,  quenching  waters  for  thirsty  souls. 

Grant  that  our  lives  be  like  a  spring  whose  waters  never  fail, 

a  watered  garden  bearing  fruit  for  many. 

Through  Jesus  Christ,  the  water  of  life,  we  pray.  Amen. 


One  Great  Hour  of  Sharing 

Church  of  the  Brethren  General  Board 

1 45 1  Dundee  Ave.,  Elgin,  IL  60120  (800  323-8039) 


Church  of  the  Brethren  March  2000    www.brethren.org 


iTuvr 


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'I  was  in  prison  and  you  visited  me ' 

Letters  to  death  row 


'"Emmfd^ 


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www.brethren.org 


Editor:  Fletcher  Farrar 
News:  Walt  Wiltschek 
Subscriptions:  Peggy  Reinacher 
Publisher:  Wendy  McFadden 
Designer:  Marianne  Sackett 
Advertising:  Russ  Matteson 


Behold  the  man 

On  the  cover:  The  print  by  Ruth  Aukerman  is  rich  in 
symbolism  and  rich  in  connection  to  this  month's 
cover  story  on  the  Death  Row  Support  Project,  a 
letter-writing  ministry  to  prisoners  on  death  row  (p.  10).  It  was 
through  DRSP  that  Ruth  and  her  husband,  the  late  Dale  Auker- 
man, began  writing  to  Ronnie  Dunkins  on  death  row.  The 
correspondence  continued  eight  years.  "He  was  like  a  son  to  us," 
Ruth  said.  Dale  Aukerman  went  to  witness  Dunkins'  execution  in 
the  Alabama  electric  chair  on  luly  14,  1989.  An  op-ed  article  he 
wrote  for  the  Washington  Post  describing  the  botched  electrocu- 
tion— it  had  to  be  done  twice — caused  a  furor. 

Ruth  reacted  to  Dunkins'  execution  by 
creating  this  work  of  art.  Included  in  the 
print  are  both  the  cross  and  stones,  two 
forms  of  execution  used  in  Jesus'  day. 
The  legend  on  the  work  is  "Ecce  homo," 
Latin  for  "Behold  the  man."  These  were 
Pilate's  words  when  he  presented  lesus, 
with  whom  he  could  find  no  fault,  to  the 
angry  crowd  (John  19:5).  The  words 
suggest  the  complicity  of  the  crowd  and 
the  complicity  of  us  all.  "Christ  is  always  standing  with  the 
victim,"  Ruth  says.  "Whenever  anyone  is  executed,  we  are  there 
as  ones  who  are  also  to  blame." 

Though  losing  friends  is  painful — her  second  death  row  corre- 
spondent was  executed  last  year — she  continues,  now  writing  to 
a  third  condemned  man.  She  encourages  others  to  volunteer  for 
the  Death  Row  Support  Project.  "We  gain  more  from  it  than  we 
give,"  she  says.  "They  are  so  grateful.  A  lot  of  them  are  there 
because  of  a  lack  of  love  in  their  lives." 

Ruth  Aukerman,  of  Union  Bridge,  Md.,  is  a  professional  artist 
and  art  teacher.  She  is  a  member  of  Westminster  (Md.)  Church 
of  the  Brethren. 


w 


Death  Row  Support  Project 

For  more  than  20  years,  Rachel  Gross  has 
been  connecting  volunteer  correspondents 
with  "pen  pals"  on  death  row  through 
DRSP,  a  ministry  of  the  General  Board. 
Simple  letter-writing  not  only  comforts 
prisoners,  it  raises  consciousness  as  well. 

14     Jubilee  2000 

A  worldwide  campaign  to  cancel  the  inter- 
national debt  of  41  impoverished  countries 
is  gathering  steam.  Heather  Nolen,  a 
Church  of  the  Brethren  member  working 
for  Church  World  Service,  explains  how 
concerned  Christians  can  help,  in  the  spirit 
of  jubilee. 

18     Renewal  begins  with  prayer 

Author  and  lecturer  David  Young,  a 
Church  of  the  Brethren  pastor,  writes  that 
spiritual  formation  and  servant  leadership 
are  keys  to  church  renewal. 

22     A  Balkan  journey 

It  is  a  long  way  from  Pennsylvania 
Brethren  territory  to  the  killing  fields  of 
Kosovo.  But  on  that  journey  Andrew 
Loomis  made  important  connections  from 
his  peacemaking  background  to  practical 
politics. 

25     Gifts  of  Living  Water 

Mervin  Keeney,  director  of  Global  Mission 
Partnerships,  reflects  on  the  theme  of  One 
Great  Hour  of  Sharing,  the  ecumenical 
offering  emphasis.  When  we  receive  God's 
gift  of  living  water  we  share  it  with  others 
around  the  world. 

Departments 


2 

From  the  Publisher 

3 

In  Touch 

6 

News 

28 

Letters 

31 

Turning  Points 

32 

Editorial 

March  2000  Messenger  1 


k  hmm 


At  our  house,  the  tooth  fairy  brings  50  cents  and  a  one-inch  personal  note  written 
in  six-point  type  on  a  tooth  fairy-size  computer.  Over  the  years  she's  been 
remarkably  competent.  The  money  and  the  note  showed  up  when  our  son  lost  a 
tooth  at  Annual  Conference,  and  again  when  he  lost  one  while  visiting  relatives  in 
Indiana.  She  even  delivered  the  goods  when  a  tooth  was  accidently  swallowed. 

But  the  tooth  fairy  seems  to  have  reached  middle  age:  Lately  she  keeps  forgetting 
her  duties.  Our  oldest  smiles  sweetly  and  says,  "Please  tell  the  tooth  fairy  that  I'm 
leaving  my  tooth  on  the  table  so  it's  easier  for  her  to  find."  1  nod  my  good  intentions, 
and  then  promptly  forget  by  the  time  bedtime  prayers  have  been  said. 

1  know  what's  happening.  My  mental  lapses  began  the  same  time  the  children 
stopped  believing  in  the  tooth  fairy.  Though  my  intentions  are  the  same,  the  fact  that 
the  kids  no  longer  believe  has  unconsciously  rearranged  my  priorities. 

That  makes  me  wonder  whether  the  rest  of  my  priorities  get  rearranged  uninten- 
tionally too.  Do  my  priorities  belie  what  1  say  I  believe?  If  1  really  believe  in  the 
power  of  prayer,  shouldn't  1  be  praying  without  ceasing?  If  I  really  believe  the  good 
news,  shouldn't  1  overflow  with  the  joy  of  the  Spirit? 

Back  when  1  first  became  acquainted  with  the  Brethren,  what  impressed  me  most 
was  the  sense  I  had  that  these  people  live  out  on  Monday  what  they  say  they  believe 
on  Sunday.  I'm  not  sure  what  the  tangible  differences  were  between  the  Brethren 
and  the  other  brands  of  Christians  with  whom  I  had  been  more  familiar.  I  simply 
knew  that  Brethren  discipleship  was  obvious.  I  saw  that  Brethren  beliefs  and  values 
were  deeply  held  and  that  they  showed  in  everyday  life. 

I  liked  that  authenticity.  Two  decades  later  I  can  still  say  the  Brethren  live  up  to 
that  (most  of  the  time).  I'm  going  to  keep  trying  to  live  up  to  that  ideal. 

And  someday  when  my  youngest  loses  her  first  tooth  and  the  tooth  fairy  matters 
again,  I'm  quite  sure  that  little  winged  creature  will  come  through  on  time.  Because 
the  things  that  matter  to  us  we  don't  forget. 


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Printed  on  recycled  paper 


2  Messenger  March  2000 


II 


rr 


Editor's  note:  Allan  and 
\  ercty  Smyth  are  Brethren 
Volunteer  Service  retiree 
volunteers  serving  a  two- 
year  term  at  the  World 
Friendship  Center  in 
Hiroshima.  Japan.  For  35 
years,  the  World  Friendship 
Center  has  worked  with 
peacemakers  around  the 
world  to  build  friendship 
bridges  on  a  person-to- 
person  basis.  Couples 
interested  in  serving  in 
Hiroshima  can  contact  the 
B\  S  office  in  Elgin.  The 
other  BVS  volunteers 
referred  to  in  this  story  are 
Larry  and  Alice  Petry.  of 
Lakemore.  Ohio,  who  have 
been  Brethren  volunteers 
in  many  projects. 


Japanese  friend  brings 
BVS  couple  unexpected 
gifts  of  love  and  peace 


i; 


Junko  Kachime  with  BVS  volunteer  Larry 
Petry  at  Mt.  Daisen.  Japan. 


t  was  Wednesday,  our  busiest  day.  A 
phone  call  came  from  Chizuko,  one  of  our 
dearest  volunteer  helpers.  A  friend  of  hers, 
lunko,  from  the  other  side  of  )apan,  was 
with  her  and  wanted  to  bring  us  pho- 
tographs she  had  taken  of  former  American 
volunteers.  She  wanted  to  come  today. 

I  thought  of  saying,  "Just  ask  her  to  mail 
the  photos  to  us."  But  Chizuko  is  very  dedi- 
cated, so  I  said,  "Fine.  Can  you  bring  her  at 
four  o'clock?" 

Chizuko  and  her  friend,  |unko,  come  in 
and  we  sit  down  for  tea.  |unko  speaks  little 
English,  I  speak  little  [apanese,  so  Chizuko 
translates.  Three  years  ago  some  American 
volunteers  and  Chizuko  went  to  climb  Mt. 
Daisen,  several  hours  trip  from  Hiroshima, 
[unko  is  a  staff  person  at  the  Mt.  Daisen 
hotel  and  also  a  photographer,  so  she  took 
photos  of  the  group.  Today  is  her  first  opportunity  to  deliver  the  photos  to  World  Friend- 
ship Center  in  Hiroshima. 

We  talk  small  talk.  We  are  the  same  age,  61.  We  are  both  interested  in  peace.  She  com- 
ments on  our  framed  photo  of  paper  lanterns  floating  on  the  Motoyasu  River  in  memory 
of  the  A-bomb  victims.  I  show  her  other  pictures  by  the  same  photographer,  Paul  Quayle. 
Some  of  the  photos  show  A-bomb  victims. 

I  can  see  Junko's  memory  moving  back  to  1945.  "I  was  six  years  old,"  Junko  begins. 
"My  father  was  a  farmer  in  southern  Kyushu.  There  was  an  army  airfield  near  our  house. 
Every  morning  a  siren  blew  and  planes  took  off.  Our  teachers  led  us  out  to  wave  to  the 
pilots,  and  the  pilots  waved  back.  But  in  the  evening,  no  planes  returned." 

1  realized  that  these  were  Kamikaze  pilots  flying  to  attack  the  American  fleet  off  Oki- 
nawa. They  killed  my  childhood  neighbor.  Junko's  eyes  confirmed  my  realization.  So 
many  strong  young  men,  flying  to  kill  and  to  die. 

"One  day  an  American  plane  flew  over.  A  bomb  fell  out  and  our  house  was  broken. 
Everyone  was  running  and  shouting,  and  a  lady  fell  and  was  having  a  baby.  I  ran  into  our 
broken  house  and  climbed  into  our  iron  bathtub.  I  sat  for  a  long  time  until  finally  my 
father  came  and  took  me  out. 

"Then  the  army  told  us  the  war  was  over  and  the  Americans  were  coming.  The  Ameri- 
cans would  kill  us  and  do  terrible  things.  We  hid.  When  I  saw  the  Americans  I  was  very 
afraid,  but  they  tossed  chocolates  to  us.  They  gave  us  food. 

"Our  clothes  were  all  in  tatters,  our  town  was  ruined,  and  we  were  very  ashamed.  We 
were  embarrassed  to  be  seen  in  such  a  condition.  But  the  Americans  gave  us  some  of 
their  clothes  to  wear.  They  helped  us  fix  our  town.  They  were  not  terrible,  they  were 
kind,  and  we  became  unashamed." 

Then  Junko  took  both  my  hands  in  hers,  something  that  Japanese  rarely  do.  "All  these 
things  happened  54  years  ago.  For  54  years  I  have  wanted  to  thank  an  American.  Thank 
you,  thank  you."  Sometimes  tears  speak  more  loudly  than  words. 

We  have  seen  much  pain  in  the  last  century,  and  much  evil.  But  on  this  Wednesday  in 
Hiroshima,  a  gift  was  given.  A  gift  of  remembered  kindness.  A  gift  of  reconciliation.  A 
gift  of  hope.  Our  prayer  for  all  people  is  that  the  coming  of  a  new  century  will  awaken  in 
all  of  us  some  good  memories,  and  some  good  hopes.  — Allan  Smyth,  Hiroshima,  Japan 


March  2000  Messenger  3 


Ill 


Manchester  church  to 
be  dedicated  in  April 

Two  years  after  fire 
destroyed  the  historic 
church  building  on  Walnut 
Street,  the  Manchester 
Church  of  the  Brethren  is 
ready  to  dedicate  a  new 
building  at  a  new  site  in 
North  Manchester,  Ind. 
The  congregation  had 
been  at  the  Walnut  Street 
location  since  1880. 

The  45,000-square-feet 
structure  is  built  on  one 
level  on  a  25-acre  site  in 
the  northwest  part  of 
town.  The  sanctuary  will 
seat  over  500.  A  large 
family  life  center  and 
narthex  will  provide  space 
for  fellowship,  special 
meals,  and  recreation. 


"Under  Construction"  crew  members  with  Iiiii\Iu'lI  pLiylioiisc. 

VBS  constructs  a  Habitat 
for  Humanity  tiienie 

Last  year  the  Dayton  (Va.)  Church  of  the  Brethren 
joined  two  other  congregations  for  "Under  Construc- 
tion: a  Habitat  for  Humanity  Vacation  Bible  School."  Over 
three  weeks  62  children  participated.  They  created  crafts 
that  encouraged  them  to  share  with  others,  developed 
ways  to  care  for  a  friend  who  is  hurting,  and  learned  about 
worship  through  Bible  stories  and  games.  A  large  play- 
house was  constructed  on  the  VBS  site  and  then  auctioned 
at  the  closing  program.  It  brought  $  1 ,500  to  benefit  Habi- 
tat for  Humanity. 


Facilities  for  a  nursery 
school  and  children's 
Christian  education  pro- 
gram are  located  in  a  west 
wing.  The  adult  program 
along  with  a  museum, 
library,  board  room, 
chapel,  and  office  complex 
are  in  the  east  wing. 

At  7  p.m.  April  28  there 
will  be  a  music  fest,  featur- 
ing congregational  singing 
and  worship,  special 
music,  and  a  chance  to  see 
and  hear  the  new  organ 
and  piano.  On  Saturday. 
April  29,  there  will  be  an 
open  house  when  visitors 
can  receive  guided  tours  of 
the  building. 

On  April  30,  morning 
worship  will  convene  at 
9:30  a.m.  A  carry-in 
dinner  will  follow  at  1  1 :30. 
The  dedication  service  will 
begin  at  2  p.m.  with  an 
instrumental  concert  at 
1 :30  featuring  the  organ 
and  piano.  All  are  invited. 

The  main  speaker  at  the 
dedication  service  will  be 
Charles  Boyer,  former 
Annual  Conference  mod- 
erator and  currently  pastor 
of  the  La  Verne  (Calif.) 
Church  of  the  Brethren. 
— William  R.  Eberly 

Remembered 

Harold  B.  ("H.B.  ")  Brum- 
baugh, of  Huntingdon,  Pa., 
fondly  known  by  many  as 
"Mr.  Juniata,"  died  |an.  17 
after  an  extended  illness. 
He  was  88. 

Harold  B.  Brumbaugh 


Brumbaugh  dedicated 
his  entire  life  to  luniata 
College,  the  Huntingdon 
institution  where  he  stud- 
ied and  worked — and  even 
lived  until  1993. 

A  1933  alumnus,  he 
began  his  career  there  in 
1936  as  assistant  to  Presi- 
dent Charles  C.  Ellis.  Over 
the  years  his  titles  included 
alumni  secretary,  vice  presi- 
dent for  development,  and 
vice  president  for  college 
advancement  emeritus. 


Violet  Anet  Satvedi 


Violet  Anet  Satvedi,  59, 

died  Oct.  1  in  Hudson,  111. 
She  and  her  husband, 
Anet,  served  as  Church  of 
the  Brethren  staff  at  Waha 
Schools  and  other  assign- 
ments in  Nigeria  between 
1972  and  1986.  She  was  a 
graduate  of  Bethany  Theo- 
logical Seminary. 

Harold  Mohler  of  War- 
rensburg.  Mo.,  died  on 
Dec.  7,  and  F.  Willard 
"Bill"  Powers  of  Mount 
Morris.  HI.,  died  two  days 
later  at  the  age  of  90,  on 
Dec.  9. 

Mohler  twice  served  as  a 
member  of  the  Church  of 
the  Brethren  General  Board 
and  was  a  longtime  chair  of 
the  board  of  trustees  for 
McPherson  (Kan.)  College. 
His  memorial  service  was 
held  Dec.  1  1  at  the  New 
Beginnings  Church  of  the 
Brethren,  Warrensburg, 
Mo. 


4  Messenger  March  2000 


Powers  also  served  on  the 
(General  Board,  was  the  first 
moderator  of  the  Illinois- 
Wisconsin  District,  and  was 
chairperson  for  the  denom- 
ination's 250th  anniversary 
celebration.  He  also  served 
on  the  board  of  trustees  for 
Manchester  College,  North 
Manchester,  Ind.,  and  was 
active  in  membership  and 
leadership  with  numerous 
community  organizations 
and  with  Camp  Emmaus. 


Teacher  receives 
President's  Award 

Cindy  Asiala,  pianist  and 
treasurer  of  the  Marilla 
(Mich.)  Church  of  the 
Brethren,  was  one  of  2 1 
recipients  of  the  1999  Presi- 
dent's Service  Awards. 

The  recipients  traveled  to 
Washington,  D.C.,  to  receive 
the  honor  from  national  ser- 
vice executives  and  the 
Points  of  Light  Foundation. 


Performing  in  Steve  Engle's  "Rumors  of  Angels," /io/n  left. 
are  Kiiu  Murray  Simmons  as  Mary.  Marty  Keeney  as  the 
rabbi,  and  Brent  Hurley  as  Joseph. 

Musical  'Rumors  of  Angels,' 
makes  its  debut  performance 

In  December  Steve  Engle  and  musicians  from  Stone 
Church  of  the  Brethren  and  Juniata  College,  both  in 
Huntingdon,  Pa.,  offered  a  debut  of  his  musical  composi- 
tion "Rumors  of  Angels."  This  two-hour  musical,  based  on 
the  Bible  story  of  Mary  and  loseph  was  performed  before  a 
standing-room-only  crowd  at  Juniata's  Oiler  Hall. 

Engle  is  a  well-known  Church  of  the  Brethren  composer 
and  ventriloquist.  Previous  major  works  include  "Saint 
ludas  Passion,"  and  "A  Christmas  Patchwork."  His  hymn 
"i  See  A  New  World  Coming"  is  included  in  Hymnal:  A 
Worship  Book. 

Steve  calls  "Rumors  of  Angels"  "sort  of  a  Christmas  'Fid- 
dler on  the  Roof.'"  The  original  script  and  musical  score 
follows  Mary  and  loseph  from  when  they  fell  in  love,  to  their 
betrothal,  the  Immaculate  Conception,  their  wedding,  the 
birth  of  lesus.  This  production,  made  up  of  church,  college, 
and  community  personnel,  featured  1  1  lead  characters,  a 
40-voice  choir,  and  a  28-piece  orchestra.  — Donna  Rhodes 


Several  members  also  talked 
with  President  Bill  Clinton  in 
the  Oval  Office. 

Asiala  was  chosen  for  the 
honor  for  her  work,  assisted 


by  co-teacher  Deb  Crandall, 
in  initiating  the  Service 
Learning  Class  at  Brethren 
High  School  in  the  town  of 
Brethren,  Mich. 


Orapan  Termkunanon  as  Mary  and  Adam  Lemmer  as  Joseph. 

Ohio  church  lets  town  know 
"who  we  are'  at  Christmas 

In  the  New  Carlisle,  Ohio,  Christmas  parade,  the  role  of 
Mary  was  played  by  a  Buddhist.  Orapan  Termkunanon 
cradled  a  plastic  baby  |esus  on  the  New  Carlisle  Church  of 
the  Brethren  float.  The  1  7-year-old  exchange  student  from 
Thailand  said  she  had  recently  heard  the  story  of  Mary, 
loseph,  and  |esus  for  the  first  time,  told  by  her  American 
host,  Andrew  Wright,  the  Brethren  pastor. 

"We  wanted  to  remind  the  community  of  the  Christ  in 
Christmas,"  Wright  said  of  the  church's  float.  "We  wanted  to 
let  the  community  know  who  we  are  and  why  we  celebrate." 


Bible  readers  commit 
to  go  cover-to-cover 

In  December  the  deacons 
of  the  Greenville  (Ohio) 
Church  of  the  Brethren 
decided  to  ask  their  mem- 
bers to  read  the  entire 
Bible  in  one  year  as  a  pro- 
ject for  the  year  2000. 

After  three  Sundays  of 
promotion,  88  people  had 
signed  a  card  commiting 
them  to  read  three  or  four 
chapters  of  the  Bible  each 


day  until  they  were  finished. 

A  reading  guide  is  taped 
to  the  Bible  so  chapters  may 
be  crossed  off  as  they  are 
read.  Those  on  the  reading 
team  encourage  each  other. 
The  church  newsletter,  the 
bulletin,  and  the  pastor  help 
explain  the  books  as  readers 
progress. 

For  those  who  are  suc- 
cessful, a  "cover-to-cover" 
Bible  party  will  be  held  in 
January  2001. — Ken 
Groff 


"In  Touch"  features  news  of  congregations,  districts,  and  individ- 
uals. Send  story  ideas  and  photos  to  "In  Touch.  '  Messenger, 
1451  Dundee  Ave..  Elgin.  IL  60120. 

March  2000  Messenger  5 


I 


Top:  The  church 
building  in  Rio 
Verde.  Brazil.  Right: 
Inside  the  church. 
Marcos  Inhauser. 
left,  enthusiastically 
shares  his  hopes  for 
the  church  in  Brazil, 
as  fames  Miller 
Shenandoah  district 
executive,  listens. 


November  trip  may  lead 
to  future  work  in  Brazil 

A  November  visit  to  Brazil  may  lead 
to  new  activity  by  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren  in  that  nation. 

Mervin  Keeney,  director  of  Global 
Mission  Partnerships;  Allen  Hansell, 
director  of  Ministry;  and  lames 
Miller,  Shenandoah  District  execu- 
tive, traveled  to  visit  the 
congregation  in  Rio  Verde,  Goias, 
Nov.  19-21  and  were  joined  there  by 


Bethany  Theological  Seminary  grad- 
uate Marcos  Inhauser. 

The  young  congregation  had  been 
through  a  period  of  conflict  and  divi- 
sion some  years  ago  after  being 
recognized  by  Annual  Conference  as 
a  Church  of  the  Brethren  congrega- 
tion in  1992. 

"We  needed  to  go  and  listen," 
Keeney  said  of  the  purpose  for  the 
trip.  "After  a  period  of  limited  con- 
tact, we  wanted  to  hear  and  discern 
where  God  is  leading  this  group 
now."  Following  the  positive  visit, 
work  began  on  a  proposal  regarding 
the  Brazilian  church  to  present  to  the 
General  Board  at  its  March  meetings. 

A  rough  landing  can't  stop 
Bible  launching  in  Sudan 

Even  a  change  of  site  and  a  very 
rough,  near-tragic  airplane  landing 
in  Sudan  couldn't  take  away  from 
the  joy  of  dedicating  the  first  com- 
plete Bible  in  the  Nuer  language — a 
project  more  than  nine  years  in  the 
works. 

After  the  location  of  the  new  trans- 
lation's launch  shifted  from  Akobo  to 
Mading,  in  southern  Sudan,  Church 
of  the  Brethren  representatives 
Lester  and  Esther  Boleyn  of  Cit- 
ronelle,  Ala.,  and  David  Sollenberger 
of  Annville,  Pa.,  took  a  flight  from 
northern  Kenya  to  Mading.  As  the 
plane  approached  the  dirt  landing 
strip,  however,  it  was  whipped  by 
strong  crosswinds  and  rolled  sharply 
back  and  forth.  The  right  landing 
gear  hit  hard  and  collapsed,  and  the 
plane  then  skidded  sideways  into  a 
fence,  it  rolled  the  plane,  snapping 
off  the  left  wing  and  leaving  the 
plane  lying  on  its  roof. 


6  Messenger  March  2000 


The  Boleyns  reported  that 
miraculously,  however,  none 
of  the  24  people  on  the  plane 
had  more  than  a  scratch,  and 
they  were  able  to  exit  via  a 
rear  loading  door  or  the 
cockpit.  Sollenberger  was 
able  to  videotape  the  rescue 
operation. 

"God  is  great,  we  are  safe, 
and  the  Nuer  now  have  the 
Bible  in  their  own  language," 
the  Boleyns  wrote. 

Hymnnal  supplement 
group  sings  its  work 

The  committee  preparing 
supplements  to  Hymnal:  A 
Worship  Book  has  progressed  j. 
to  the  next  level  of  the  project  ^ 
—  digesting  the  input  of  33      ? 
advisory  group  members  who 
each  sang  through  239  poten- 
tial hymns. 

The  advisory  group  is  a 
diverse  set  of  people  who  com- 
mitted to  reviewing  the  first  cut  of 
hymns  and  evaluating  their  appropri- 
ateness for  inclusion  in  a  set  of 
booklets  for  congregational  worship 
within  the  Church  of  the  Brethren. 
That  input,  sent  by  mail,  was  tabulated 
for  the  Hymnal  Pocket  Series  Com- 
mittee to  use  as  a  guide  in  the  next 
level  of  selection,  done  during  a  meet- 
ing Dec.  6- 1 0  in  Elgin,  111. 

The  committee  decided  the  still-to- 
be-named  series  will  consist  of  nine 
booklets  produced  over  a  three-year 
period.  The  categories  will  be  based 
on  those  in  the  hymnal,  and  the  first 
three  will  be  1)  Advent/Christmas/ 
Epiphany;  2)  Lent/ Easter/Pentecost; 
and  5)  Praising/ Adoring. 


The  hymnal  supplement  committee  at  work.  Clockwise 
from  upper  left:  Wendy  McFadden.  Jonathan  Shively, 
Lani  Wright,  and  Nancy  Fans. 


Each  booklet  will  include  hymns 
representing  a  variety  of  musical 
styles.  Among  those  in  the  mix  are 
traditional  hymns,  praise  choruses, 
new  hymns  written  since  the  hymnal 
was  published,  and  hymns  coming 
from  other  cultures. 

Of  the  list  evaluated  by  members  of 
the  advisory  group,  the  top  10  were: 
"While  by  the  sheep,"  "fesu,  Jesu" 
(with  revised  words),  "We  three 
kings."  "jubilate,  everybody,"  "Lau- 
date  Dominum,"  "Siyahamba," 
"Halle,  halle,  hallelujah,"  "Touch  the 
earth  lightly,"  "Glory,  glory,  hallelu- 
jah," and  "Go,  tell  it  on  the 
mountain." 

Ultimate  inclusion  in  the  series 


depends  on  copyright  permis- 
sions, so  no  titles  are  yet 
considered  final. 

The  committee  will  meet 
again  in  March.  Members  are 
Nancy  Faus,  chair;  Wendy 
McFadden,  publisher; 
lonathan  Shively;  and  Lani 
Wright.  The  first  booklet  in 
the  series  is  planned  for  com- 
pletion by  fall  2000. 

Loving  heart  is  logo  for 
Annual  Conference 

The  Annual  Conference  Pro- 
gram and  Arrangements 
Committee  has  chosen  a  design 
by  Debra  Noffsinger  of  the 
Westminster  (Md.)  Church  of 
the  Brethren  as  the  logo  for  the 
2000  Conference  to  be  held  in 
Kansas  City  in  July.  The  logo 
will  appear  on  the  banner  in  the 
convention  center  and  on  other 
Conference  materials. 
Noffsinger  said  that 
thoughts  presented  by  moderator 
Emily  Mumma,  including  a  scripture 
from  Colossians,  helped  to  inspire 
the  motif. 

"I  designed  the  logo  with  the 
thought  of  us  all  being  woven 
together  with  each  other  and  with 
God  into  one  fabric,"  Noffsinger 
wrote  in  an  explanation  of  the 
design.  "Our  love  holds  us  tight." 


BVS  eliminates  barrier  by 
waiving  application  fee 

People  seeking  to  work  through 
Brethren  Volunteer  Service  no  longer 
need  to  pay  an  application  fee  as  of 
[an.  1. 


March  2000  Messenger  7 


The  BVS  team  planning  retreat 
held  in  December  arrived  at  a  deci- 
sion to  no  longer  require  the  $15  fee 
beginning  in  the  new  year,  matching 
the  practice  of  most  other  volunteer 
agencies. 

"BVS  wants  to  remove  barriers  to 
the  application  process,"  BVS  direc- 
tor Dan  McFadden  said,  "and  this  is 
one  area  where  we  can  make  an 
immediate  change  without  a  high 
cost  to  BVS." 

Students  flock  to  study  with 
Brethren  Colleges  Abroad 

Brethren  Colleges  Abroad  has  more 
individual  students  pre-registered 
than  ever  before  this  year,  with 
nearly  400  signed  up  for  interna- 
tional study. 

The  total  semester-equivalents  is 
equal  to  the  previous  year,  however, 
as  only  one  in  eight  students  are 
staying  for  a  full  academic  year.  Of 
those  enrolled,  the  largest  number 
registered  for  Barcelona,  Spain,  with 
1 14  students.  Second  is  Athens, 
Greece,  with  52.  The  remaining  stu- 
dents are  scattered  over  nine  other 
sites  in  eight  countries. 

Larqe  group  attends  youth 
spirituality  workshop 

The  theme  of  youth  spirituality 
struck  a  chord  among  Brethren  as  a 
crowd  of  nearly  200  people  attended 
the  1999  Youth  Ministry  Workshop 
held  at  the  Hagerstown  (Md.) 
Church  of  the  Brethren  Nov.  20. 

Chris  Douglas,  coordinator  of  the 
General  Board's  Youth/Young  Adult 
Office,  which  sponsored  the  work- 
shop, said  it  was  the  highest 
registration  ever  for  the  annual  fall 
event  since  it  began  in  the  early  1990s. 


Mark  Yaconelli,  who  directs  the 
Youth  Spirituality  Project  at  San 
Francisco  Theological  Seminary, 
provided  leadership  for  the  event. 

"God  needs  to  be  at  the  center," 
Yaconelli  said,  describing  various 
youth  ministry  models.  "The  Christ- 
ian faith  doesn't  make  sense  unless 
there  is  a  God.  We  need  to  have 
youth  'meet  God.'  Our  desire  for 
God  is  our  greatest  gift  to  our 
children." 

A  video  of  highlights  from  the 
workshop,  filmed  by  David  SoUen- 
berger  of  the  Annville  (Pa.) 
congregation,  is  available  for  dis- 
tricts or  congregations  to  borrow 
from  the  Youth/Young  Adult  Min- 
istry Office.  Call  800-323-8039. 

Disaster  Fund  grants  help 
Balkans,  Puerto  Rico,  Eritrea 

In  recent  months  the  General  Board 
has  approved  the  following  Emer- 
gency Disaster  Fund  allocations, 
culminating  more  than  three  dozen 
grants  going  out  in  1999  and  begin- 
ning 2000: 

•$37,500  to  support  the  ongoing 
post-war  work  of  Brethren  Volunteer 
Service  in  the  Balkans. 

•$15,000  to  support  a  hurricane 
recovery  and  mitigation  project  on 
the  Puerto  Rican  island  of  Culebra. 
The  project  came  as  a  joint  effort 
between  the  General  Board's  Emer- 
gency Response/Service  Ministries 
and  McPherson  (Kan.)  College,  with 
additional  volunteers  from  Chiques 
Church  of  the  Brethren,  Manheim, 
Pa.,  plus  two  experienced  project 
directors. 

•  $  I  5,000  toward  additional  sup- 
port for  the  Family  Farm  Drought 
Response,  an  ecumenical  effort  of 
which  the  General  Board's  Emer- 


gency Response/Service  Ministries  is 
a  part. 

•$25,000  to  support  the  immedi- 
ate disaster  recovery  efforts  of 
Church  World  Service  in  the  after- 
math of  catastrophic  floods  and 
mudslides  that  killed  thousands  and 
devastated  areas  along  Venezuela's 
Caribbean  coast. 

•$1  3,500  to  fund  an  emergency 
shipment  of  medical  supplies  in 
cooperation  with  Mercy  Corps  to 
war-torn  Eritrea,  on  the  northeast 
coast  of  Africa. 

•$10,000  to  support  continuing 
relief  and  reconstruction  efforts 
related  to  the  effects  of  Hurricane 
Floyd  in  North  Carolina.  Monies  for 
the  grant  had  been  given  via  desig- 
nated gifts  from  congregations  and 
individuals  in  Virlina  District,  where 
most  of  the  damage  from  the  storm 
occurred. 

•In  addition  to  these  disaster 
grants,  the  board  allocated  $2,500 
from  the  Global  Food  Crisis  Fund  in 
December  to  meet  a  request  for  the 
Eco-|ustice  Working  Group  of  the 
National  Council  of  Churches.  The 
funds  will  support  an  Earth  Day 
resource  mailing  about  the  effects  of 
energy  consumption,  global  warm- 
ing, and  climate  changes  on  food 
security. 

Juniata  publishes  book  on 
peace  hero  Elizabeth  Baker 

A  new  book.  Peace  is  Everybody's 
Business — Half  a  Century  of  Peace 
Education  with  Elizabeth  Evans 
Baker,  by  Marta  Daniels,  of  Chester, 
Conn.,  was  published  by  luniata 
College,  Huntingdon,  Pa.,  in 
November. 

It  explores  the  role  Baker  played 
in  peace  education  and  a  life 


8  Messenger  March  2000 


devoted  to  finding  peace.  The  book 
was  commissioned  for  publication 
in  1999  to  mark  the  30th  anniver- 
sary of  the  date  Elizabeth  Evans 
Baker  wrote  her  first  letter  to  then- 
)uniata  President  John  Stauffer, 
challenging  the  college  to  create  a 
peace  studies  program  as  part  of  its 
curriculum,  and  the  25th  anniver- 
sary of  the  date  Juniata's 
full-fledged  Peace  and  Conflict 
Studies  program  began. 

Peace  is  Everybody's  Business  is 
available  at  the  Juniata  College 
Bookstore  for  $7.95  plus  shipping. 
For  information  call  814-641-3380. 


Youn^  adults  to  focus  on 
'Finding  Common  Ground' 

This  year's  Young  Adult  Conference, 
with  the  theme  "Finding  Common 
Ground,"  will  be  held  over  the 
Memorial  Day  weekend,  May  27-29, 
at  Camp  Harmony,  Hooversville,  Pa. 
All  who  consider  themselves  young 
adults  are  invited  to  attend  and  share 
their  visions  and  challenges,  as  well  as 
listen  to  the  diversity  within  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren.  The  confer- 
ence will  be  led  by  Matt  Guynn  and  a 
YAC  leadership  team.  Registration  fee 
is  $80;  for  a  registration  brochure  call 


800-323-8039,  ext.  286,  or  go  to  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  Web  site 
(www.brethren.org)  and  print  one. 

Personnel 

Patty  and  John  Crumley  of  Polo,  111., 
accepted  a  call  to  serve  in  Nigeria 
through  the  Church  of  the  Brethren 
General  Board's  office  of  Global 
Mission  Partnerships.  Their  employ- 
ment began  Dec.  13  and  they  left  for 
Nigeria  in  January.  Patty  will  be 
teaching  music  at  Hillcrest  School  in 
)os,  and  John's  assignment  is  yet  to 
be  defined. 


Jhi'  yoiw  Seace  oft  flind 

Everything  You  Want 

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RESIDENTIAL   LIVING   IN  CROSS   KEYS  VILLAGE 

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ASSISTED   LIVING  CENTER 

•  Sheltered  neighborhood 

•  Private  Rooms  with  Bath 


HEALTH  Care  Center 
Housekeeping 


Everything  You  Need 


Support  services 

Home  health  services 

Special  Care  (Alzheimer's)  Unit' 

Cross  keys  Subacute  Center 


Adult  Day  Services 
Special  care  unit 
Nursing  care 
Respite  Care 


MEDICARE/MEDICAID  APPROVED 


(i/miia/i  care  mice  [^)0S 

2990  Carlisle  Pike  -  RO.  Box  1  2 
New  OXFORD,  PA     17350-0128 
1-888-624-8242 
www.brethrenhome.org 


Tlw  BretJiren  Home 

Community 


March  2000  Messenger  9 


Maintaining  a  database  of  more  than  5.600  people  on  death  row  and  matching  them  with  volunteer  correspondenis  is  the  ]\vrk 
of  Rachel  Gross,  director  of  the  Death  Row  Support  Project,  a  ministry  of  the  General  Board's  Office  of  Brethren  Witness. 

Wilting  to  death  row 

Tlie  Death  Row  Sirppoit  Pi^oject  has  beenministei'ing  to  prisonei's  foi^more  than  20  years 


BY  Greg  Laszakovits 

'Tnank.  you  for  sending  my  name  to 
J_the  Thompson  family.  I  have  been 
on  death  row.  .  .  and  at  first  I 
thought  everyone  had  forgotten 
about  me." 

The  cornfields  of  Indiana  are  a  long 
way  from  the  lonely  halls  of  death  row. 
Yet  this  Midwestern  rural  landscape  is 
much  closer  than  you  might  imagine 
to  the  steel  and  gray  one  finds  in  the 
iron  bars  and  echoing  halls  of  prison. 
This  soybeans  and  Brethren  territory, 
just  outside  the  small  town  of  Liberty 
Mills,  houses  one  of  the  best  support 
systems  for  death  row  prisoners. 
Death  Row  Support  Project  (DRSP). 

1 0  Messenger  March  2000 


Director  Rachel  Gross  stands  in 
her  farmhouse  kitchen  preparing 
lunch,  comfortably  answering  ques- 
tions and  throwing  out  statistics: 

As  of  Sept.  1 ,  1 999,  there  were 
3,625  people  on  death  row  in  the 
United  States.  The  mission  of  Gross 
and  the  DRSP  is  to  see  that  each  and 
every  one  of  those  persons  receives  a 
letter,  and  gains  an  ongoing  relation- 
ship, while  life  still  exists. 

DRSP  a  Church  of  the  Brethren 
General  Board  ministry  sponsored  by 
the  Brethren  Witness  office,  matches 
the  people  on  death  row  with  "pen 
pals."  Yet  one  hesitates  to  use  such  a 
flippant  word  for  fear  it  cannot 
match  the  depth  and  intensity  these 


writing  relationships  often  reach. 

In  1976  the  US  Supreme  Court  rein- 
stated the  use  of  capital  punishment. 
At  that  time  Rachel's  husband.  Bob, 
was  working  on  criminal  justice  issues 
with  the  Church  of  the  Brethren 
Washington  Office.  Knowing  her 
compassion.  Bob  suggested  to  Rachel 
the  possibility  of  a  correspondence 
ministry.  She  readily  accepted  the 
challenge.  The  Washington  Office  was 
the  first  to  support  the  project  and  in 
the  fall  of  1978,  the  DRSP  started 
with  about  20  correspondents. 

"When  I  started  in  1977  I  thought, 
'No  problem,  two  years  of  this  and 
the  death  penalty  will  be  gone  again 


;  when  people  eome  back  to  their 
senses  alter  they  see  how  wrong  it 
is."  But  here  we  are,  20  years  later.  I 
thought  it  would  be  a  short-term 
thing,"  recalls  Gross  with  a  mix  of 
disappointment  and  amazement. 

Obviously,  it  has  been  anything  but 
"short-term."  Twenty-one  years  and 
more  than  600  executions  later,  the 
death  penalty  remains  tightly  woven 
into  the  American  fiber,  in  fact,  most 
polls  show  Americans  strongly  in 
favor  of  government-sponsored  exe- 
cutions— upwards  of  6,500  have 
been  sentenced  to  death  since  1977 
(though  2,000  of  those  sentences 
have  been  cornmuted  or  reduced). 

Even  while  public  opinion  contin- 
ues to  support  capital  punishment, 
and  58  of  the  50  states  proscribe 
death,  the  hope  of  abolition  stays 
alive  for  many.  In  the  meantime, 
DRSP  plans  to  keep  hard  at  work 
matching  those  imprisoned  with 
those  who  are  on  the  "outside." 

Gross  says  it's  hard  to  tell  how 
many  people  are  corresponding  at 
the  moment.  But  she  does  know  that 
DRSP  has  referred  more  than  65 
percent  of  the  3,625  on  death  row 
around  the  nation  to  correspondents. 

DJ^SP  continues  the  tradition  set  by 
other  notable  Brethren  ministries 
by  opening  its  doors  to  ecumenical 
and  secular  participation.  This  is  due 
partly  to  an  open  attitude,  but  mostly 
out  of  necessity.  The  first  push  in 
1978,  including  a  Messenger  adver- 
tisement, sought  matches  for  the  400 
people  newly  assigned  to  death  row. 
A  number  of  writers  responded,  but 
sadly  short  of  400.  The  need  for 
more  writers  led  to  ads  in  Sojourners 
and  other  publications.  Thankfully,  a 
larger  group  responded  to  the  plea. 
Letter-writers  have  come  from  all 
walks  of  life,  denominations,  and 
parts  of  the  world.  Many  write  out  of 
religious  conviction,  and  some  from 
deep  wells  of  compassion.  Many  of 
the  writers  are  Catholic  sisters, 
American  Baptists,  and  Seventh  Day 
Adventists.  Around  100  are  Brethren. 
Since  the  US  is  the  only  Western 
country  to  use  capital  punishment, 
numerous  writers  hail  from  abroad, 
including  many  from  Europe. 


For  nearly  20  years  the  Franklin  family  of 
Modesto.  Calif,  has  corresponded  with 
death  ro)v  inmate  Ronnie  Bell  through  the 
Death  Row  Support  Project.  Bell,  a 
prisoner  at  San  Quentin  penitentiary,  is 
seated,  flanked  by  Simeon  Franklin,  left, 
and  Cyrus.  Back  row:  Joshua.  Pam,  Phil 
and  Melissa.  The  photo  was  taken  several 
years  ago. 


Tilhy  would  you  want  to  write  to  a 
VV  convicted  murderer?  Gross  offers 
many  reasons,  but  states  that  the 
most  important  for  her  is  her  belief 
that  writing  to  a  person  on  death  row 
is  a  form  of  visiting,  in  line  with 
lesus'  teaching  (Matt.  25:31-46). 
She  explains,  "lesus  called  us  to  be 
with  those  in  prison;  he  didn't  qual- 
ify it  with  why  they  were  there." 

One  may  suspect  lesus  calls  us  to 
visit  with  those  in  prison  for  the  very 
reason  reflected  in  this  article's 
opening  quote —  an  utter  feeling  of 
abandonment  and  loneliness.  Feeling 
forgotten  may  be  one  of  the  worst 
emotions  one  can  experience.  It  is 
akin  to  worthlessness.  fesus  saw  the 
worth  in  all  children  of  God  he 
encountered;  he  was  unconcerned 
with  what  they  did  for  a  living,  where 
they  hung  their  hats,  or  their  past 
sins.  He  exemplified  a  way  of  living 
in  which  everyone  deserved  human 
contact  and  love,  and  an  opportunity 
for  forgiveness. 

Regardless  of  guilt  or  innocence, 
DRSP  believes  that  no  person  is 
beyond  the  love,  compassion,  and 
listening  presence  that  only  a  fellow 
human  being  can  provide. 

This  sentiment  is  felt  by  one  man 
on  Texas'  death  row  who  expresses 
his  gratefulness  for  correspondence: 
"I  have  been  corresponding  ...  on  a 
regular  basis  and  have  had  few  things 
in  my  life  which  have  given  me  more 
pleasure.  It  is  a  helping  hand  to  us 
who  society  has  condemned,  while 


knowing  we  have  violated  those  stan- 
dards they  hold  sacred.  To  me  that  is 
truly  love  for  your  fellow  man." 

"This  really  changes  people's 
lives,"  notes  Gross,  who  launches 
into  the  story  of  one  family's  impact 
on  their  new  friend's  life.  The  family 
provided  testimony  in  a  re-sentenc- 
ing hearing  that  was  pivotal  in 
reducing  the  convicted  person's  sen- 
tence. 

Surprising  to  many,  writing  and 
visiting  often  becomes  a  family  pro- 
ject. Younger  children  draw  pictures, 
which  are  greatly  appreciated  by 
those  who  have  little  or  no  contact 
with  children.  In  turn,  children  have 
the  opportunity  in  a  safe  space  to 
learn  about  the  justice  system  and, 
more  significantly,  about  the  individ- 
uals who  are  in  it. 

A  mother  writes,  "We  have  learned 
a  lot  about  prison  life — and  its  toll 
on  a  person.  .  .  .  We  have  a  new 
awareness,  as  a  family,  of  the  inhu- 
manity of  the  death  penalty." 

Correspondent  relationships  not 
only  influence  the  prisoner's  life,  but 
they  also  change  the  other  person 
psychologically  and  spiritually  as 
well.  Writing  to  a  person  on  death 
row  gives  one  the  opportunity  to  see 
situations  as  they  have  never  seen 
them  before,  from  the  childhood  past 
of  a  confessed  murderer,  to  the  pleas 
of  a  person  who  may  be  an  innocent 
victim  caught  in  the  wrong  place  at 
the  wrong  time  (23  persons  have 
been  executed,  only  to  be  found 
innocent  upon  further  review). 

One  man  describes  his  discovery  of 
compassion:  "Besides  learning  about 
myself,  I  feel  like  I  have  learned  to 
appreciate  another  unique  individual. 
Until  I  am  open  to  sharing  and  being 
sensitive  to  his  concerns,  struggles, 
joys,  defeats,  etc.,  I  cannot  be  sup- 
portive or  healing  in  any  way." 

In  a  land  wracked  by  stereotypes 
and  social  stratification,  DRSP 
opens  the  door  to  appreciate  people 
for  who  they  are  and  not  who  we  as  a 
society  project  them  to  be.  One 
woman  wrote,  "I  was  able  to  see 
Richard  as  a  person,  and  a  neat 
person  at  that,  instead  of  just  a  pris- 
oner. The  prejudices  I  had  have 
disappeared.  Actually  I  think  I  prob- 


March  2000  Messenger  1 1 


ably  got  more  out  of  it  than  he  did." 
DRSP  correspondence  also  gives 
the  imprisoned  the  opportunity  to 
give  gifts  of  the  human  spirit  that 
might  otherwise  not  find  an  outlet. 
Many  in  Brethren  circles  are  familiar 
with  the  late  Dale  Aukerman,  long- 
time peace  activist,  writer,  and 
spiritual  giant,  who  last  year  wrote 
for  Messenger  about  his  honest,  yet 
graceful,  battle  with  cancer.  Auker- 
man had  long  been  a  correspondent 
through  DRSP  with  men  on  death 
row  around  the  nation  and  had  sup- 
ported men  through  the  agony  of 
death  row  all  the  way  to  the  Alabama 
electric  chair. 

When  Aukerman  was  diagnosed 
with  lung  cancer,  his  death  sentence 
of  sorts,  a  tremendous  outpouring  of 
love  and  support  came  from  those  he 
had  long  supported  on  death  row. 
Those  who  knew  what  it  was  like  to 
know  their  days  were  numbered  felt 
an  instant  camaraderie.  Ten  men  on 
death  row  wrote  letters  and  notes  of 
support  to  Dale  and  his  family 
during  this  trying  time,  sharing  with 
him  their  wisdom  of  what  it  means  to 
lean  on  God  while  life  hangs  in  the 
balance. 

Wrote  one  imprisoned  man,  "Look 
upon  the  healing  powers  of  Jesus, 
and  also  for  the  comfort  of  knowing 
friends  and  family  are  beside  you. 
My  prayers  are  joined."  In  a  turn- 
about of  grace,  the  receiver  became  a 
reminder  of  God's  boundless  love. 

Gross  maintains  a  database  that 
tracks  sentence  changes,  execu- 
tions, names,  department  of 
corrections  numbers,  addresses,  etc. 
Keeping  this  database  up-to-date 
seems  to  be  half  the  battle.  Quar- 
terly, DRSP  receives  listings  from 
the  NAACP  Legal  Defense  Fund  that 
shows  many  of  the  changes.  How- 
ever, this  list  does  not  tell  it  all. 
Gross  must  use  other  sources  to 
maintain  accuracy.  In  fact,  DRSP 
has  one  of  the  most  complete  lists  in 
the  country  of  prisoners  on  death 
row. 

Gross  guards  the  list  closely.  "A 
few  people  have  called  thinking  we 
were  in  support  of  the  death  penalty 
and  wanted  to  know  how  they  could 
help,"  she  laughs.  Quickly  growing 


Pen  pals:  Beth  Portela  of  Huntington.  Ind.. 
corresponds  with  Omar,  a  prisoner  on  death 
row  in  Florida. 

earnest  she  retorts,  "I'm  very  protec- 
tive of  the  guys.  I  don't  want  anyone 
getting  hate  mail.  Unfortunately,  it's 
been  known  to  happen." 

Since  overhead  is  small,  due  to  the 
fact  that  this  ministry  is  run  out  of 
the  Gross  home,  not  many  financial 
resources  are  needed  for  DRSP. 
However,  DRSP  has  not  been 
immune  to  recent  General  Board 
cutbacks — its  budget  was  reduced  by 
over  50  percent.  Larger  projects 
await  completion,  and  staying 
abreast  of  issues  by  attending  confer- 
ences and  workshops  around  the 
country  also  requires  funding.  A  uni- 
fied budget  structure  does  not  allow 
for  direct  cash  donations,  but  Gross 
happily  notes  that  DRSP  is  always 
ready  to  accept  stamps  that  can  be 
sent  to  correspondents  who  may  not 
be  able  to  afford  them.  Postage  also 
helps  with  day-to-day  office  opera- 
tions and  bulk  mailings. 

While  money  is  tight,  time  seems 
to  be  the  biggest  shortage  for  Gross. 
She  is  not  only  the  director  of  DRSP, 
but  also  a  full-time  mother  and 
spouse,  and  practices  what  she 
names  a  personal  "ministry  of  avail- 
ability," which  calls  her  to  many 
tasks  in  her  home  church  and  the 
larger  community.  She  hopes  soon  to 
add  a  peace  studies  intern  from 
nearby  Manchester  College  to  aid 
with  database  upkeep  and  adminis- 
tration. Another  hope  is  to  enlist 
coordinators  who  would  monitor  the 
status  of  death  row — from  new  sen- 
tences to  execution  updates — in 
their  respective  states. 


Whenever  it's  suggested  that 
DRSP  go  ecumenical  to  ease  finan- 
cial and  time  pressures.  Gross  balks. 
"It's  been  a  Brethren  ministry  from 
the  start.  Staying  part  of  this  com- 
munity [Church  of  the  Brethren]  is 
important  to  me.  1  am  Brethren  and 
this  program  has  always  been 
Brethren." 

The  Church  of  the  Brethren 
stands  firmly  opposed  to  capital 
punishment  and  supports  efforts  to 
aid  the  accused,  as  well  as  the  vic- 
tims of  crime.  (Seethe  1987  Annual 
Conference  statement.) 

Dp.SP  sees  value  in  letter-writing 
not  only  for  the  relationship  that 
is  created,  but  also  because  it  is  one 
of  the  best  transformative  and  inspi- 
rational tools  for  getting  people 
involved  in  the  abolition  movement 
in  more  profound  ways. 

Pat  Bane,  a  Catholic  woman  from 
Syracuse,  N.Y.,  began  corresponding 
with  a  man  on  death  row  in 
Arkansas.  Written  correspondence 
soon  became  personal  visits  and, 
when  it  came  time  for  the  man  to  be 
executed,  Pat  was  able  to  serve  as  his 
spiritual  advisor.  It  was  a  sad  ending, 
but  would  have  been  sadder  had  he 
died  alone.  Pat  Bane's  story  does  not 
end  with  the  death  of  her  friend,  but 
the  birth  of  a  ministry. 

Bane  was  not  a  typical  DRSP  cor- 
respondent— her  uncle  had  been 
murdered  years  before.  Through  the 
relationship  she  built  on  death  row. 
she  was  led  to  join  Murder  Victims' 
Families  for  Reconciliation  (MVFR), 
a  national  organization  of  family 
members  of  victims,  of  both  homi- 
cides and  state  killings,  who  oppose 
the  death  penalty.  In  fact.  Bane  went 
on  to  serve  the  growing  MVFR  as  its 
first  paid  staff  person. 

Bane  no  longer  serves  MVFR,  but 
the  organization  continues  to  thrive 
as  a  support  program  that  addresses 
the  needs  of  victims  of  violence, 
enabling  them  to  rebuild  their  lives. 
MVFR  also  advocates  policies  to 
reduce  the  rate  of  homicide,  and  pro- 
motes crime  prevention  and 
alternatives  to  violence. 

"Pat  is  who  I  refer  to  as  DRSP's 
poster  child,"  states  Gross.  "Her 
story  is  exactly  what  we  envisioned 


1 2  Messenger  March  2000 


when  we  started  21  years  ago.  Not 
just  writing  and  becoming  involved 
in  someone's  life  in  a  very  personal 
sense,  but  becoming  part  of  the 
movement  in  new  and  exciting 
ways." 

Working  with  victims'  families  also 
remains  one  of  Gross's  dreams. 
"Someday  1  would  like  to  have  a  dual 
ministry — serving  both  victims'  fam- 
ilies and  those  on  death  row."  She 
recognizes  the  healing  and  concilia- 
tion that  can  often  blossom  in  the 
darkest  of  nights,  when  the  opportu- 
nity is  provided. 

DiSP  is  not  only  transforming  the 
ives  of  those  who  find  themselves 
on  death  row  and  those  who 
exchange  letters  with  them,  it  is  also 
leaving  its  mark  on  the  movement  to 
abolish  the  death  penalty.  Sometimes 
even  worthy  movements  lose  sight  of 
why  they  are  moving.  However,  in 
the  movement  to  abolish  the  death 
penalty,  DRSP  has  represented  a 
Spirit-led  voice  of  compassionate 
support  and  action.  In  response  to 
this  compassionate  action,  the 
National  Coalition  to  Abolish  the 
Death  Penalty  recently  presented 
DRSP  with  a  "Special  Recognition 
Award"  for  20  years  of  dedicated 
service.  This  ministry  is  finding  and 
gaining  respect  in  the  abolition 
movement. 

DflSP  has  taken  on  the  monumental 
task  of  assigning  each  person  on 
death  row  a  correspondent.  To  date 
two-thirds  of  them  have  been 
assigned  a  pen  pal.  "More  can  cer- 
tainly be  done,"  Gross  says.  More 
correspondents  are  needed  to  fill  in 
for  the  third  of  death-row  inmates 
who  may  have  no  constant  support 
outside  of  prison. 

Meanwhile,  Rachel  Gross  waits 
patiently  for  more  volunteers  to  cor- 
respond, as  does  someone  who  has 
been  involved  in  the  struggle  for  over 
20  years. 

A  religious  ethics  writer  once 
reflected  on  the  nature  of  justice, 
punishment,  and  humanity:  "Anger  is 
righteousness  without  humility."  In  a 
nation  gripped  by  anger,  and  the 
belief  that  an  eye  for  an  eye  brings 
justice,  DRSP  offers  a  place  of  mercy 


for  those  who  find  themselves  amid 
the  lonely  solitude  and  terror  of  wait 
ing — a  place  where  they  are  not 
forgotten. 


lAi 


Greg  Laszakovits.  currently  living  in 
Richmond.  Ind..  is  a  member  of  the 
Phoenix  (Ariz.)  First  Church  of  the 
Brethren.  He  recently  finished  a  one-year 
assignment  with  the  Office  of  Brethren 
Witness  focusing  on  anti-racism  educa- 
tion and  abolishing  the  death  penalty. 


How  you  can  p;et  involved 

To  obtain  the  name  and 
address  of  a  person  on  death 
row  with  whom  you  may  corre- 
spond, write  to  Death  Row 
Support  Project,  Department  M, 
P.O.  Box  600,  Liberty  Mills,  IN 
46946. 


i 

l\ 
i  \ 
I     \ 


WWWe 


I  Insert  youn 

church 

name  here 


org 


Trying  to  get  you  or 

your  congregation  "online"? 

Turn  to  someone  you  can  trust. 

eMountain,  the  electronic  ministry  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren 
Benefit  Trust,  can  assist  you  with  your  Internet  and  technology  needs. 

•  Web  hosting.  Reasonable  rates  to  get  you  or  your  congregation 
on  theWeb:$4.95/month  basic  plan;$l2.95/month  enhanced  plan. 

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adheres  to  and  witnesses  Brethren  values. 

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COMMUNICATIONS 


March  2000  Messenger  1 3 


Say  yes  to 


JUBILEE  2000 

The  campaign  to  cancel  international  debt 


iS- 


BY  Heather  Nolen 

TT/ould  you  like  to  alleviate 
V  y  poverty?  Would  you  like  your 
sisters  and  brothers  around  the 
world  to  have  access  to  basic  health 
care  and  education?  Would  you  like 
to  control  pollution  and  reverse 
environmental  degradation?  Would 
you  like  to  reduce  outbreaks  of  vio- 
lent conflict? 

If  you  answered  yes  to  these  ques- 
tions, then  you  are  ready  for 
Jubilee.  In  fact,  we're  already  living 
in  the  [ubilee  year.  As  Leviticus  25 
tells  us,  every  50th  year  was  to  be  a 
year  of  lubilee — a  year  when  slaves 
were  set  free  and  land  was  returned 
to  its  original  owner. 

So  what  is  the  connection  between  "yes"  to  the  first 
four  questions  and  the  year  of  Jubilee?  Just  as  the 
Israelites  were  reminded  that  all  we  are  and  have  belongs 
to  God,  we  must  also  respond  to  our  modern-day  call  to 
get  economic  relations  right. 

To  that  end,  Jubilee  2000  is  a  global  movement  that  is 
responding  to  the  international  debt  crisis  and  the  many 
lives  that  could  be  saved  each  year  if  the  debts  of  the  most 
impoverished  countries  were  cancelled  outright. 


1 4  Messenger  March  2000 


More  than  400  people  were  part  of  a  procession  to  the  US  Department  of 
Treasury  on  June  18.  1999 — the  same  day  President  Clinton  was  meeting  witli 
the  other  industrialized  countries  in  Cologne,  Germany. 


Jubilee  2000  is  a  grassroots  campaign  in  over  60  coun- 
tries around  the  world.  The  Jubilee  2000/USA  Campaign 
was  formally  endorsed  by  the  Church  of  the  Brethren 
General  Board  in  March  1999  by  approval  of  a  resolution 
brought  by  the  Washington  Office.  Each  country's  cam- 
paign has  its  own  headquarters  and  platform  for  action, 
but  they  are  all  focused  on  the  international  debt  crisis  in 
some  way.  The  Jubilee  2000/USA  campaign  was 
launched  in  1997,  and  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  Wash- 
ington Office  is  one  of  36  faith-based,  environmental,  and 


social  justice  organizations  on  its  steering  committee. 
Otiier  members  include  the  American  Friends  Service 
Committee,  Church  World  Service/National  Council  of 
Churches,  Mennonite  Central  Committee,  and  Bread  for 
the  World. 

The  lubilee  2000  Campaign  seeks  "cancellation  of  the 
crushing  international  debt  for  countries  that  are  bur- 
dened with  high  levels  of  human  need  and  environmental 
distress."  The  campaign  works  for  debt  cancellation  that 
benefits  ordinary  people.  The  people  themselves  should 
have  a  role  in  determin- 
ing how  the  savings  from 
debt  cancellation  is  used, 
as  well  as  the  future  con- 
ditions of  any  negotiated 
loans  to  their  govern- 
ments. 

Also,  lubilee  2000 
seeks  debt  cancellation 
that  is  not  conditioned  on 
policy  reforms  that  per- 
petuate or  deepen 
poverty  or  environmental 
degradation,  often  known 
as  "structural  adjustment 
programs,"  or  SAPs. 
[ubilee  2000  urges  that 

lenders  and  borrowers  alike  acknowledge  responsibil- 
ity for  the  debt  crisis. 

Where  resources  were  diverted  by  corruption, 
lubilee  2000  advocates  for  their  recovery.  To  prevent 
future  debt  crises,  Jubilee  seeks  the  creation  of  mech- 
anisms to  monitor  international  monetary  flows 
through  a  process  that  is  open  and  accessible  to  the 
public. 

The  campaign's  primary  mission  is  to  urge  creditors 
{commercial  banks,  governments,  and  multilateral 
institutions)  in  the  "North,"  or  the  industrialized  and 
developed  countries,  to  cancel  the  crushing  debts  of 
the  most  impoverished  countries  in  the  "South,"  or 
those  countries  that  are  considered  to  be  developing. 

These  countries  targeted  for  debt  cancellation 
spend  financial  resources  on  debt  payments  rather 
than  on  clean  water,  basic  health  care,  and  education  for 
their  citizens.  On  average,  the  countries  of  sub-Saharan 
Africa  spend  more  on  debt  service  than  on  health  and 
education  combined.  In  Tanzania,  where  40  percent  of 
the  population  dies  before  the  age  of  35,  the  government 
spends  nine  times  more  on  debt  payments  than  on  health 
care  and  primary  education  combined. 

Creditors,  to  whom  the  debt  is  owed — like  the  US  and 
other  industrialized  countries,  plus  international  financial 
institutions  like  the  International  Monetary  Fund  and  the 
World  Bank — are  called  to  acknowledge  their  complicity 
in  making  loans  to  corrupt  governments.  Now,  debt  pay- 
ments are  being  exacted  on  people  who  were  in  no  way 


participants  in  accepting  the  terms  of  the  original  loans. 
If  future  lending  is  monitored  and  ultimately  approved 
with  active  citizen  participation,  concern  about  corrup- 
tion will  diminish. 

But  what  about  ensuring  that  debt  savings  go  for 
poverty  reduction  that  benefits  ordinary  people?  This  is  a 
primary  concern  in  cancelling  the  debt.  Uganda's  use  of  a 
Poverty  Action  Fund  has  been  successful  and  can  serve  as 
a  model  for  using  debt  savings  for  poverty  reduction. 


Demonstrators /br//;e<i  a  human  chain  at  the  US  Department  of  Treasury  last  June. 


$2  trillion  too  much 

Presently,  developing  countries  owe  the  "North"  and  the 
international  financial  institutions  over  $2  trillion.  This 
debt  crisis  was  caused  by  a  number  of  factors,  but  some 
key  ones  were  irresponsible  lending,  corrupt  borrowers, 
the  jockeying  for  allies  through  financial  lending  during 
the  Cold  War,  and  drastic  fluctuations  in  the  market  value 
of  basic  commodities,  like  cocoa  and  coffee,  on  which  the 
"South"  depends  for  revenue. 


Highly  Indebted  Poor  Countries 

In  1996,  the  World  Bank  and  the  IMF  categorized  41 
countries  as  "Highly  Indebted  Poor  Countries,"  or  HIPC 
countries.  Collectively  HIPC  countries  owe  approximately 
$220  billion  in  foreign  debts.  The  HIPC  initiative  was  a 
watershed  because,  for  the  first  time,  it  offered  a  compre- 
hensive framework  for  addressing  multilateral  debt  (owed 
to  international  financial  institutions  like  the  IMF  and 
World  Bank),  bilateral  debt  (government  to  government), 
and  commercial  debt  (owed  to  banks). 

These  countries  were  identified  as  carrying  "unsustain- 
able debt  burdens,"  debts  beyond  a  country's  ability  to 
pay.  Because  most  international  debt  is  owed  by  many 
"middle-income"  countries  whose  debt  burdens  are  not 
considered  "unsustainable,"  they  are  not  classified  under 
HIPC.  Most  advocates  for  debt  cancellation  believe  that 


March  2000  Messenger  1  5 


Christian  Peacemaker  Team  member  Anita  Fast,  dressed  as  Jubilee  Spirit,  pro- 
claims release  to  those  suffering  under  the  crushing  international  debt  during 
the  procession  to  the  International  Monetary  Fund.  CPT  carried  out  a 
nonviolent  vigil  at  the  IMF  December  27-fanuary  1. 


the  debts  of 
"middle-income" 
countries  should 
also  be 

addressed.  For 
example, 
Ecuador,  consid- 
ered a 

"middle-  income" 
country,  recently 
had  to  default  on 
its  debt  payments 
to  the  United 
States.  As 
Ecuador's  Presi- 
dent Mahuad 
announced  that 
Ecuador  would 
be  changing  its 

currency,  the  sucre,  for  the  dollar,  oil  workers  and  a  large 
portion  of  the  indigenous  population  turned  out  to 
protest.  The  president  was  eventually  overthrown  by  a 
military  coup.  Ecuador  had  been  implementing  policies  of 
economic  reform  required  by  the  IMF  to  receive  a  large 
negotiated  loan — money  that  would  be  used  to  pay  off 
other  debts — like  those  to  the  United  States. 

HIPC  countries  owe  approximately  $6  billion  to  the  US 
directly  (bilateral  debt).  In  Cologne,  Germany,  last  June, 
President  Clinton  and  leaders  of  the  other  wealthiest 
industrialized  nations  agreed  to  cancel  90  percent  of  the 
debt  owed  by  HIPC  countries. 

Clinton  later  agreed  to  cancel  100  percent  of  HIPC- 
country  debt.  Despite  Clinton's  announcement,  the  US 
Congress  still  has  to  appropriate  the  money  in  order  for 
the  US  to  fulfill  its  promise  to  cancel  this  debt.  In 
November  1999,  Congress  appropriated  $110  million  to 
write  off  more  than  $1  billion  in  debt  owed  to  the  US. 
The  US  gave  a  partial  approval  to  allow  the  IMF  to  use 
$2.3  billion  of  its  own  resources  to  write  off  poor-country 
debt. 


What  good  will  it  do? 


Can  cancelling  the  debt  really  eradicate  poverty,  guaran- 
tee that  poor  people  gain  access  to  health  care  and 
education,  safeguard  the  environment,  and  prevent  vio- 
lent conflict?  It  is  at  least  a  way  to  begin  addressing  many 
of  these  problems.  These  governments  have  already  paid 
several  times  over  the  amount  of  the  original  loans,  yet 
mounting  interest  payments  prevent  them  from  freeing 
resources  to  boost  social  expenditures  and  improve  the 
quality  of  life  for  their  citizens. 


Uganda's  Poverty 
Action  Fund  shows 
how  freed  resources 
from  debt  cancella- 
tion can  benefit 
ordinary  people. 
Although  Uganda 
received  little  relief 
under  HIPC,  it  suc- 
cessfully channeled 
all  debt  savings — 
about  $40  million — 
into  its  own  Poverty 
Action  Fund. 
According  to  the 
Poverty  Eradication 
Action  Plan 
designed  by  Ugan- 
dans themselves, 
money  is  spent  for  rural  feeder  roads,  agricultural  exten- 
sion, water  supply,  health  care,  and  primary  education. 
Now  there  are  twice  as  many  students  in  Uganda's  pri- 
mary schools  as  there  were  in  1997.  The  public  is  given 
full  access  to  information  about  the  fund's  management, 
and  certain  civil  society  organizations  like  the  Ugandan 
Debt  Network  even  assist  in  the  management  of  the  fund. 


How  much  will  it  cost? 

How  much  is  debt  cancellation  expected  to  cost  the  US 
taxpayer?  "It's  the  cost  of  an  ice  cream  cone.  It's  the 
price  of  a  gallon  of  gas.  It's  the  cost  of  a  Sunday  paper," 
wrote  US  Rep.  Spencer  Bachus  (R-Ala.),   in  a  letter  to 
House  members  urging  their  support  for  debt  cancella- 
tion legislation.  He  was  referring  to  the  cost, 
approximately  $1.20  per  American  each  year  over  three 
years,  required  to  cancel  the  debts  owed  by  the  Highly 
Indebted  Poor  Countries.  This  is  a  total  of  $970  mil- 
lion— less  than  the  cost  of  one  B-2  bomber. 

To  be  sure,  the  greatest  cost  of  debt  is  in  the  lives  lost  to 
poor  living  conditions  and  inadequate  health  care.  Each 
African  child  inherits  approximately  $379  in  debt  at  birth. 
Few  Africans  enjoy  access  to  basic  health  care.  UNAIDS 
found  that  a  third  of  rural  households  in  sub-Saharan 
Africa  are  affected  by  AIDs. 

The  debt  crisis  has  been  no  kinder  to  Central  America. 
Each  Nicaraguan  inherits  approximately  $2,000  in  debt  at 
birth.  As  Sue  Wagner  Fields  reported  in  the  March  1999 
Messenger,  most  Nicaraguan  children  eat  only  50  per- 
cent of  recommended  calories  and  more  than  75  percent 
of  children  drop  out  of  school  before  the  sixth  grade.  In 
Honduras,  on  the  worst  day  of  the  Hurricane  Mitch  dis- 


1 6  Messenger  March  2000 


aster,  the  Honduran  government  paid 
$60  million  in  debt  to  its  creditors. 

The  fact  that  Congress  appropriated 
$110  million  tor  bilateral  debt  cancella- 
tion— more  than  President  Clinton 
requested  —  is  proof  of  what  a  strong 
movement  like  jubilee  2000  can  accom- 
plish. This  money  will  be  used  as 
countries  become  eligible  to  receive 
debt  relief. 

It  is  important  that  constituents  urge 
their  members  of  Congress  to  ensure 
that  money  appropriated  for  debt  can- 
cellation goes  for  poverty  reduction. 
Legislators  can  do  so  by  promoting 
more  success  stories  like  Uganda's 
Poverty  Action  Fund.  Presently,  the 
IMF  and  World  Bank  are  in  the  process 
of  designing  poverty  reduction  strate- 
gies, in  consultation  with  target 
countries,  to  determine  how  debt  sav- 
ings will  be  spent.  The  test  of  these 
strategies  will  be  their  ability  to 
empower  ordinary  people  to  manage  the 
savings  from  debt. 

It's  already  the  jubilee  year  and  the 
debt  hasn't  been  cancelled.  There's 
much  to  be  done.  In  this  short  election- 
year  congressional  session,  legislators 
will  be  eager  to  finalize  the  budget.  At  a 
minimum,  Congress  must  appropriate 
$800  million  more  to  fulfill  promises 
made  in  Cologne,  Germany. 


What  yon  can  do 

jubilee  2000  is  inviting  people  of  faith 

and  all  who  care  about  justice  for 

indebted  countries  in  Africa,  Asia,  and  Latin  America  to 

be  a  part  of  the  "jubilee  2000  National  Mobilization"  in 

Washington,  D.C.,  on  April  9.  People  have  plans  to  come 

from  as  far  away  as  Hawaii  and  California  to  participate 

in  this  public  witness  to  cancel  the  debt. 

The  event  begins  at  noon  and  will  center  on  the  creation 
of  a  human  chain,  following  an  array  of  speakers,  music, 
and  singing.  The  day's  events  will  serve  as  a  message  to 
Congress,  the  IMF,  and  the  World  Bank  that  the  crushing 
international  debt  must  be  cancelled. 

April  10  will  be  used  as  a  lobby  day  for  constituents  to 
urge  their  congresspersons  to  cancel  the  debt  without 
demanding  adherence  to  damaging  economic  reform  poli- 
cies. 


Proclaim 

ee 


There  are  other  ways  to  be  involved  in 
jubilee  if  you're  unable  to  come  to 
jubilee  2000  National  Mobilization.  Sign 
the  J2000  petition  calling  for  debt  can- 
cellation. You  might  organize  a  jubilee 
church  service  with  your  own  congrega- 
tion, focusing  on  the  problems  and 
solutions  to  the  debt  issue. 

The  jubilee  2000  Campaign  has  an 
introductory  video  on  debt  that  would  be 
useful  to  social  justice  committees  or 
youth  groups.  Some  church  groups  are 
cancelling  debts  at  home  as  well.  The 
Sisters  of  St.  Joseph  in  Brighton,  Mass. 
tore  up  a  $350,000  debt  owed  to  them  by 
a  social  service  agency. 

jubilee  2000  is  an  opportunity  to  reex- 
amine and  make  right  the  economic 
relationships  in  our  world.  Between 
Christmas  and  New  Year's  the  Christian 
Peacemaker  Teams  organized  a  week-long 
vigil  at  the  International  Monetary  Fund. 
CPTers  personified  the  spirit  of  "jubilee" 
as  a  cheerful  messenger  bringing  good 
news  to  the  oppressed — news  of  a  new  life 
and  debts  cancelled. 

The  Church  of  the  Brethren's  Global 
Food  Crisis  Fund  is  used  to  provide  for 
food,  clean  water,  education,  and  health- 
related  projects  in  many  places  around  the 
world.  This  funding  would  be  even  more 
useful  if  governments  of  poor  countries 
were  given  a  fresh  start.  Giving  to  the  fund 
would  be  yet  another  way  to  answer  the 
call  of  jubilee. 

May  our  living  of  this  jubilee  Year 
bring  more  abundant  life  to  all  of  God's 
creation.  Let's  cancel  the  debt  ''\AA\ 

NOW!  ffl 


Heather  Nolen  is  a  research  assistant  with  Church  World  Ser- 
vice in  Washington,  D.C.,  and  a  member  of  the  Washington  City 
Church  of  the  Brethren. 


For  more  information,  contact: 

jubilee  2000/USA 

222  East  Capitol  Street,  N.E. 

Washington,  D.C.  20003 

Telephone:  202-783-5566 

E-mail:  coord(a  j2000usa.org 

Web  site:  www.j2000usa.org 


March  2000  Messenger  1 7 


/^o  therefore  and 
V-Tmake  disciples  of  all 
nations,  baptizing  them  in 
the  name  of  the  Father  and 
of  the  Son  and  of  the  Holy 
Spirit.  .  .  ." 

Those  words  that  close  out 
Matthew's  Gospel  have  always 
been  at  the  core  of  Brethren  life 

Referencing  the  Great  Com- 
mission in  speaking  on  "Under 
the  Lordship  of  Christ"  at  the 
250th  Anniversary  of  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  in  1958 
Paul  Robinson,  president  of 
what  was  then  known  as 
Bethany  Biblical  Seminary, 
asked  this  challenging  question 
for  Brethren:  "Will  we  be  a 
voice  or  an  echo?" 

As  we  enter  the  new  millen- 
nium and  approach  the  300th 
anniversary  of  our  denomina- 
tion in  2008,  are  we  on  the 
threshold  of  a  major  renewal  for 
our  denomination? 

Three  factors  critical  for  ful- 
filling the  Great  Commission  could 
be  in  the  early  stages  of  develop- 
ment: an  interest  in  spiritual 
formation,  work  in  servant  leader- 
ship, and  experience  in  church 
renewal. 


Spiritual  foruuition 

Planners  of  the  7  a.m.  Taize  service 
at  the  last  Annual  Conference  must 
have  been  thrilled  to  see  that  room 
full  of  worshipers,  with  youth  sitting 
up  front  on  the  floor.  It  was  good  to 
see  a  Messenger  edition  devoted  to 
the  spiritual  yearning  in  the  church. 
And  Brethren  have  a  fine  opportu- 
nity, made  possible  by  the  Spiritual 
Renewal  team  of  the  Atlantic  North- 
east District,  in  the  Regional 
Renovare  Conference  on  the  bal- 
anced spiritual  life  with  Richard 
Foster  March  10  and  1  1  at  Eliza- 


Brethren  poised 
forrenewal 


BY  David  S.  Young 

bethtown  College.  At  least  40 
churches  from  Atlantic  Northeast 
and  Southern  Pennsylvania  districts 
are  working  on  this  endeavor  with 
support  of  other  Anabaptist  groups. 

Any  major  renewal  in  the  church 
begins  with  such  signs.  It  is  what  our 
pietistic  and  Anabaptist  founders  were 
about.  In  Heritage  and  Promise, 
Emmert  Bittinger  speaks  of  the  evan- 
gelistic zeal  of  the  early  Brethren,  even 
under  adversity.  "That  the  church 
could  grow  under  such  adverse  condi- 
tions as  persecution  and  active 
suppression,"  he  writes,  "speaks  both 
to  the  quality  of  the  spiritual  character 
of  our  founders  and  to  the  depth  of 
their  commitment." 

In  The  Life  Cycle  of  a  Congrega- 
tion. Martin  Saarinen  speaks  about 
two  ways  to  recapture  the  energy  it 
takes  to  begin  the  upswing  of  the 


cycle  of  renewal. 
One  way  is  to  recon- 
nect with  our  history 
and  purpose.  The  other  is 
to  reconnect  with  the  chal- 
enges  in  our  surroundings. 
As  Brethren  we  are  called  to 
renewal  on  both  these 
fronts. 

The  way  to  focus  such 
energy  is  through  renewed 
spiritual  vitality  and  then 
through  discernment  to  dis- 
cover the  biblical  vision  for 
our  congregations.  The 
vision  must  take  into 
account  both  heritage  and 
current  challenge.  The 
vision  must  build  on  the 
strengths  of  our  local 
churches. 

Students  in  my  seminary 
courses  on  church  renewal 
began  to  ask  me  to  put  the 
spiritual  component  of  the 
course  first.  So  we  began  studying 
the  spiritual  disciplines  as  the  first 
step  in  the  process. 

This  has  become  the  first  step  in  a 
seven-fold  process  that  is  now 
recorded  in  my  book /I  New  Heart 
and  A  New  Spirit:  A  Plan  for  Renew- 
ing Your  Church,  published  by 
ludson  Press  of  the  American  Baptist 
Churches,  1994. 

Such  energy  for  renewal  happened 
at  the  Elizabethtown  (Pa.)  Church  of 
the  Brethren  in  1997  as  we  started 
formulating  a  more  focused  youth 
ministry.  It  began  with  a  spiritual 
thrust.  During  Lent  a  team  set  up  a 
Wednesday  evening  spiritual  empha- 
sis beginning  with  an  informal 
worship.  The  pastors  shared  further 
thoughts  about  their  Sunday  mes- 
sage, and  then  the  group  split  into 
faith  discussion  groups.  The  atten- 


1 8  Messenger  March  2000 


dance  of  75  adults  and  25  children 
went  beyond  our  expectations. 

That  meeting  provided  the  energy 
to  establish  a  youth  ministry  council 
made  up  oi  youth  and  adults  who 
formed  four  youth  ministry  groups. 
The  spiritual  focus  gave  the  energy 
■    and  set  the  tone  for  the  entire 
endeavor. 

As  the  renewal  process  moves  on, 
participants  move  toward  a  biblical 
text  that  becomes  key  to  understand- 
ing their  identity  and  calling.  In  a 
process  of  discernment,  a  church 
finds  a  text  that  speaks  to  it  espe- 
cially. Plumbing  the  text,  its 
members  can  discover  dynamics  of 
renewal.  Though  churches  find  it 
helpful  to  have  the  tools  of  consulta- 
tion, systems  thinking,  and 
management,  they  can  find  the 
dynamics  of  transformation  integral 
to  new  life  right  in  the  biblical  text. 
Often  the  chosen  text  has  within  it 
three  or  four  indicators  that  inform 
and  inspire  a  plan  of  renewal. 

The  Waynesboro  (Pa.)  Church  of 
the  Brethren  began  this  process  last 
fall.  Rather  than  following  the  old 
diagnostic  model  of  finding  out  what 
is  wrong  and  fixing  it,  church  mem- 
bers followed  the  renewal  model  and 
identified  their  strengths  in  order  to 
build  upon  them.  Then  at  a  retreat  we 
went  on  to  explore  the  spiritual  move- 
ments of  renewal  lifted  up  in  Psalm 
51:  upward,  inward,  and  outward.  As 
we  looked  at  a  biblical  passage  that 
could  guide  them,  they  filled  two 
pages  of  newsprint  with  texts. 

From  all  their  endeavors,  they 
decided  that  a  lengthy  emphasis  on 
growing  spiritually  was  the  first  part 
of  their  renewal  plan.  After  more 
than  50  persons  signed  up,  they 
formed  six  Renovare  groups  for  spir- 
itual growth. 

Serrant  leadership 

Defining  servant  leadership  will  also 
give  Brethren  a  sense  of  being  more 
than  an  echo.  When  I  attended  the 
25th  anniversary  celebration  of  the 
Alban  Institute,  a  consulting  group 
for  churches,  I  had  a  conversation  I 
will  never  forget.  There  I  met  the 
Rev.  Dr.  loseph  L.  Roberts,  pastor  of 
Ebenezer  Baptist  Church  in  Atlanta, 
Ga.  He  is  the  successor  to  Martin 


Luther  King,  Sr.,  in  that  historic 
church  that  has  just  moved  to  a  new 
church  building  built  to  accommo- 
date an  expanding  congregation.  At 
the  conference  the  congregation 
received  Alban's  first  award  for  con- 
gregational innovation  and 
excellence. 

loseph  told  me  of  an  experience 
with  the  Brethren  from  his  child- 
hood. He  had  gone  out  from  Chicago 
to  a  Brethren  family  around  Nappa- 
nee,  Ind.,  in  what  was  like  a  fresh  air 
program.  When  he  experienced  an 
incident  of  racial  discrimination 
there,  the  Brethren  family  quickly 
came  to  his  defense. 

I  told  him  the  Brethren  beliefs  on 
racial  discrimination.  In  the  1800s 
we  held  that  "no  man  should  hold 
another  man  under  his  subjugation." 


Seminar  on  renewal 

David  Young  will  lead  a  one-day 
seminar  on  April  1  at  the  Brethren 
Service  Center,  New  Windsor,  Md. 
The  seminar  is  titled  "Shepherds 
by  the  Living  Springs:  Spiritual 
Formation,  Servant  Leadership, 
and  Church  Renewal."  Cost  of  $22 
includes  lunch.  The  event  is  spon- 
sored by  On  Earth  Peace  Assembly. 
For  information  call  410-535-8705 
or  e-mail  oepa@oepa.org. 


He  responded  warmly,  making  this 
connection  in  his  childhood  life,  and 
what  that  meant  to  him.  Then  he 
asked  a  question  that  stayed  with  me, 
"Has  the  Brethren  story  ever  been 
told?"  That  question  from  this  tow- 
ering man  of  faith  could  well  inspire 
us  to  tell  the  story  more.  A  servant 
church  can  have  a  major  impact  from 
all  its  little  deeds  of  washing  feet. 

My  experience  in  servant  leader- 
ship began  in  the  early  1970s  in  the 
congregation  I  served  outside  of 
Washington,  D.C.  As  we  grew,  I 
noticed  that  the  approach  we  took 
reflected  a  servant  style.  When  we 
met  new  people,  either  during  home 
visitation  or  when  they  ventured  to 
the  church,  we  would  listen  to  their 
needs.  We  would  try  to  discover  the 
talent  persons  had  to  share.  Servant- 
hood  began  to  spread.  A  clothing 


room  was  established  to  minister  to 
the  needy  in  the  area.  Service 
became  identified  for  us  as  one  of 
five  marks  of  ministry  from  the 
Gospel  of  lohn  as  I  completed 
Bethany's  doctor  of  ministry  pro- 
gram in  church  renewal. 

About  this  time  a  man  from  the 
corporate  world,  Robert  Greenleaf, 
published  a  little  monograph,  "The 
Servant  as  Leader."  Rather  than 
leaders  having  service  as  an  add-on, 
Greenleaf  claims  that  servants 
become  leaders.  "The  servant-leader 
is  servant  first  ....  It  begins  with  the 
natural  feeling  that  one  wants  to 
serve,  to  serve  first." 

Rather  than  using  coercion,  the 
servant  uses  persuasion.  Rather  than 
just  reacting  to  situations,  the  ser- 
vant is  proactive.  Servant  leadership 
is  now  growing  rapidly  in  the  world 
of  business,  education,  and  medi- 
cine. One  of  the  challenges  to  the 
church  now  is  to  help  define  servant 
leadership  from  the  biblical  tradition. 

From  our  Brethren  tradition,  the 
servant  style  moves  us  into  our 
understanding  of  spiritual  formation. 
For  as  our  feet  are  washed,  we  are 
reminded  of  being  cleansed,  that  our 
service  is  first  to  God  and  to 
responding  to  his  love.  Then  in  turn, 
we  take  a  towel  and  assume  the  pos- 
ture of  servant  to  others.  Something 
spiritually  happens  to  us  and  through 
us  as  we  kneel,  wash,  dry  toes, 
embrace,  and  exchange  a  holy  kiss. 
The  lives  of  others  can  be  changed. 

Since  Brethren  have  been  so 
defined  by  the  power  of  this  drama,  I 
believe  we  have  a  voice  to  share  in 
shaping  servant  leadership  in  the 
church.  In  participating  in  this  two- 
fold action,  we  are  changed  from 
servitude  to  servanthood.  We  are 
empowered  and  transformed. 

So  in  the  seminaries  and  church 
settings  where  I  teach,  I  always  take 
the  wooden  foot  tub.  As  we  see  ser- 
vant leadership  unfold  biblically,  we 
see  a  transformational  style.  In  faith 
circles,  the  hyphen  is  removed 
between  servant  and  leadership.  That 
is  because  God  is  a  third  party 
involved.  In  one  of  the  suffering  ser- 
vant songs  in  Isaiah,  God  tugs  open 
the  ear  of  the  servant  every  morning. 
This  is  God's  initiative  at  work. 

March  2000  Messenger  1 9 


Then  with  discernment  we  attempt 
to  become  attuned  to  God's  signals. 
We  live  and  serve  and  lead  in 
response  to  God's  initiative  and  in 
tune  with  his  will.  As  we  look  at 
strengths,  we  do  so  realizing  that 
here  is  where  God  has  placed  talents 
in  this  church.  As  we  form  a  vision, 
we  do  best  to  discern  God's  way  of 
seeing  things  whole. 

So  a  second  book  emerged  to 
define  servant  leadership  biblically 
and  to  see  the  tie  between  spiritual 
formation  and  church  renewal.  Using 
a  key  text  from  Revelation,  "the  lamb 
becomes  the  shepherd  and  leads 
them  by  living  waters"  (Rev.  7:17), 
this  book  is  entitled  Servant  Leader- 
ship for  Church  Renewal:  Shepherds 
by  the  Living  Springs  and  is  published 
by  Herald  Press  of  the  Mennonite 
Church,  1999. 

Church  renewal 

Church  renewal  follows  spiritual  for- 
mation and  servant  leadership.  In 
fact,  the  renewal  process  begins  in 
the  inner  spiritual  walk  and  in  the 
discovery  of  servanthood.  I  recom- 
mend plotting  out  a  three-year  plan 
of  renewal  in  what  I  call  baby-step- 
by-baby-step  fashion.  This  avoids 
setting  up  lofty  goals  that  can  defeat 
us.  Then  we  go  on  with  a  plan  of 
implementation  using  training,  spiri- 
tual mentoring,  and  shaping  renewal. 
Here  new  aspects  of  ministry 
emerge.  Because  of  the  leadership 
style,  congregations  become  serving 
bodies,  more  spiritually  alive. 

It  is  incredible  to  me  to  watch  class 
participants  who  take  these  seven 
stages  of  renewal  and  go  out  and 
apply  them  in  the  local  setting.  Bob 
Johnson  from  Waynesboro,  Va., 
pastor  of  the  Mount  Vernon  church, 
took  the  course  on  church  renewal 
three  years  ago  at  the  Bethany  Semi- 
nary satellite  in  Elizabethtown,  Pa. 
Since  that  time.  Bob  reports  that  the 
congregation  feels  that  they  are  now 
looking  into  the  future  as  a  beacon  of 
light.  He  feels  their  spiritual  growth 
emphasis  was  crucial.  Prayer  was  a 
significant  part  of  that  journey. 

At  a  monthly  supper  meeting, 
members  of  his  church  look  at  how 


to  apply  their  faith  to  daily  life.  The 
board  has  had  three  retreats  on  ser- 
vant leadership.  They  have  hired  a 
youth  director  and  are  now  on  the 
threshold  of  doing  the  same  for  chil- 
dren's programming.  As  a  result  of 
the  renewal  effort.  Bob  and  his 
church  are  at  a  different  place  than 
they  were  three  years  ago. 

Sometimes  it  seems  individuals, 
churches,  and  denominations  must 
go  through  desert  times.  Those  are 
also  part  of  the  renewal  process.  If 
after  those  times  their  interior  lives 
are  more  oriented  toward  God,  their 
vision  more  clearly  focused,  and 
their  determination  more  established, 
such  times  can  be  a  prelude  to  times 
of  new  growth  and  life. 

If  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  in 
particular  and  mainline  denomina- 
tions in  general  have  walked  that 
path,  we  are  now  in  an  era  of  longing 
for  the  church  to  be  renewed,  to 
offer  spiritual  resources,  to  be  a 
voice. 


With  Africa  being  projected  as  the 
next  great  center  of  Christianity  and 
as  our  nation  becomes  the  mission 
field,  the  Great  Commission  is  more 
vital  than  ever.  Congregations  are  the 
mission  posts  for  spreading  the 
Good  News.  God  wants  churches  to 
be  vibrant,  life-giving  bodies.  We  can 
be  forged  into  spiritual,  serving,  and 
renewing  communities.  Catching  the 
vision.  Brethren  can  be  poised 
for  renewal. 


Ai, 


Believers  Church 

Bible  Commentary  Series 


1-2  PETER 


JUDGES 


Herald 
Press 


"Solid  biblical  exposition  in  accessible 
language  and  a  reader-friendly  format. 
Erland  Waltner  and  J.  Daryl  Charles 

offer  careful,  detailed,  and  widely- 
researched  analysis  of  1-2  Peter  and 
Jude." — Dorothy  Jean  Weaver,  Eastern 
Mennonite  Seminary 
Paper,  336  pages,  $21.99; 
in  Canada  $32.79 

"Written  in  a  clear  and  unadorned  style, 
Terry  L.  Brensinger  shows  the  true  sig- 
nificance of  the  tragedies  of  the  period 
of  the  Judges.  With  this  foundation  he 
then  is  able  to  explain  the  enduring  the- 
ological value  of  these  ancient 
stories." — John  N.  Osivalt,  Wesley 
Biblical  Seminary 
Paper,  272  pages,  $21.99; 
in  Canada  $32.79 

Orders:  1800  759-4447 

ww.mph.org 


David  S.  Young  of  Ephrata.  Pa.,  is  a 
servant  in  renewal,  pastor,  author,  and 
teacher  He  is  interim  pastor  at  the  Hat- 
field. Pa.,  congregation,  teaches  at  four 
seminaries,  and  works  on  congregational 
renewal  through  On  Earth  Peace  and  in 
other  denominations.  He  is  co-chair  of 
the  Spiritual  Renewal  Team  of  the 
Atlantic  Northeast  District  and  chair  of 
the  Regional  Renovare  Conference  at 
Elizabethtown  College.  His  books  listed  in   i 
this  article  are  available  through  Brethren 
Press. 


20  Messenger  March  2000 


a 


•5^' 


m 


"if  we  suddenly  find  ourselves 
face  to  face  with  dying,  we  come  up 

against  ultimate  questions After 

I  received  the  diagnosis  of  advanced 
lung  cancer,  I  needed  to  deal  with 
those  questions  more  intensely 
than  I  ever  had  before/' 


—DALE  AUKERMAN 


■^psBffisars5^an!?:^s:snrT=;s 


Ope 
Beyond 
Healing 

A  Cancer  Journal 


by  Dale  Aukerman 
Foreword  by  Jim  Wallis 


The  first  thing  many  people  think  of  upon  hearing  a 
diagnosis  of  cancer  is  death.  But  for  Brethren  activist 
and  author  Dale  Aukerman,  the  first  thought  was  life. 
When  Dale  learned  he  had  lung  cancer,  his  impulse 
was  to  vigorously  renew  his  focus  on  lesus  Christ  and 
God's  presence  in  his  life. 

Hope  Beyond  Healing:  A  Cancer  Journal  is  Dale's  record 
of  his  faith  and  life  during  his  nearly  three-year  battle 
with  cancer.  Up  to  the  last  hours  of  life,  he  shares  the 
highs  and  lows  of  his  illness,  pointing  others  beyond 
physical  healing  toward  the  hope  that  comes  from 
faith  in  Christ. 

Hope  Beyond  Healing:  A  Cancer  Journal  by  Dale 
Aukerman  available  February,  2000  from  Brethren  Press 
for  $14.95  plus  shipping  and  handling  charges. 


# 


r 

Brethren  Press 

This  day. 

1451  Dundee  Avenue,  Elgin,  IL  60I20-I694 

phone  800-441-3712       fax  800-667-8188 

e-mail  hrethrenpress_gb@brethren.org 


The  war  in  Kosovo  destroyed  an  estimated  100.000  homes. 


Rejections  on  i 

A  Church  of  the  Brethren  peacemaker  begir 


BY  Andrew  J.  Loomis 

Day  1 

As  far  back  as  1  can  remember,  the  teachings  of  |esus 
always  came  most  ahve  for  me  in  the  human  expression  of 
the  things  that  make  for  peace.  My  Hfe  involvement  in  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  has  had  many  dimensions,  and 
the  church's  greatest  legacy  for  me  has  been  its  role  in 
shaping  my  consciousness  of  ways  to  seek  God's  peace 
here  on  earth. 

My  earliest  memories  are  of  local  church  CROP  walks 
and  straining  to  understand  lively  political  discussion 
around  the  family  dinner  table.  My  heroes  were  Cowboy 
Dan  (West)  and  |ohn  KJine,  fostered  by  the  music  of 
Andy  and  Terry  Murray.  I  was  a  young  protester  at  Rocky 
Flats  with  other  youth  at  the  1985  National  Youth  Con- 
ference. I  came  of  age  in  the  shadow  of  fear  of  nuclear 
annihilation  and  developed  a  political  consciousness  in 
the  era  of  Ronald  Reagan  and  the  US  hand  in  the  wars  of 
Central  America.  Now  as  an  adult,  my  bookshelves  are 
stocked  with  literature  from  every  angle  of  international 
peace,  authored  by  theologians,  historians,  activists, 
politicians,  and  political  scientists. 

My  opinions  on  the  practice  of  nonviolence  and  the 
possibility  of  social  justice  in  our  time  are  the  product  of 
my  own  spiritual  growth.  They  have  served  to  guide  my 
personal  life,  and  now  my  professional  life.  It  is  who  I  am. 
And  so,  at  age  50,  I  seek  ways  to  implement  that  which  I 


believe  and  make  relevant  my  faith. 

I  depart  tomorrow  on  my  travels  to  southeastern 
Europe  and  I  will  leave  behind  my  comfortable  home  that 
shelters  my  own  personal  pacifism.  I  will  enter  one  of  the 
world's  darkest  regions.  I  expect  the  things  I  witness  to 
challenge  my  system  of  beliefs  in  fundamental  ways,  that 
which  has  been  safely  nurtured  in  my  Pennsylvania 
church  and  home.  I  contemplate  what  I  may  find  when  I 
begin  my  journey  through  the  heart  of  the  Balkans,  in  the 
tiny  province  of  Kosovo. 


Day  3 


Kosovo  provides  a  general  impression  that  confirms  to 
some  degree  the  international  news  I  received  prior  to  my 
arrival  here.  By  March  1999,  the  Serb  military  had  evicted 
nearly  the  entire  Kosovar  Albanian  population  from  the 
region,  intent  on  securing  an  ethnically  "pure"  Kosovo.  The 
US  and  its  European  allies  decidedly  intervened  in  March 
with  NATO  military  forces  to  stop  this  Serbian  aggression. 
The  region  was  awash  in  violence. 

Kosovo  has  now  been  nearly  "cleansed"  of  an  ethnic 
people  for  the  second  time  in  just  eight  months.  Ethnic 
Albanian  refugees  streamed  back  into  the  country  follow- 
ing NATO's  military  victory  in  |une,  dramatically  shifting 
the  demographics  of  the  region.  Many  Kosovar  Albanians 
actively  sought  revenge  on  their  Serb  neighbors  and,  over 
time,  violently  purged  the  province  of  75  percent  of  its 


22  Messenger  March  2000 


This  building  in  Kosovo  was  hit  by  NATO  airplanes  during  NATO's 
tluve-iuouth  bombing  campaign. 


A  map  of  the  former  Yugoslavia  shows  Kosovo,  just 
north  of  Macedonia. 


Balkan  journey 

is  new  job  with  a  lesson  in  reality  and  hope 


Serb  inhabitants. 

The  landscape  here  in  Kosovo  reminds  me  very  much  of 
central  Pennsylvania  without  the  livestock.  Distant  medium- 
size  mountains  surround  rolling  hills  and  farmland.  Small 
houses  grouped  in  clusters  with  red  clay  roofs  and  white 
stucco  walls  dot  the  green  earth.  Most  people  earn  their 
living  by  growing  and  selling  produce  gathered  from  their 
small  plots  of  land.  Along  with  the  bulky  humanitarian  vehi- 
cles and  NATO  military  equipment  on  the  road,  there  are  an 
abundance  of  small  wooden-wheeled  trailers  pulled  by 
single  horses  or  60  horsepower  tractors. 

But  what  is  very  different  from  anything  1  have  ever 
seen  is  the  ratio  of  houses — as  high  as  80  percent  in  some 
villages — that  are  visibly  destroyed.  The  violence  in 
Kosovo  is  estimated  to  have  claimed  as  many  as  100,000 
homes.  Most  were  torched  from  the  inside,  the  outside 
walls  blackened  from  smoke  around  the  windows  and 
along  the  eaves.  Large  chunks  of  what  were  walls  are 
scattered  around  the  ground;  the  scene  extends  to  the 
horizon  in  all  directions. 

But  due  to  the  violence  committed  by  both  the  Serbs  and 
Albanians  in  Kosovo,  culpability  for  each  mark  of  destruc- 
tion is  unclear.  As  one  Albanian  young  man  commented  to 
me,  "In  many  of  the  places  you  don't  know  who  burned  the 
houses,  either  the  Serbs  or  the  Albanians." 

Where  is  God  amid  this  cancer  of  violence?  I  watch 
these  scenes  of  smoldering  buildings — the  evidence  of 
deliberately  provoked  red-hot  ethnic  tensions — and  am 


left  feeling  sadly  irrelevant.  How  does  Jesus'  call  to  peace- 
making apply  to  this  context  of  brutality  and  lawlessness? 

Day  9 

My  trip  through  Kosovo  has  given  me  my  first  glimpse 
into  the  complexity  of  inter-ethnic  relations  in  the 
Balkans.  Reflecting  on  the  images  of  Kosovo  that  remain 
like  residue  in  my  mind,  I  acknowledge  that  the  horror 
reveals  the  worst  that  can  result  from  unmanaged  or 
incited  ethnic  hostility. 

I  depart  tomorrow  for  Skopje,  Macedonia,  and  will  shift 
my  focus  to  understanding  the  rhythms  of  Macedonian 
life.  Macedonia  harbors  similar  ethnic  and  cultural 
strains,  so-called  "fault  lines'"  that  are  commonly  per- 
ceived as  pervasive  in  the  Balkans. 

I  am  here  representing  the  organization  Search  for 
Common  Ground  in  Macedonia,  a  project  of  partner 
organizations  Search  for  Common  Ground,  based  in 
Washington,  D.C.,  and  the  European  Centre  for  Common 
Ground,  based  in  Brussels,  Belgium.  I  am  one  of  about  75 
staff  members  in  the  Washington  office,  while  there  are  8 
in  the  Brussels  office,  and  about  75  more  staff  members 
implementing  projects  in  the  field.  Our  work  consists  of 
helping  Macedonian  communities  identify  their  shared 
interests  and  gain  a  sense  of  ownership  of  a  positive 
future.  Our  primary  goal  is  to  prevent  the  kind  of  violence 
that  I  have  just  witnessed  in  Kosovo. 


March  2000  Messenger  23 


Day  13 


If  Kosovo  is  the  tragic  result  of  inter-ethnic  fear  and  mis- 
trust, then  Macedonia  represents  the  pretext.  Macedonia 
is  pIuraHstic,  one  of  the  most  ethnically  mixed  countries 
of  former  Yugoslavia.  But  it  is  also  remarkably  segre- 
gated. Ethnic  Macedonians  and  Albanians  live  in  a  maze 
of  cultural,  linguistic,  and  religious  differences,  yet  a 
clear  divide  separates  the  two  populations.  If  dangerous 
personalities  choose  to  capitalize  on  the  existing  appre- 
hension between  ethnic  and  cultural  communities, 
Macedonia  could  unravel  in  much  the  way  that  Kosovo 
did  in  the  past  18  months. 

More  likely,  the  current  state  of  minimal  communica- 
tion between  ethnic  groups  will  deprive  the  country  of  the 
benefits  that  a  diverse  population  can  offer,  inhibiting  it 
from  moving  forward  with  hope  and  vigor.  The  Vardar 
River  cuts  decisively  through  Skopje.  Ethnic  Albanians 
function  predominantly  on  the  north  side  of  the  river, 
while  Macedonians  exist  mainly  on  the  south  side.  Public 
and  private  institutions  rarely  serve  a  diverse  population, 
but  instead  cater  exclusively  to  one  ethnic  group  or  the 
other.  People  from  one  ethnic  community,  particularly  in 
rural  areas,  can  spend  virtually  their  entire  lives  without 
having  meaningful  contact  with  people  outside  their 
respective  ethnic  sphere. 

A  major  obstacle  to  inter-ethnic  understanding  and 
cooperation  are  the  segregated  media  institutions.  Televi- 
sion and  radio  stations,  as  well  as  newspapers,  are 
controlled  and  operated  either  by  Albanian  or  Macedon- 
ian owners  and  typically  operate  exclusively  in  their 
respective  languages.  Separate  constituencies  subse- 
quently view  completely  different  programs,  creating 
media  enclaves  scattered  throughout  Macedonia.  Albani- 
ans and  Macedonians  receive  two  different  sets  of  news 
and  entertainment.  This  increases  the  propensity  for  the 
hardening  of  ethnic  stereotypes  and  the  spread  of  incom- 
plete or  inaccurate  perceptions  of  the  intentions  of  other 
groups. 

The  segregation  of  the  public  school  system  has  the 
same  effect.  A  child  generally  grows  up  learning  in  a 
schoolroom  with  children  of  his  or  her  respective  ethnic- 
ity and  language.  Friendships  are  formed  within  their 
respective  groups;  friendships  across  ethnic  lines  are  rare. 

This  segregation  and  limited  contact  serves  as  the  basis 
of  inter-ethnic  mistrust  and  misunderstanding.  Segrega- 
tion inhibits  separate  groups  from  jointly  envisioning  a 
positive  and  integrated  future.  The  projects  of  Search  for 
Common  Ground  in  Macedonia  are  designed  to  establish 
crossroads  between  groups  by  developing  channels  of 
communication  across  ethnic  lines.  These  projects  aim  to 
provide  an  example  for  what  is  possible  in  a  pluralistic 
and  integrated  society. 


When  people  hear  that  I  work  on  efforts  to  prevent  vio- 
lence in  the  region,  I  am  usually  greeted  by  something 
similar  to,  "Peace  in  the  Balkans?  Good  luck!  They  have 
been  fighting  there  for  centuries." 

It  is  true  that  there  is  a  history  of  tension  in  the  region. 
But  my  experience  here  and  my  recent  study  reveal  that 
the  ancient  hatred  theory  is  incomplete.  Simply,  inter- 
ethnic  violence  is  not  an  inevitable  aspect  of  life  in  the 
region.  There  are  centuries  of  examples  of  peaceful  coex- 
istence that  dwarf  the  number  of  cases  of  violent 
confrontation.  Furthermore,  the  ancient  hatred  theory 
overlooks  the  role  and  responsibility  of  politicians  who 
espouse  divisive  rhetoric  and  capitalize  on  existing  fears. 

Looking  at  regional  violence  through  the  lens  of  possi- 
bility exposes  the  real  roots  of  ethnic  tension.  I 
consistently  find  that  fear,  misunderstanding,  ignorance, 
and  mistrust  are  at  the  core  of  the  region's  violence. 

Day  ZZ 

Wearing  the  end  of  my  travels,  I  reflect  back  on  my  experi- 
ences in  Kosovo  and  Macedonia  against  the  backdrop  of 
hopelessness  that  I  consistently  hear  expressed  in  the  US 
about  the  Balkans.  What  does  it  mean  to  be  a  peacemaker  in 
a  context  such  as  this?  What  does  peacemaking  require  in 
the  face  of  searing  injustice  and  centuries  of  conflicting  his- 
tory, particularly  when  the  world's  elite  have  dismissed  a 
region's  violence  as  inevitable? 

I  believe  that  our  first  call  as  peace  builders  is  to  hold 
out  hope  for  regions  in  despair.  The  temptation  to  declare 
the  inevitability  of  war  is  an  escape  hatch  beckoning  us  to 
slip  through,  deceiving  us  into  complacency.  But  the 
Balkan  wars  were  not  preordained.  Neither  was  the  geno- 
cide of  Rwanda,  the  terror  of  Pol  Pot's  Cambodia,  nor  the 
37  years  of  military  dictatorship  and  war  in  Guatemala. 
Wars  are  about  real  issues  and  divergent  claims.  All  wars 
are  preventable. 

It  seems  clear  that  solutions  to  violence  and  protracted 
conflict  must  also  be  rooted  in  the  cultural  fabric  of  society. 
For  peace  to  be  lasting,  people  at  all  levels  of  society  must 
be  permitted  and  encouraged  to  participate.  In  the  case  of 
Macedonia,  bridges  between  cultural  groups  across  all 
levels — from  the  grassroots  to  the  political  elite — must  be 
built  and  maintained  in  order  to  avoid  deepening  ethnic 
divides.  Inter-ethnic  dialog  is  the  only  way  to  confront  cul- 
tural myths  and  dispel  deeply  ingrained  stereotypes.  It  is  the 
only  way  to  contemplate  and  articulate  a  shared  future    ^j[j[^ 
in  which  all  members  of  society  have  a  stake. 


^ 


Day  18 


I  have  often  heard  in  the  US  media  that  the  decade's  vio- 
lence in  the  Balkans  is  the  result  of  ancient  ethnic  hatreds. 


Andrew  Loomis.  ofTakoma  Park.  Md..  is  a  member  of  University 
Baptist  and  Brethren  Church.  State  College.  Pa.  He  recently  moved 
to  the  Washington.  D.C..  area  after  having  spent  two  years  in  grad- 
uate school  at  Columbia  University  in  New  York  City. 

Search  for  Common  Ground  receives  its  funding  from  numer- 
ous sources,  including  the  Swiss.  Dutch.  British,  and  US 
governments,  the  World  Bank.  UNICEF.  and  the  Carnegie  Corpo- 
ration of  New  York. 


24  Messenger  March  2000 


GIFTS    b/  LIVtNwWATEil 


A  reflection  on  the  theme  for  One  Great  Hour  of  Sharing 


One  Great  Hour  of  Sharing 

This  month  Church  of  the  Brethren  congre- 
gations join  nine  other  denominations  in  the 
annual  global  outreach  offering  called  One 
Great  Hour  of  Sharing.  It  is  traditionally  the 
largest  of  the  three  major  denomination-wide 
offering  appeals,  usually  motivating  members 
to  give  upwards  of  $250,000  for  Church  of 
the  Brethren  programs  worldwide.  The  theme 
for  this  year's  emphasis  is  "Gifts  of  Living 
Water, "  taken  from  John  7:38:  "Out  of  the 
believer's  heart  shall  flow  rivers  of  living 
water. "  We  asked  Mervin  Keeney,  a  frequent 
visitor  to  the  world's  hurting  peoples,  to 
reflect  on  the  theme. 


BY  Mervin  Keeney 

Water  is  an  integral  part  of  our  lives  and  the  world 
around  us  —  necessary  for  our  very  survival.  Although 
seemingly  benign,  we  have  observed  water's  gathered  power 
in  the  flash  flood,  the  tidal  wave,  or  the  hydroelectric  dam. 
The  impact  of  water's  power  over  time  can  be  observed  in  a 
delightful  way  at  the  Grand  Canyon.  In  gentler  ways,  water 
transforms  barren  and  unproductive  land  into  a  blooming, 
fertile  pasture.  The  arrival  of  water  can  turn  a  desert  into  an 
oasis. 

My  wife,  Gwen,  and  I  lived  in  the  semi-desert  of  northern 
Sudan  in  the  mid-1980s  when  we  served  with  the  General 
Board's  mission  there  through  the  Sudan  Council  of 
Churches,  in  such  a  climate  we  were  constantly  thirsty,  and  a 
drink  of  water  was  always  offered  to  visitors.  We  drank  it 


tH' 


ca 


.         receive  God's  gift  of/- 


^ 


^ 


'""^er  and  ^^ 


til 


with  thanksgiving,  even  when  its  origins  were  question- 
able. After  months  of  mouth-parching  dryness  and 
fog-Hke  dust  storms,  the  first  rains  were  delicious  and 
refreshing,  and  within  days  brought  new  hfe  to  the  land. 
The  memory  of  this  dramatic  transformation  of  the  land, 
the  air,  and  even  my  own  feeling  of  being  refreshed,  still 
shapes  my  appreciation  for  this  blessing  of  water  from  the 
heavens. 

The  essential  human  need  for  water  and  its  transform- 
ing power  was  evident  to  the  desert 
peoples  of  the  Bible.  In  such  a  climate 
the  positive  uses  and  meanings  of  water 
were  prevalent:  essential  for  survival, 
hospitality,  purifying  and  cleansing, 
renewal,  bounty  and  abundance. 

The  prophets  of  the  Hebrew  scriptures 
were  a  cantankerous  lot.  Perhaps  a  cer- 
tain amount  of  orneriness  could  be 
expected  of  anyone  uncomfortably 
caught  between  the  words  of  God  and 
the  actions  of  the  people  of  Israel.  We 
often  think  of  a  prophet  as  one  who  can  predict  the 
future.  Yet  the  essential  task  of  the  prophet  among  the 
people  of  Israel  was  not  to  foretell,  but  to  serve  as  the 
mouthpiece  of  God.  Prophets  spoke  both  angry  chastise- 
ment and  encouraging  words,  sometimes  wrapped  in  an 
obscure  vision.  Visions  of  hope  described  what  God 
wanted — God's  promise  for  the  people. 

The  prophet  Isaiah  offers  a  powerful  vision  of  God's 
presence  among  the  people  as  water  springing  up  in  the 
burning  sands  (35:6b-7a).  Later  he  clarifies  that  God 
sought  not  sacrifices  and  fasting  from  the  people,  but 
responding  to  those  around  them  by  feeding  the  hungry 
and  clothing  the  naked,  releasing  the  oppressed  (58:6- 
11).  This  is  not  only  a  call  to  action,  but  a  promise  of 
presence  and  empowerment.  The  passage  concludes  with 
God's  promise  that  if  we  respond  and  do  what  is  required, 
God  will  make  us  like  a  watered  garden,  like  an  unending 
spring  of  water.  As  people  who  have  received  God's  bless- 
ings, we  will  become  a  blessing  to  others,  "like  a  spring 
that  never  fails."  The  image  of  abundant  water  that 


Li\e  water  from 

a  spring,  God's 

bounty  flows  ouer  us 

and  on  to  others. 


renews  and  sustains  the  people  conveys  God's  promise  of 
bounty  and  salvation. 

The  Samaritan  woman  at  the  well  hears  that  the  water 
lesus  offers  is  fully  satisfying  and  never  ending.  Jesus' 
words  in  lohn  4: 1 4  echo  Isaiah's  vision,  "Those  who 
drink  of  the  water  that  I  will  give  them  will  never  be 
thirsty.  The  water  that  I  will  give  them  will  become  in 
them  a  spring  of  water  gushing  up  to  eternal  life."  What  a 
claim  to  make  for  seemingly  insatiable  humans!  We 

always  want  more.  Yet  Jesus  claims  with 
authority  that  he  can  match  that  unend- 
ing thirst. 

Later  Jesus  says,  "Let  anyone  who 
thirsts  come  to  me,"  and  seemingly  para- 
phrasing Isaiah,  he  adds  "out  of  the 
believer's  heart  shall  flow  rivers  of  living 
water"  (John  7:37b-38).  Jesus  confirms 
that  those  who  thirst  will  be  satisfied  and 
God's  people  will  become  like  living 
waters  themselves,  giving  life  and  bearing 
fruit.  The  call  is  to  receive  God's  gift  of 
living  water,  and  in  the  receiving  we  will  be  changed  and 
become  living  water  for  others. 

Water  from  a  spring  flows  over  our  hands  and  continues 
on  as  a  stream.  Our  hands  soon  fill  and  the  water  contin- 
ues to  flow;  we  cannot  hold  it.  God's  bounty  for  us  flows 
over  us  and  on  to  others.  We  receive  God's  abundant 
blessings  with  thanksgiving  and,  as  we  are  nurtured  by 
God's  blessing,  we  open  our  hearts  and  hands  so  the 
living  water  of  God's  love  can  flow  through  us  to  bless 
others. 

The  spirit  in  us  is  that  which  is  able  to  recognize  and 
respond  to  God,  says  Walter  Wink.  Responding  to  God  is 
a  spiritual  activity.  When  we  respond  to  God's  vision  for 
humankind  by  actions  to  feed  the  hungry,  dig  wells, 
establish  health  clinics,  and  send  medicine  and  blankets, 
these  become  spiritual  actions.  Efforts  to  accompany 
those  who  are  threatened,  to  confront  unjust  systems,  to 
work  for  peace — these  are  spiritual  tasks.  And  a  part  of 
God's  promise  is  that  our  engagement  in  this  work, 
prompted  by  God's  call  and  nurtured  by  God's  spirit,  will 


/^^ 


O       f 


26  Messenger  March  2000 


A)' 


^"^and  be  com,  liV^^'^ 


\J0 


aterfor  o/y} 


^^. 


change  us  and  those  we  seek  to  serve. 

As  a  result,  for  Christians,  acting  out  of  our  faith  to 
share  the  Hving  water  that  God  has  showered  upon  us, 
there  is  a  spiritual  dimension  to  social  and  humanitarian 
assistance.  There  is  no  separation  of  spiritual  and  social 
ministries,  because  for  Christians,  all  of  these  forms  of 
action  are  rooted  in  faithfulness  to  God's  call  and  hence 
arc  interwoven  with  spiritual  dimensions.  The  debate 
i-aging  in  some  Christian  circles  today,  even  in  some  of 
our  congregations,  about  physical  versus  spiritual  mis- 
sion, is  a  false  division  of  Christ's  message 
for  us. 

The  process  of  baptism  gains  new  mean- 
ing when  viewed  through  these  texts.  In 
baptism  we  are  washed  with  water,  and  in 
the  process  we  may  be  physically  cleaned. 
But  the  power  of  baptism  is  in  the  physical 
experience  prompting  spiritual  transfor- 
mation— inviting  us  to  be  washed  with 
God's  living  water  so  that  our  souls  are 
cleansed  and  changed. 

One  of  the  early  efforts  by  the  Church  of 
the  Brethren  to  respond  to  global  human  need  was  our 
response  to  the  Armenian  massacres  and  displacement  at 
the  hands  of  the  Turks  in  the  1 920s.  We  rallied  to  respond 
to  a  persecuted  and  suffering  people  in  a  situation  that 
resonated  deeply  with  our  own  history  of  persecution.  We 
rallied  and  raised  funds  for  relief  assistance  at  levels 
beyond  our  expectations.  The  effort  galvanized  the 
church  in  a  powerful  way. 

By  allowing  God's  living  water  to  wash  over  us,  our 
hearts  and  hands  were  opened  and  God's  living  waters 
were  received  by  us  more  fully,  and  then  flowed  on  from 
us  to  others.  The  church,  its  members  and  structures, 
gained  a  new  vision  for  itself  and  of  its  ability  to  be  used 
by  God.  We  were  deeply  blessed  as  a  community  of  faith 
by  this  experience. 

Consistent  with  the  biblical  call,  Brethren  mission  efforts 
have  been  holistic,  responding  to  human  needs  for  food 
and  water,  education,  and  health  care,  alongside  church 
planting  and  Bible  training.  An  extensive  well-digging  pro- 


S having  the  living 
water  that  God  has 
showered  upon  iis  is  a 
spiritual  act. 


gram  in  partnership  with  the  Nigerian  church  during  the 
1 970s  and  1 980s  brought  the  gift  of  clean  water  to  hun- 
dreds of  thousands  of  persons  and  extended  the  church 
into  new  areas. 

More  recently  we  have  been  living  water  for  persons  in 
the  Caribbean  and  Central  America  after  Hurricanes 
Georges  and  Mitch,  and  in  North  Korea  and  Sudan. 
Globally,  we  join  hands  with  Church  World  Service  and 
regional  church  councils.  Locally,  many  congregations 
join  community  efforts  to  sponsor  homeless  shelters  and 
operate  soup  kitchens. 

Sometimes  we  are  able  to  speak 
about  the  faith  that  prompts  our 
actions;  sometimes  the  context  inhibits 
overt  religious  activity.  A  wise  voice 
said  it  well:  "Preach  every  day;  use 
words  if  you  must."  But  regardless  of 
the  words,  these  are  faithful,  spiritual 
actions  resonating  with  the  heart  of 
God. 

As  believers  seeking  to  implement 
God's  vision  for  the  world,  we  often 
work  alongside  peace  and  justice  workers,  or  relief  work- 
ers, or  a  variety  of  social  transformers  who  bring  a 
secular  or  humanist  grounding  to  this  work.  While  we 
may  share  common  goals  and  perhaps  similar  visions  for 
our  world,  we  often  observe  such  persons  burning  out 
and  unable  to  sustain  the  unrelenting  work  over  time.  It  is 
difficult  to  maintain  perspective  and  avoid  becoming  dis- 
couraged when  one  sees  little  progress  in  efforts  to 
address  poverty,  hunger,  racism,  war.  While  Christians 
can  also  lose  hope,  of  course,  we  are  invited  to  regularly 
drink  from  God's  unending  living  water  and  be  renewed. 

Let  us  receive  God's  gift  of  living  waters  and  let  them 
flow  through  our  hearts  and  hands  to  bless  the  lives  of 
sisters  and  brothers  both  in  our  neighborhood  and  in  rrjr 
the  global  village.  l — 


Mervin  Keeney.  the  General  Board's  director  for  Global  Mis- 
sion Partnerships,  also  serves  on  the  executive  committee  of 
Church  World  Service  and  Witness. 


A.     T 


R 


March  2000  Messenger  27 


If  Brethren  are  to  keep  up  to  date  in 
the  worldwide  mission  and  ministry  we 
are  doing  in  "continuing  the  work  of  Jesus, 
we  all  need  Messenger  every  month. 


Preach,  Sister  Christy! 

Thanks  for  the  encouraging  and  dis- 
turbing article  "Preach,  sisters!"  in  the 
lanuary/February  issue.  Encouraging 
because  some  women  are  speaking  out 
and  responding  to  leadership  chal- 
lenges; disturbing  because  we  in  the 
congregations  are  too  slow  in  calling 
women  to  pastoral  positions. 

I  know  of  some  congregations  who 
at  first  resisted  calling  a  woman 
pastor,  yet,  when  they  did,  they  were 
very  pleased  with  their  pastor. 

The  writer  of  the  article  is  a  good 
example  of  a  woman  who  has  many 
gifts  for  ministry  and  has  served  the 
church  well  at  all  levels.  For  a  time 
she  was  our  pastor  and  we  can  attest 
to  her  professional  and  personal  gifts 
of  ministry.  Certainly  there  are  many 
more  women  who  can  be  called  and 
would  serve  well  in  pastoral  ministry. 
Howard  Miller 
Westminster.  Md. 


Seconding  the  CPT  motion 


I  was  delighted  to  see  the  letter  by 
Cliff  Kindy  (January/February) 
suggesting  that  the  Christian  Peace- 
maker Teams  become  an  "arm"  of 
the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  As  a  six- 
year  reserve  corps  member  of  CPT,  I 
have  felt  closer  to  my  Brethren  her- 
itage as  a  peacemaker  during  this 
time  than  at  any  other  time  in  my 
life — even  though  I  served  three 
years  in  BVS  and  considered  myself 
on  an  active  peace  mission  at  that 
time. 

I  feel  that  many  Church  of  the 
Brethren  projects  today  are  also  on 
the  cutting  edge  of  peacemaking,  but 
CPT  often  goes  one  step  beyond  in 


its  willingness  to  take  risks  to  inter- 
vene in  violent  situations. 

It  isn't  clear  to  me  exacdy  what  the 
connection  should  be  between  CPT 
and  the  Church  of  the  Brethren,  but  I 
am  totally  convinced  that  the  partici- 
pation of  more  Brethren  in  CPT  would 
be  of  great  value  both  to  our  denomi- 
nation and  to  CPT. 

Brethren  participate  in  a  large  way 
in  many  ecumenical  groups,  several  of 
them  programs  which  our  denomina- 
tion initiated,  such  as  Heifer  Project 
International,  Church  World  Service, 
and  CROP.  Even  though  the  Mennon- 
ites  were  more  involved  than  the 


Brethren  in  the  creation  of  CPT,  I  feel 
that  we  should  be  willing  to  provide  a 
larger  number  of  participants  than  we 
currently  do. 

How  wonderful  it  would  be  to  make 
it  possible  for  CPT  to  answer  the 
requests  for  violence  reduction  help 
that  have  come  from  Puerto  Rico, 
Colombia,  Ethiopia,  India,  urban  cen- 
ters in  the  US,  and  indigenous  groups 
in  Canada.  We  must  be  about  the  busi- 
ness of  stopping  wars  before  they 
happen!  This  is  an  important  dream  I 
have  for  the  Church  of  the  Brethren. 

Esther  Mohler  Ho 
Hayward,  Calif. 


VOLUNTEERS  NEEDED! 

Volunteers  are  needed  for  the  New  Windsor  Conference  Center, 
located  at  the  lovely,  historic  Brethren  Service  Center  in  New 
Windsor,  MD.  The  Center  is  located  in  a  peaceful,  rural,  treed 
setting  with  the  theme  of  a  quiet  place  to  get  things  done.  It  is 
convenient  to  Gettysburg,  PA,  Baltimore,  MD,  and  Washington, 
D.C.  with  opportunities  for  travel,  cultural,  and  recreational 
events. 

We  need  volunteer  hostesses/hosts  to  help  provide  hospitality 
and  conference  services  to  a  variety  of  guests  in  a  cozy  and 
homey  atmosphere.  Maturity  and  detail  orientation  needed,  along 
with  outgoing  personality  and  genuine  interest  in  providing 
excellent  customer  service.  Furnished  apartment  and  meals  pro- 
vided during  period  of  service.  Small  stipend  also  available.  Join 
us  for  a  few  weeks  or  longer,  if  you'd  like. 

For  more  information,  call  or  write: 

Elaine  Hyde 

Conference  Coordinator 

Box  188 

New  Windsor,  MD  21776-0188 

800-766-1553 


28  Messenger  March  2000 


Messenger  to  every  member 

In  the  January/ February  issue  of 
'Messenger  1  learned  that  next  year 
'Will  be  the  I  50th  anniversary  of  this 
significant  publication. 

1  have  been  a  regular  and  careful 
reader  of  Messenger  for  about  75 
years.  I  feel  strongly  that  every 
Brethren  home  should  be  receiving 
Messenger,  and  every  member 
should  be  a  regular  reader. 

In  the  congregations  I  served  as  a 
regular  pastor  (I  now  serve  as 
interim  in  my  12th  church)  I  encour- 
aged and  assisted  them  in  providing 
Messenger  for  all  church  families. 
In  one  church  they  felt  it  was  a  good 
idea  but  they  could  not  afford  it  in 
the  church  budget.  I  offered  to  pay 
for  it  for  one  year,  because  I  felt  so 
strongly  the  need  for  all  members  to 
read  Messenger.  The  board  then 
decided  to  put  it  in  the  budget,  and 
felt  it  was  a  very  worthy  investment 
of  church  funds. 

From  my  1998  Yearbook  I  observe 
that  the  Lititz,  Pa.,  congregation 
leads  the  denomination  in  subscrip- 
tions, 538.  They  started  this  when  I 
was  pastor  there  about  40  years  ago. 
'And  the  spiritual  vitality  (and  giving) 
of  that  congregation  would  confirm 
the  blessing  of  having  Messenger  in 
all  church  homes. 

1  observe  that  our  Brethren  homes 
are  blessed  with  their  professional 
journals — for  teachers,  farmers,  social 
workers,  physicians,  etc.  They  realize 
they  must  have  their  monthly  maga- 
zine to  keep  up  to  date  in  their  special 
field  of  interest.  And  if  Brethren  are  to 
keep  up  to  date  in  the  worldwide  mis- 
sion and  ministry  we  are  doing  in 
"continuing  the  work  of  jesus,"  we  all 
need  Messenger  every  month. 

I  write  to  invite  you,  encourage 


you,  to  make  a  special  effort  to  get 
Messenger  into  every  Brethren 
home  by  the  end  of  the  1 50th 
anniversary  year.  I  offer  a  few  sug- 
gested options  for  your 
consideration: 

1 .  Put  it  in  the  budget  of  Annual 
Conference  or  of  the  General  Board, 
or  .  .  . 

2.  Put  it  in  the  budget  of  every 
congregation.  For  any  congregation 
that  is  not  able  to  finance  every 
member  subscription,  or  not  willing 
to  do  so,  arrange  for  some  member 
of  the  congregation  to  do  so. 

3.  Invite  a  few  Brethren  with  large 
resources  to  underwrite  the  cost  for 
any  congregation  that  may  be  unable 
or  unwilling  to  buy  subscriptions  for 
every  member.  Our  giving  to  our 
church  colleges,  retirement  homes, 
etc.,  indicate  Brethren  have  money  for 
any  cause  that  to  them  is  important. 

My  concern  is  that  every  Brethren 
member  be  a  faithful  reader  of  Mes- 
senger. 1  am  convinced  it  is  a  worthy 
goal.  And  I  believe  it  can  be  done. 

Olden  Mitchell 
North  Manchester,  Ind. 


The  Stillness  of  the  Evening 

Your  editorial  in  the  December  issue, 
"In  the  Stillness  of  the  Evening,"  is 
uncannily  "one"  with  me  and  my 
philosophy  of  life.  I'm  less  interested 
in  the  broader  aspects  of  your  editor- 
ial than  in  the  deep-down,  absolute 
satisfaction  of  a  contemplative 
period  of  sitting  by  a  campfire,  in  the 
darkness,  recognizing  that  God  is 
right  there  with  you. 

I  am  well  aware  that  we  must  not 
"neglect  the  assembling  of  ourselves 
together"  for  the  purpose  of  corpo- 


rate worship,  but  I  also  firmly  believe 
that  alone  with  God  in  the  outdoors 
is  just  as  important  as  a  way  to  com- 
municate with  him.  I  don't  know  of  a 
better  way  to  rid  one's  soul  of  the 
"crud"  of  this  mortal  life. 

You  described  sitting  quietly  beside 
a  dying  campfire,  looking  at  the 
stars,  and  contemplating  the  possi- 
bilities that  this  situation  offered.  I 
can't  tell  you  how  many  nights  I've 
done  the  same.  I've  listened  to  the 
cry  of  a  loon,  or  watched  geese  in 
formation  heading  south,  honking  as 
they  went.  Along  with  all  the  possi- 
bilities of  communication  with  one's 
God,  there  is  just  no  better  way  to 
relax  and  be  at  peace  with  the  world. 
1  never  slept  better. 

Don  Snyder 
Waynesboro,  Va. 


J2K.  New  hope.  New  day. 

1  want  to  comment  on  the  back  cover 
of  the  December  issue  of  Messenger. 
It  has  caused  me  to  do  a  lot  of  think- 
ing. We  have  heard  so  much  about 
Y2K  and  the  suspicion,  problems, 
uncertainty,  and  fear  that  seems  to 
surround  it  for  so  many.  (Much  of  this 
fear  has  been  caused  by  some  Christ- 
ian groups.) 

I  like  the  concept  of  J2K  as  shown 
on  the  back  cover  that  helps  to  refo- 
cus  on  the  new  hope  Jesus  can  bring 
to  the  new  days  that  arrive  with  a 
new  millennium.  Our  Lord  still  pro- 
vides the  best  hope  for  dealing  with 
our  world  as  we  face  the  future. 

Let  us  all  give  full  attention  to  the 

message  of  love,  goodwill,  hope,  and 

peace  He  came  to  bring  to  our  world. 

Wayne  Lawson 

Milford.  Ind. 


March  2000  Messenger  29 


Classified  Ads 


AUTHOR'S  QUERY 

Writing  book  on  Kermit  Eby  Sr.  (Indiana),  minis- 
ter, educator,  author,  labor  movement  leader.  Seeking 
remembrances,  stories,  details  on  his  life  and  contri- 
butions from  friends,  relatives,  former  students, 
colleagues,  contemporaries.  Contact  Ron  Keener,  164 
Pinehill  Ct.,  North  Aurora,  IL  60542,  or 
ronaldekeener(5.'hotmail.com. 


CONFERENCE/SEMINARS 

"Shepherds  by  the  Living  Springs"  is  the  theme 
of  a  day  on  servant  leadership  and  church  renewal 
set  in  the  context  of  a  Lenten  Day  Apart  at  the  Brethren 
Service  Center  on  April  1,  sponsored  by  On  Earth  Peace 
Assembly  Led  by  David  Young,  the  cost  with  lunch  is 
$22  (118  for  MOR  members).  For  further  information, 
e-mail  young-dsy4tn(a  desupernet.net.  For  flier  and 
registrations  call'OEPA  at  (410)  635-8705. 

INVITATION 

Yes,  there  is  a  Church  of  the  Brethren  in  Jack- 
sonville, Florida.  And  it  is  nestled  one  mile  .south  of 
I-IO  (exit  55)  between  1-95  and  1-295  -(between  Cassat 
and  Hamilton).  Pastor  Herb  Weaver  invites  you  to  come 
and  worship  with  us.  Phone  904-384-33^5. 

First  Church,  Chicago.  75  Years  -  April  29  &  30, 

2000.  Hundreds  of  Brethren  have  been  part  of  our  past. 
We  invite  you  to  join  our  future:  1)  Come  to  Chicago 
April  29  &  30  for  a  two-day  celebration/tea  and  home- 
coming. 2)  Help  us  replace  our  front  windows.  Our 
campaign  goal  of  WO, 000  maintains  our  commitment 
to  East  Garfield  Park  and  metro  Chicago.  More  info: 
call  Mary  Scott  Borea  @  773/235-7038.  Pastor  Odando 
Redekopp.  425  Central  Park  Ave.  Chicago,  IL  60624 

TRAVEL 

Travel  with  a  purpose  to:  Eastern  Europe  and 
the  "Passion  Play,"  July  31  to  August  l-t,  2000,  with 
Wendell  and  Joan  Bohrer.  Visit  Prague,  Vienna, 
Budapest,  Bratislava,  Krakow,  Warsaw  and  much  more. 
First  Class  tickets  to  the  Passion  Play,  Folklore  Show 
in  Warsaw,  Prague  and  Budapest.  A  Danube  River  Cruise 
in  Budapest.  Buffet  breakfast  and  dinner  throughout. 
Contact  the  Bohrers  by  mail-3651  US  Hwy  27  S.  #40, 
Sebring,  FL  33870.0  Tel/Fax  941-382-9371.  E-mail 
rdwboh@strato.net 


Travel  with  us  by  coach  to  Annual  Conference 

in  Kansas  City  leaving  Elizabethtown,  July  13,  rcturn- 
ingjuly  21.  Visit  Bethany  Seminar)'  in  Richmond,  Indiana 
enroute.  For  information,  please  write  to  J.  Kenneth 
Kreider,  1300  Sheaffer  Rd,  Elizabethtown  PA  17022. 

Travel  to  the  \Miite  Continent— Antarctica— includ- 
ing Argentina  and  Uruguay,  January  2001.  Optional  visits 
to  Iguassau  Falls  and  Chile  available.  Write  to  J.  Kenneth 
Kreider,  1300  Sheaffer  Road,  Elizabethtown  PA  17022. 

Travel  in  the  steps  of  Jesus,  Paul,  and  John  June 

26-July  10,  2000—15  days  Six  days  Turkey  -  Tarsus,  Anti- 
och,  all  cities  of  Revelation  2-3,  full  day  in  Ephesus  area. 
Six  days  Israel  -  Sea  of  Galilee  area,  Nazareth,  Megiddo, 
Caesarea,  Jerusalem  area,  plus  Qumran,  Masada,  and 
Bethlehem.  13150.00  (per  person-double  occ.)  from 
Garden  City,  Kansas  -  adjustment  if  you  meet  group  in 
New  York.  Deadline:  April  10,  2000.  Arrangements  by 
MegaTrails  of  New  York.  For  brochure  call  316-276-6681; 
email:  laree(a'gcnet.com  or  write  Rainbow  Tours,  Lilia 
Shearmire,  1008  Lyle  Avenue,  Garden  City  KS  67846 

POSITION  AVAILABLE 

Coordinator  of  Special  Events  and  Marketing  for 

nonprofit  agency  serving  children  and  families.  Con- 
ducts fund-raising  activities,  presentations,  etc. 
Bachelor's  Deg.  in  the  field  of  human  relations/human 
services  preferable  with  three  yrs.  exp.  in  FR/Market- 
ing.  Extensive  exp.  in  conducting  special  events,  public 
speaking,  etc.  may  be  substituted  for  deg.  Flexibility 
necessary;  evening  and  weekend  work  required.  Com- 
puter literacy  and  ability  to  produce  one's  own  corres. 
necessary  Send  cover  Itr,  resume,  and  three  prof  ref- 
erences to:  Executive  Director,  Children's  Aid  Society, 
2886  Carlisle  Pike,  New  Oxford,  PA  17350 

Brethren  Housing  Association,  a  non-profit  orga- 
nization celebrating  its  tenth  year  serving  the  homeless 
families  in  the  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  area  has  a  position  avail- 
able for  an  Executive  Director,  Duties  involve  broad 
administrative  responsibilities  including  directing  BHA's 
program,  public  relations,  fund  raising  and  property 
oversight.  Experience  preferred  in  administration  and/or 
pastoral  work  with  strong  interpersonal  skills.  Hours 
and  benefits  negotiable.  Please  send  resume  to:  Paul 
Wessell,  Rhoads  &  Sinon  LLP  PO  Box  1146,  Harrisburg, 
PA  17108. 


Teachers  Wanted 

Hillcrest  School  *  Nigeria 
This  is  a  special  opportunity  to  teach  in  a  K-12  international.  Christian  school  with  an  excellent 
academic  reputation.  Positions  are  available  for  2000-2001  school  j'ear  in  general  elementary, 
science,  math,  and  other  subjects.  Teaching  credentials  are  required. 

Kulp  Bible  College  *  Nigeria 
Based  at  the  primarj'  pastoral  educational  institution  of  the  Nigerian  church,  this  position  is  cen- 
tral in  church  leadership  development.  Course  subjects  include  Brethren  identit_y,  Bible,  and 
theology.  Seminary  education  is  expected.  Starting  date  is  negotiable. 

Contact:  Merv  Keeney.  800-323-8039,  e-mail:  mission_gb@brethren.org 


FINANCIAL 

RESOURCE 

COUNSELOR 

A  full-time  position  based 
in  the  northeastern  part  of 
the  US.  This  individual  will 
visit  and  thank  donors  and 
congregations  and  help  con- 
nect them  with  the  giving 
possibilities  to  General 
Board  ministries.  Inter\iev\s 
will  continue  until  the  posi- 
tion is  filled. 

For  more  information  and 
application  form  contact: 

Elsie  Holderread  at 

800-742-5100  or 

e-mail 

eholderread_gb@brethren.org 


Brethren  Press 

Due  to  a  computer 

systems  upgrade. 

Brethren  Press  will  be 

closed  March  27  to  29. 

Orders  may  be  faxed  or 
e-mailed  during  this  time, 
but  telephone  orders  will 

not  be  possible.  Thank 
you  for  your  understand- 
ing. We  apologize  in 

advance  for  any  incon- 
venience this  may  cause. 


1451  Dundee  Avenue,  Elgin,  IL  60120-1694 

phone  800-441-3712    fex  800-667-8188 

e-m;iii  hrethrenpress_gh@lirethren.org 


30  Messenger  March  2000 


luniiiig'  foiiils 


New  members 

Bellilthcm.  liuoncs  Mill.  \:i.:  ^ork  and 

[Ik.uwr  lluhhk-,  Aniandii  Hurt. 

Mallhcw  Flora 
Boise  Valley,  Mcridan.  Idaho:  Darlcnc 

Garwick 
Bush  Creek,  Monrovia,  Md.:  Jessica 

Hook,  liill  Cold.  |oy  Keovichith. 

[ficna  Nunn.  Stacey  Seibcrt.  Dorcas 

Gold.  Uobcrl  Luhrs,  Alice  Luhrs 
Champaign,  III.:  Megan  E.  lacobs 
Dupont,  Ohio:  ro.xie  Palmer,  Dusty 

Palmer 
Ephrala,  Pa.:  Earl  Redcay,  Michael 

Rcdcay.  Gene  Buch.  lohn  and 

Sharon  Pinkas 
Fairview,  Rocky  Mount,  Va.:  Ivy  |r.  and 

Ina  Dean  Layman.  Gerald  and 

Martha  Montgomery,  Gene  and  Ber- 

nice  Meyer 
First,  Reading.  Pa.:  Nancy  Custo, 

Siena  Parson.  Carolyn  Tetley.  Bee 

Zerby.  Dale  Hylton.  Gladys  Hylton, 

Eli  Rivera.  Sherri  Rivera 
Free  Spring,  Mifflintown,  Pa.:  Mark, 

Deb.  and  Michelle  Heisey,  Larry  and 

Roxie  Jones.  Barry  and  Lori  Lauver. 

Amanda  Myers,  lennil'er  Varner 
Friendship,  Linthicum,  Md.:  David 

Corrca.  Jennifer  Mitchell.  Cory 

Senter,  Scott  Syms.  Roberta  Dwyer 
Greenwood,  Mountain  Grove,  Mo.: 

Anna  Mae  Creiger.  Darrell  Rader, 

Kalhryn  Anita  Yarbrough 
Guernsey,  Monticello,  Ind.:  Dana  and 

Deb  Hood 
Hanover,  Pa.:  loanne  Colkitt 
Independence,  Kan.:  Randy  and 

Donna  Handlv.  Dale  and  Debra 

McMastcr.  Pauline  Wolf.  Arthur 

Arnwine 
Logansport,  Ind.:  Denise  Ploss,  Kenny 

Smith 
Modesto,  Calif.:  Lola  Fulk 
Mohrsville,  Pa.:  Crystal  Bowman. 

Christina  Boyer,  |ohn  Boyer.  Wanda 

Boyer.  Kelly  jacoby,  Uchenna 

Nwoke 
Osceola,  Mo.:  Harold  McCrea,  Betty 

McCrea.  Regina  Miller 
Pomona  Fellowship,  Pmona.  Calif: 

Ralph  and  Lucille  Robeson.  Yvonne 

Belcher 
Roxbury,  lohnstown.  Pa.:  [ackie 

Howard 
Sheldon,  Iowa:  Elizabeth  lean  Elder 
Somerset,  Pa.:  Seth  Forry.  Brianna 

Beeghly.  Samantha  Barron.  Andrew 

Barron,  Erik  Bittner.  Mark  Sarver. 

Mindy  Sarver.  Larry  Reiber.  Crystal 

Reiber,  Rachel  Reiber,  Sarah  Reiber. 

Richard  Critchfield.  jo  Ann  Critch- 

field,  Rebecca  Critchfield,  Cheryl 

Schrock,  Eva  Lape,  lennifer  Mosh- 

older 
Spring  Branch,  Wheatland,  Mo.: 

Ronnie  and  Diana  Smith.  Helen 

Hentzi 
Sugar  Valley,  Loganton.  Pa.:  Diane 

Breon.  Adam  Breon 
Troy,  Ohio:  Betty  Burgner 
Walker's  Chapel,  Mt.  lackson,  Va.: 

Brandon  Buchanan.  Stephanie 

Buchanan. lohn  Buchanan 
West  Goshen,  Goshen.  Ind.:  Guv  and 

Christina  Biddle,  Marc  Hall.  Carrie 

Wenger.  Megan  and  Chelsea 

Stutsman.  Stephanie  Bates 
While  Oak,  Manheim,  Pa.:  Matthew 

Diffenderfer.  Gordon  Gregory.  Tier- 


sha  Heisey.  Kalelyn  Kampen,  Kelly 
Kegerrels,  Allen  Beachy.  Able  Heagy, 
Tiffani  Heisey.  Emily  Copenhaver, 
Korina  Copenhaver,  Trulin  Martin, 
lanellc  Gregory.  Derik  Fahneslock 

Wedding 
anniversaries 

Beach,  Lester  and  Naomi,  Martins- 
burg,  Pa..  65 

Grim,  Earl  and  Josephine,  Kansas  City, 
Kan.,  60 

Guyer,  C.  Albert  and  Hazel  B.,  Quincy, 
Pa.,  50 

McCoy,  Meade  and  Velma.  Marion 
Center.  Pa..  70 

Moore,  Arthur  and  Genevieve.  Nampa. 
Idaho.  73 

Poulicek,  Richard  and  Verbalea. 
Wheatland,  Mo..  55 

Rose,  Orville  and  Verna,  New  Carlisle. 
Ohio.  65 

Rowlands,  Bill  and  Ginny.  Wyomiss- 
ing.  Pa.,  55 

Shaffer,  Richard  M.  and  Edith,  Gard- 
ners. Pa.,  50 

Shaw,  Robert  and  Pearl,  Uniontown, 
Pa..  65 

Zimmer,  Margaret  and  Glenn,  New 
Lebanon.  Ohio.  50 

Deaths 

Amspacher,  Roy,  77,  Hanover,  Pa., 

Nov.  14 
Andrews,  Rodney  A.,  91.  Mt.  Solon, 

Va..  Nov.  15 
Bachman,  Martha  Wenger,  77. 

Lebanon,  Pa..  July  1  1 
Baldwin,  Lina,  81,  McPherson.  Kan.. 

Dec.  1 
Batdorf,  Paul,  91,  Troy,  Ohio,  Aug.  4 
Bechdolt,  Pauline,  84,  Flora,  Ind.,  |uly  21 
Becker,  Rebecca,  32,  Lititz,  Pa.,  luly  12 
Boeshaar,  lane  L.,  84,  Springfield, 

Ohio,  Oct.  12 
Boyd,  Kevin,  25,  Akron,  Pa.,  Oct.  2 
Burkholder,  Sarah,  92,  Dupont,  Ohio, 

Nov.  17 
Burton,  D.  Conrad.  77,  Long  Beach, 

CaliL,  March  31,  1999 
Brooks,  Venora,  95,  Wheatland,  Mo.. 

Sept.  22 
Brubaker,  Bertha.  98.  Dayton,  Ohio, 

Nov.  9 
Buell,  Ruby  P.,  100.  Ocean  Park, 

Wash..  May  24 
Burkholder,  Sadie.  94,  Manheim.  Pa., 

Nov.  18 
Burtner,  Charles  A..  |r..  64.  Elkton. 

Va.,  Nov.  29 
Cain,  Betty.  Hermitage.  Mo..  Oct.  21 
Cassel,  Naomi.  84.  Manheim.  Pa..  Ian. 

11.  1999 
Cline,  Ferman  D.,  70,  Linville,  Va., 

Nov.  25 
Cline,  Luther  F.,  83,  New  Market,  Va., 

Oct.  31 
Combs,  Marlin  G..  64.  Mathias.  W.Va.. 

Dec.  15 
Conner,  Evelyn  E..  86.  Stephens  City. 

Va..  Nov.  6 
Cornwell,  Nina  E..  84,  Luray,  Va., 

Dec.  12 
Craun,  James  L..  71.  Staunton,  Va.. 

Dec.  6 
Cripe,  Florence.  81.  Flora.  Ind.. 

March.  1999 
Cummings,  Esther,  88,  Logansport. 

Ind..  Oct.  30 
Davis,  lohn.  63,  Thompsontown,  Pa., 

Sept.  24 


Davis,  Mary.  80.  Troy,  Ohio,  Nov.  29 
Disc,  Don  L..  77.  Cayman  Islands, 

B.W.I. ,  Sept.  27 
Dixon,  Paul  R.,  83.  Wayesboro,  Va.. 

Nov.  28 
Dohner,  Ward,  88,  Greenville,  Ohio. 

Oct.  28 
Dove,  E.  lunior,  75,  Broadway,  Va.. 

Nov.  4 
Dove,  Leota  G..  84,  Mathias,  W.Va.. 

Nov.  24 
Edwards,  Herman,  Tuscola,  Tex.,  Dec.  2 
Estep,  Paul  Henry.  80.  Timberville,  Va.. 

Dec.  1  1 
Fahnestock,  Naomi.  86.  Manheim.  Pa.. 

Nov.  28 
Farling,  Erlan  L..  86.  New  Carlisle. 

Ohio.  Nov.  29 
Fox,  Lawrence  "Ben,"  83,  Flora.  Ind.. 

June  11.  1998 
Gindlesperger,  Merle  D..  89,  lohn- 
stown. Pa.,  Ian.  10.  1999 
Gochenour,  Emmett  N.,  76.  Stanley, 

Va..  Nov.  5 
Good,  Norma  L.,  66,  Timberville,  Va., 

Nov.  18 
Good,  Willard  Dale.  75,  New  Market. 

Va..  Dec.  1 
Grove,  Earl  M.,  81.  Grottoes,  Va..  Dec.  3 
Halligan,  Helen,  81,  Akron,  Pa..  Sept.  24 
Hallerman,  Treva  L.,  67,  Harrison- 
burg. Va.,  Dec.  3 
Hambriek,  Helen,  Troutville,  Va.,  July  1 
Hay,  Wade  G..  80.  Friedens.  Pa..  Nov.  19 
Henry,  Charles  W  "Chiz,"  81,  lohn- 
stown. Pa.,  Feb.  27.  1999 
Hill,  Bernal,  83,  Nampa,  Idaho,  luly  10 
Hoffman,  Luther,  Sr.,  98,  Bath,  N.Y.. 

Sept.  14 
Keck,  Edith,  81.  Akron.  Ohio,  Nov.  25 
Kiser,  Luther  M.,  87.  Staunton,  Va., 

Nov.  25 
Koehler,  Icel  E..  93,  Udell,  Iowa,  Nov.  21 
Krennich,  Alice,  93,  Ephrata,  Pa.,  Sept.  1 4 
Laprad,  |ohn.  87,  Delphi,  Ind..  Ian.  31, 

1999 
Lewis,  Violet  H..  Glen  Burnie.  Md.. 

Nov.  29 
Life,  Virginia,  76.  Harrisonburg.  Va.. 

Nov.  1 
Loump,  Irvin.  79.  Mt.  Icy.  Pa.,  Nov. 

10,  1998 
McCoy,  Gurnie  E..  81,  Stanley,  Va.. 

Dec.  3 
Martin,  I.C..  63.  Stanley.  Va.,  Dec.  3 
Martin,  Samuel.  79,  Lancaster.  Pa.. 

|une  5 
Miller,  Homer  T..  78.  Harrisonburg, 

Va..  Nov.  17 
Mosholder,  Evelyn.  87,  Holsopple,  Pa.. 

Nov.  12 
Nauman,  Helen,  90,  Manheim,  Pa.. 

.■Xpril  6 
O'Baugh,  Hiram  F.,  88,  Crimora,  Va., 

Nov.  22 
Pitsenbarger,  Dolen  L..  59.  Grottoes. 

Va.,  Nov.  19 
Powell,  Ted.  55.  Covington,  Ohio,  Oct.  30 
Rader,  Martha.  88.  Troutville.  Va.,  Dec.  7 
Rowe,  Bertha  P.  92.  Broomfield.  Colo.. 

Nov.  27 
Ruhl,  Lucille.  93.  Manheim.  Pa.,  Ian. 

4.  1999 
Rush,  Ruby.  82.  Maurertown.  Va.. 

Nov.  13 
Shenk,  Florence.  101.  Manheim.  Pa.. 

Oct.  31 
Sherman,  Gerald  Vernon,  85,  Goshen. 

Ind..  Dec.  6 
Shipp,  lohn  R..  76,  Rockingham 

County,  Va.,  Oct.  27 


Shirk,  Richard.  83.  Mifnintown,  Pa., 

lune  6 
Shull,  Donald  W..  51,  Mount  Solon, 

Va.,  Nov.  5 
Sponaugle,  Lizetta,  90,  Franklin, 

W.Va..  Nov.  3 
Stuart,  Shirley,  76,  Hanover,  Pa.,  Nov.  10 
Tyler,  Mary  Lou,  45,  Independence, 

Kan..  Sept.  19 
Vandevandcr,  Almeda,  76,  Cherry 

Grove.  W.Va..  Nov.  1 
Vickroy,  Evelyn.  83,  lohnstown.  Pa.. 

Sept.  29 
Wampler,  Anna,  94,  Bridgewater.  Va., 

Nov.  20 
Warlitner,  Alice  V.,  91,  Harrisonburg, 

Va..  Nov.  2 
Wert,  Ruth,  79.  Mifflintown.  Pa..  April 

26 
Whittington,  lean,  65.  Woodstock.  Va., 

Dec.  4 
Wilson,  Dora  C,  95,  Moorefield, 

W.Va.,  Oct.  30 
Witmer,  Ann.  Seminole,  Fla.,  Nov.  20 
Woodie,  Rae.  76,  Troutville,  Va.,  Aug.  1  3 
Wright,  Andra,  88,  Bridgewater,  Va.. 

Oct.  1 
Zellers,  Roy,  93,  Lancaster,  Pa.,  April  29 
Ziegler,  Gertrude,  87.  Dixon.  Ill,  Dec.  15 
Zipf,  Esther  F.,  75,  Englewood,  Fla., 

March  17.  1999 

Pastoral 
placements 

Berkley,  Richard  Wayne,  from  interim 

to  permanent.  Danville,  Va. 
Brumbaugh,  Alan,  from  Bellwood,  Pa., 

to  Dunnings  Creek,  New  Paris,  Pa. 
Coulter,  Russell  L.,  from  Bethel, 

Arrington,  Va.,  to  Crab  Orchard, 

WVa. 
Davis,  |im,  from  Pyrmont,  Delphi, 

Ind..  to  North  Winona.  Warsaw,  Ind. 
Derr,  Horace,  from  Rockhill  Furnace, 

Pa.,  to  Indiana.  Pa. 
Fike,  I.  Melvin  and  Lisa,  from  Moore- 
field. W.Va.,  to  Antioch,  Rocky 

Mount,  Va. 
Miller,  David  Lloyd,  from  Carson 

Valley,  Dun  cansville.  Pa.,  to  Lick 

Creek,  Bryan  Ohio 

Licensings 

Hartwell,  lerry  Lee.  Dec.  1  I.  1998. 

New  Covenant,  Chester.  Va. 
Seilhamer,  Larry  Chester,  New 

Covenant,  Chester,  Va.,  Dec.  1 1, 

1998 
Smith,  Gregory  Lee,  )r.,  Feb.  12,  1999, 

Williamson  Road,  Roanoke,  Va. 
Voder,  Rebekah  Lingerfelt.  May  20. 

Goshen  City.  Goshen,  Ind. 

Ordinations 

Elgin,  Richard  Glenn.  Sept.  16,  Lynch- 
burg. Va. 
Frantz,  Lyllis,  82,  McPherson.  Kan., 

Nov.  21 
Gilley,  William  Daniel,  Sept.  16,  Crab 

Orchard,  W.Va. 
Hanks,  Thomas  Patrick  loseph,  luly 

17.  Fraternity,  Winston-Salem,  N.C. 
Kerkove,  David,  Aug.  6,  English  River. 

South  English.  Iowa 
Shelton,  Harry  Wayne,  Ian.  30,  1999, 

Rocky  Mount,  Va. 
Surin,  loseph  Philip.  Oct.  23.  Prices 

Creek.  West  Manchester.  Ohio 
Wade,  Marvin  Dale.  Ian.  30,  1999, 

Shelton,  Mount  Airy,  N.C. 


March  2000  Messenger  31 


The  people  of  Turning  Points 


When  I  was  a  cub  reporter  for  a  daily  newspaper  I 
was  assigned,  in  one  of  the  enduring  traditions  of 
the  trade,  to  write  obituaries.  Never  mind  that  I  was 
fresh  from  college,  highly  educated,  and  more  highly 
opinionated,  I  set  about  at  the  bottom  of  the  totem  pole 
dedicated  to  becoming  the  best  obit  writer  I  could  be.  I 
got  to  where  I  could  write  finished  copy  while  still  on  the 
phone  with  the  funeral  director.  On  the  first  day  back 
after  a  summer  holiday  weekend,  the  funeral  director 
would  gleefully  tell  me  he  had  a  pile  of  obits  so  high  it 
would  wear  me  out.  I'd  say  I  wished  I  were  making  as 
much  money  as  he  was  from  this,  but  bring  them  on. 

Swaggering  about  disasters  and  the  dead  was  part  of 
the  allure  of  the  business  for  me  until  one  Saturday  night 
when  I  was  the  reporter  on  duty.  A  deputy  called  in  to 
say  a  car  had  gone  too  fast  around  a  curve,  its  door  had 
flown  open,  and  two  children  were  thrown  out,  both 
killed.  I  wrote  the  story  and  handed  it  in,  but  it  got  to  me 
as  none  other  had.  I  thought  about  the  father  who  was 
driving,  the  mother  at  home,  the  children.  Reporters 
don't  cry,  but  this  one  about  did. 

Ever  after  I  have  tried  to  approach  names  as  people  and 
to  bring  some  reverence  to  obituaries,  no  matter  how  high 
the  pile.  So  each  month  when  I  compile  Turning  Points, 
carried  on  the  preceding  page,  I  say  a  little  prayer  for  each 
of  the  deceased  as  I  list  them,  remembering  that  she  is  a 
mother  or  he  is  a  son,  and  each  is  a  child  of  God.  Behind 
every  listing  is  a  story,  a  milestone,  a  point  of  turning. 

Most  of  the  people  I  list  under  "Deaths"  were  old 
when  they  died,  so  I  noticed  last  month  when  I 
typed  this:  "Brumbaugh,  Arlan  Scott,  35,  Martinsburg, 
Pa.,  Oct.  9."  And  just  below  it  this:  "Brumbaugh,  Bar- 
bara Jo  'Buffy,'  33,  Martinsburg,  Pa.,  Oct.  9." 

"It  was  a  terrible  tragedy,"  said  Mabel  Hollinger,  the 
loyal  Messenger  representative  for  the  Curryville,  Pa., 
congregation,  who  had  sent  in  the  notice.  She  told  me 
the  basics  of  the  auto  accident,  then  arranged  for  me  to 
speak  to  Don  and  Doris  Brumbaugh,  parents  of  Arlan. 

"Because  there  was  alcohol  involved,  our  first  thought 
was,  people  don't  need  to  hear  about  that,"  said  Don 
Brumbaugh.  "But  then  we  realized  we  have  a  story  to 
tell."  Even  before  the  accident  he  had  agreed  to  go  on  the 
ballot  for  area  representative  of  Pennsylvanians  Con- 
cerned about  Alcohol  Problems,  a  group  that  sends 
speakers  to  talk  about  alcohol  abuse  in  schools  and 
churches.  Don  was  elected  two  weeks  after  the  deaths  of 
his  son  and  daughter-in-law. 


"Our  son  started  drinking  when  he  was  a  senior  in  high 
school,"  Don  explained.  "He  got  into  some  problems 
then  and  went  through  counseling.  He  always  felt  that  he 
could  handle  it,  but  he  couldn't.  I've  always  been  one  for 
total  abstinence  because  you  never  know  who  will 
become  addicted."  Doris  blames  peer  pressure  for  the 
beginnings  of  the  problem  in  high  school.  "We  couldn't 
do  anything  about  it,"  she  says.  "It  happens." 

It  was  about  1  1  p.m.  that  Saturday  night  last  October 
when  the  Brumbaughs  got  a  knock  on  the  door  of  their 
home  in  Curryville.  Their  son  and  his  wife  had  gone  for  a 
daytrip  of  hiking  at  Raystown  Lake  near  Huntingdon.  On 
the  way  back,  about  a  mile  from  their  home  outside  of 
Martinsburg,  the  car  had  gone  out  of  control  and  slid 
sideways  into  a  tree.  Arlan's  blood  alcohol  level  was  far 
above  the  legal  limit. 

Arlan  had  worked  with  his  father  on  the  family  dairy 
farm  until  about  four  years  ago  when  he  left  to  join  a 
modular  housing  firm,  becoming  a  crew  foreman.  Bar- 
bara and  her  daughter  Paula,  Arlan's  stepdaughter,  were 
baptized  at  the  Curryville  church  three  years  ago, 
although  Arlan  and  Barbara  lately  had  not  been  attending 
regularly.  Barbara  and  Arlan  both  were  responsible  work- 
ers and  parents,  yet  the  family  could  tell  there  were 
continuing  problems  with  alcohol. 

Don  Brumbaugh  has  been  re-reading  the  story  of 
Samson  (Judges  13-16),  instructed  by  an  angel  to  "drink 
no  wine  or  strong  drink."  Unable  to  keep  his  purity, 
Samson's  life  deteriorated  into  dysfunction.  But  he 
pleaded  with  the  Lord  for  one  more  chance  and  got  it. 
"My  son  didn't  get  one  more  chance,"  Don  said. 

The  lack  of  a  will  caused  uncertainty  about  custody  of 
the  two  children  for  a  time.  "One  of  the  biggest  things  I  tell 
people  now  is  to  have  a  will,"  Don  says.  Now  the  two 
girls — Yvette,  9,  and  Paula  Boyer,  15 — are  living  with  the 
Brumbaughs,  who  are  both  66.  "The  second  time  around  is 
really  different,"  says  Don,  who  has  two  other  sons  and  a 
daughter.  "The  last  time  we  had  a  1 5-year-old  in  the  house 
was  30  years  ago."  For  Paula,  the  daughter  of  Barbara's 
first  marriage,  these  times  are  especially  difficult.  Her  own 
father  had  been  killed  in  an  alcohol-related  auto  accident. 

The  Curryville  Church  of  the  Brethren  has  wrapped  its 
arms  around  the  Brumbaughs.  helping  to  establish  a  trust 
fund  at  the  bank  for  the  children,  supporting  Doris  each 
Monday  at  prayer  group,  being  available  for  child  care, 
contributing  to  PCAP.  "This  really  has  made  me  study  the 
Bible,"  Don  says.  "We  are  truly  aware  of  how  the  Lord 
has  directed  our  lives." — Fletcher  Farrar 


32  Messenger  March  2000 


CAREGIVING  IS 


till  Fresh  and  Green 


National  Older  Adult   Conference 

September  11-15,    Lake  Junaluska  (N.C.)  Assembly 


Photo  by  Jim  Hauptii 


^^NOAC  is  like  a 
refresher  course  in 
living  and  growing 
older  It  provides  a  shot 
of  energy,  vitality  and 
vision  for  the  future.  " 

—  Gordon  and  Darlene  Bucher 

Manchester  Gnd.)  Church  of  the  Brethren 

"The  National  Older  Adult  Conference  is  like  a  refresher 
course  in  living  and  growing  older.  It  provides  a  shot  of  energy, 
vitality  and  vision  for  the  future.The  conference  gives  us  insight 
into  some  of  the  issues  of  living  longer  and  a  renev/ed  appreci- 
ation for  the  life  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  We  are  looking 
forv^ard  to  the  upcoming  National  Older  Adult  Conference,  the 
fifth  conference  held  in  beautiful  Lake  Junaluska.The  conference 
Bible  studies,  presentations  and  activities  are  inspirational  and 
downright  fun  —  it  does  us  good  to  laugh,  relax  and  visit 
with  old  friends." 

If  you  have  not  received  your  copy  of  the  NOAC  registration 
brochure,  call  ABC  at  (800)  323-8039. 


CARING   FOR 
ONE   ANOTHER 


Association  of 
Brethren  Caregivers 


1451  Dundee  Avenue,  Elgin,  IL  60120 
phone  (847)  742-5100    fax  (847)  742-5160 
www.brethren.org/abc/ 

ABC's  ministries  are  made  possible  through 
individual  and  congregational  contributions. 


^^mm^mm^fglfmm 


mth  ANNUAL  CONFERENCE 
CHURCH    OF   THE    BRETHREN 


^t^/ 


KANSAS  CITY, 
MISSOURI 

July  15 -July  19, 2000 


r 

i 

PROGRAM    BOOKLET 

(Available  In  May) 

i 

Please  send  the  following: 

Name 

) 

Copies  at  $9.00  each  of  the  2000  Annual 

Address 

Conference  Booklet  (regular  binding) 

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Amount  remitted  $ 

Conference  Booklet  (spiral  binding) 

t 

Copies  at  $2.00  each  of  the  2000  Annual 

(Delegates  sending  the  delegate  authorization  form  and  registration 

Conference  Information  Packet 

fee  will  automatically  receive  one  program  booklet  without  further 

1 

Information  about  Conference  programs  and  reservation  forms  may  be  obtained  by  contacting  your  pastor  or: 

r 

ANNUAL  CONFERENCE  OFFICE 

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ked 

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1  have  numbered  them  in  order  of  preference. 

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Church  of  the  Brethren  April  2000  www.brethren.org 


N 


^^ 


Imagine  the  moment 
of  resurrection 


^•^i    Jc"'** 


Get  out  to  the  BBT  Fitness  Challenge 
&  Golf  Outing  at  Annual  Conference. 


BBT  Fitness  Challenge 
Monday,  July  1 7,  7:00  a.m. 

A  5K  race  for  runners  and  walkers  on  a 

measured  course. 

Besides  a  good  workout,  participants  will  receive 

•  a  commemorative  tee  shirt 

•  post-race  breakfast  (fruit,  muffins,  juice) 

•  prizes  for  category  winners 
Fee:  $  1 5 


BBT  Golf  Outing 
Thursday,  July  20,  8:00  a.m. 

Format:  team  scramble 

Expanded  this  year  to  include  all  interested  golfers 

attending  Annual  Conference. 

Fee:  $40,  covers  greens  fees,  cart,  range  balls, 

beverages,  lunch  and  prizes. 


All  conference  participants  welcome.  For  more  informati< 
and  registration  forms,  call  800-746- 1 505,  ext.39| 


wvvw.brethren.org 


Editor:  Fletcher  Farrar 
News:  Walt  Wiltschek 
Subscriptions:  Peggy  Reinacher 
Publisher:  Wendy  McFadden 
Designer:  Marianne  Sackett 
Advertising:  Russ  Matteson 


On  the  cover:  Our  Easter  cover  is  by  Paul  Grout, 
whose  art  and  ministry  were  featured  in  the  April 
1 999  edition.  Grout,  who  is  pastor  of  Genesis 
Church  of  the  Brethren,  Putney,  Vt.,  has  completed  a  series  of 
paintings  on  the  Easter  theme,  "Stations  of  the  Resurrection." 
Grout  wrote  the  poem  below  to  accompany  the  cover  painting. 


Imagine  the  Moment 
of  Resurrection 

Imagine  the  moment 

of  resurrection 

when  light  penetrated 

what  seemed  impenetrable 

what  seemed  eternal  darkness,  the  tomb, 

that  moment 

in  all  of  human  history 

that  changed  everything 

yet  appeared 

as  the  world  awoke 

just  another  morning. 

— Paul  Grout 


14 


19 


24 


26 


# 


J. 

The  church  and  mental  illness 

The  death  last  summer  of  Wes  Albin,  an 
active  member  of  the  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  con- 
gregation, has  opened  this  discussion  of 
how  churches  can  deal  with  depression,  a 
common  but  misunderstood  form  of 
mental  illness. 

A  doctor  with  a  mission 

With  support  from  US  Brethren,  a 
Dominican  Republic  doctor  who  is  a 
member  of  the  Dominican  Church  of  the 
Brethren  has  taken  her  faith  and  medicine 
on  a  mission  to  help  Haitian  refugees  in 
labor  camps. 

Caring  for  creation  in  Belize 

Upon  their  return  from  a  Church  of  the 
Brethren  "Faith  Expedition"  to  Central 
America,  three  writers  reflect  on  the  Chris- 
tian response  to  environmental 
destruction. 

The  Easter  spiritual 

"Sometimes  it  causes  me  to  tremble,  trem- 
ble, tremble."  Reflecting  on  the  deeper 
meaning  of  the  familiar  music.  Ken  Gibble 
writes:  "When  resurrection  happens,  you 
tremble." 

A  Quiet  Place 

A  little  old  farmhouse  in  Indiana,  on  the 
grounds  of  Camp  Mack,  has  been  trans- 
formed into  a  spiritual  retreat  center  where 
tired  souls  can  find  rest  and  renewal, 
where  they  can  be  close  to  God. 


Departments 


2 

From  the  Publisher 

3 

In  Touch 

6 

News 

28 

Letters 

31 

Turning  Points 

32 

Editorial 

April  2000  Messenger  1 


ta  fc  PuHiskr 


Those  who  read  small  print  may  have  noticed  lots  of  transition  within  the  team 
that  produces  Messenger.  While  editor  Fletcher  Farrar  is  now  an  old-timer 
within  the  group,  just  about  everyone  else  has  come  on  board  since  fall.  (We  even 
changed  printers  a  few  months  ago.) 

Peggy  Reinacher  became  acquainted  with  the  Brethren  last  summer  when  she 
began  as  a  temporary  employee  to  help  get  subscription  processing  back  on  schedule 
after  a  major  change  in  computer  software.  When  long-time  subscriptions  coordina- 
tor Vicki  Roche  left  in   September,  we  were  fortunate  to  have  Peggy  already  trained 
and  ready  to  go.  She  has  excelled  at  finding  ways  to  make  the  process  more  efficient. 

Supervision  of  subscriptions  and  selling  ad  space  have  recently  shifted  into 
Brethren  Press  marketing.  To  these  and  all  his  other  marketing  tasks,  manager  Russ 
Matteson  has  brought  energy,  skill,  creativity,  and  a  keen  sense  of  who  the  Brethren 
are.  With  business  and  seminary  degrees,  pastoral  experience,  and  several  years 
managing  bookstores,  his  background  is  perfect  for  Brethren  Press. 

News  manager  Walt  Wiltschek  eased  into  the  job  by  filling  in  on  an  interim  basis 
when  Nevin  Dulabaum  moved  down  the  hall  to  the  Brethren  Benefit  Trust.  So  when 
we  hired  Walt,  he  already  knew  just  about  everything  he  needed  to  know.  In  addition 
to  broadcasting  Brethren  news  through  Newsline  and  giving  attention  to  the  denomi- 
national website,  Walt  is  preparing  the  news  section  of  Messenger.  His  twin  passions 
for  journalism  and  ministry  (he  comes  straight  from  the  Westminster,  Md.,  congrega- 
tion, where  he  was  associate  pastor)  make  him  a  natural  for  his  new  position. 

With  the  next  issue  we  will  bring  back  an  old  name,  that  of  Paul  Stocksdale.  He 
started  his  career  with  Messenger  shortly  after  college,  but  left  several  years  ago  for 
a  new  job.  He's  been  honing  his  design  skills  in  the  rarefied  air  of  a  Chicago  ad 
agency,  but  never  stopped  providing  occasional  freelance  design  work  for  various 
agencies  of  the  church.  He  comes  back  to  us  now  because  he  and  his  wife,  Cynthia, 
have  just  gone  full-time  running  their  own  business.  Cedar  House  Design. 

Paul  picks  up  where  Marianne  Sackett  leaves  off.  A  freelance  designer,  Marianne 
has  designed  about  two  years'  worth  of  Messengers,  working  from  her  home  office 
in  Chicago.  Not  only  is  she  an  expert  at  Quark,  but  on  more  than  one  occasion  she's 
gone  the  second  mile  for  us — driving  the  materials  to  Elgin  in  order  to  save  us  a  day 
in  the  schedule,  for  example. 

In  addition  to  those  whose  names  appear  on  the  masthead,  there  are  other  out- 
standing but  unaccredited  folks  who  also  help  the  magazine  get  out  the  door  and 
into  readers'  mailboxes.  However,  the  teamwork  isn't  really  complete  until  you,  our 
faithful  readers,  take  the  magazine  into  your  homes  and  make  it  part  of  your  lives. 
Thanks  for  being  a  member  of  the  Messenger  family.  I  wish  the  masthead  were  big 
enough  to  list  you  all. 


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Messenger  is  the  official  publication  of  the  Church  . 
of  the  Brethren.  Entered  as  periodical  postage  matter 
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quotations,  unless  otherwise  indicated,  are  from 
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2  Messenger  April  2000 


rr 


Don  Brandt  and  Geraldine 

How  one  man  started  his  own  heifer  project 

Don  Brandt,  a  member  of  the  Mechanicsburg,  Pa.,  congregation,  is  neither  a  farmer 
nor  a  rancher.  The  closest  he  has  come  is  to  work  at  a  plant  nursery,  and  he  helps  sell 
produce  at  the  Lebanon,  Pa.,  disaster  relief  auction  each  fall. 

He  considered  raising  produce  for  the  auction,  until  he  got  the  idea  that  maybe  he 
could  grow  something  bigger. 

He  purchased  a  young  calf  at  the  auction  and  named  her  "Geraldine."  With  the  help  of 
his  wife,  Lois,  and  some  friends  he  fed,  immunized,  and  had  the  heifer  bred,  returning 
her  to  the  auction  the  next  year.  On  the  day  she  faced  the  buyers,  Geraldine  behaved 
"like  a  good  Brethren  cow,"  in  Don's  words,  bringing  in  a  respectable  $1,075  for  the  dis- 
aster fund. 

Don  says  the  venture  into  cattle-raising  was  so  enjoyable  he  might  do  it  again — if  there 
is  a  heifer  as  appealing  as  Geraldine! — Sara  Wilson 


Married  for  70  years, 
one  day  at  a  time 

It  was  a  quiet  celebration 
on  Sept.  12,  a  small  family 
dinner,  that  marked  the 
70th  year  since  Meade  and 
Velma  McCoy,  of  Marion 
Center,  Pa.,  were  united  in 
a  simple  ceremony  at  the 
Presbyterian  parsonage. 


"We've  had  our  ups  and 
downs  like  everybody 
else,"  says  Velma.  She  and 
her  husband  are  both  90. 
Five  years  ago  she  was 
down  with  a  heart  condi- 
tion and  doctors  didn't 
think  she  would  survive. 
But  after  receiving  a  pace- 
maker she  bounced  back. 
After  Christmas  her  hus- 


band Meade  was  hospital- 
ized for  awhile,  and  Velma 
baked  fresh  buns  for  the 
folks  from  church  who 
went  to  visit  him.  The 
McCoys  live  with  their 
son,  William,  a  registered 
nurse  who  helps  to  care  for 
them  both. 

They've  been  going  to 
the  Purchase  Line  Church 


April  2000  Messenger  3 


In 


of  the  Brethren,  Clymer, 
Pa.,  since  1940,  when  the 
pastor  then,  Dorsey 
Rotruck  (currently  of 
McPherson,  Kan.)  came  to 
visit  their  daughter  who 
was  sick  with  pneumonia. 
"We  have  a  lot  of  'almost- 
grandchildren'  at  our 
church,"  says  Velma. 
"There  are  a  lot  of  young 
people  who  look  up  to  us." 

What  is  the  secret  to  70 
years  of  marriage?  "I 
asked  my  husband  that  and 
he  had  no  idea,"  Vehna 
says.  "We  plug  along.  You 
just  have  to  keep  plugging 
along  I  guess." 


Youth  take  a  hard 
look  at  racism 

Jan  7-9  was  the  date  of  a 
young  adult  retreat  held  at 
Camp  Eder,  sponsored  by 


Roy  and  Jean  Judy  with  Lucille  and  Alton  McDaniel. 

Roy  Judy  completes  40  years 

On  |an.  1  Roy  Judy,  and  his  wife,  Jean,  were  honored 
for  serving  the  Ridgely,  Md.,  congregation  for  40 
years.  He  began  by  sharing  the  pastorate  with  Alton 
McDaniel,  each  preaching  every  other  Sunday;  then  Judy 
went  to  full  time  in  1961.  Many  friends  and  former  mem- 
bers of  the  congregation  came  to  celebrate  the  occasion, 
including  Alton  McDaniel,  who  brought  the  morning  mes- 
sage, "Blessed  are  the  History-makers." 


both  the  Southern  Penn- 
sylvania District  and  On 
Earth  Peace  Assembly.  The 
retreat  was  attended  by  1  5 
young  adults.  We  also  had 
to  acknowledge  that  at  a 
retreat  looking  at  racism, 
our  brothers  and  sisters  of 
color  were  very  underrep- 
resented,  with  only  one 
female  of  color. 

We  can  easily  admit,  as 
people  who  are  predomi- 
nantly of  German  heritage, 
middle  class,  and  Protes- 
tant, we  come  from  a  very 
privileged  subset  of  the 
world.  What  is  very  hard 
to  admit  is  that  as  mem- 
bers of  that  privileged 
group,  we  are  oppressing 
other  groups  in  order  to 
have  our  privileges. 

Two  videos,  a  documen- 
tary on  the  Los  Angeles 
riots  and  a  "Prime  Time" 
special  were  presented  to 
examine  issues  of  racism, 
the  effects  of  injustice 
towards  blacks  in  the  US, 
and  the  depth  of  emotion 
and  anger  over  racial 
injustice.  We  discussed  our 
isolation  from  multicultur- 
alism,  our  unawareness  of 
events  that  are  not  WASP, 
and  how  that  lack  of  edu- 
cation can  further  widen 
the  gap  between  racial 
groups.  We  spent  time  dis- 
cussing how  to  raise  our 
own  personal  awareness  of 
race,  ethnicities,  and  prej- 
udice. 

We  took  away  from  the 
weekend  the  hope  of  rec- 
onciliation found  in 
Ephesians  2: 14-19. 
— Beth  Miller 


Spring  Mount  marks 
200  years  of  service 

Spring  Mount  Church  of 
the  Brethren,  Warriors 
Mark,  Pa.,  celebrates  its 
200th  anniversary  this  year. 


An  "Old-Timers  Day"  is 
planned  for  May  2 1  with 
Brethren  heritage  displays. 
Aug.  1  3  is  a  family  picnic 
following  the  church  ser- 
vice. Special  events  with 
guest  speakers  are  planned 
for  Oct.  7  and  8. 

Guests  and  words  of 
greeting  are  welcome.  For 
information  call  814-632- 
5051  or  814-632-8620. 


Indiana  men  take  on 
the  world 

Camp  Alexander  Mack 
hosted  the  third  annual 
Northern  Indiana  District 
Men's  retreat  Feb.  5  and  6. 
About  40  men  attended  the 
retreat,  which  carried  the 
theme,  "A  Man  and  His 
World." 

Retreat  attendees  looked 
at  the  dynamics  of  rela- 
tionships and  explored  the 
Christian  responses  to  a 
world  divided  by  condi- 
tion, creed,  and  color. 
Leaders  were  David  Rad- 
cliff,  director  of  Brethren 
Witness,  and  Lee  Krahen- 
biihl,  co-pastor  of 
Skyridge  Church  of  the 
Brethren.  Kalamazoo, 
Mich. 


West  Goshen  honored 
as  Centennial  Church 

The  West  Goshen  Church 
of  the  Brethren,  Goshen, 
Ind.,  was  honored  as  the 
Centennial  Church  for 
1999  by  the  Elkhart 
County  Agricultural  Soci- 
ety. The  West  Goshen 
congregation  was  estab- 
lished in  1830  by  the 
families  of  Elder  Daniel 
Cripe.  lacob  Cripe,  Clint 
Stouder,  and  John  Pip- 
pinger,  who  came  to  the 
area  from  Montgomery 
County,  Ohio. 


4  Messenger  April  2000 


Meetings  were  held  in 
homes  until  1859,  when  a 
sniiiil  wooden  church  was 
buih  at  the  present  location. 
This  was  replaced  in  1886 
by  the  present  building. 

West  Goshen  is  the 
"mother  church"  for  some 
50  other  Brethren  congrega- 
tions in  northern  Indiana 
and  lower  Michigan. 


After  65  years  Bush 
retires  from  ministry 

Clyde  Bush,  of  Curryville, 
Pa.,  has  retired  after  65 
years  in  the  active  ministry. 
He  was  called  to  the  min- 
istry at  the  age  of  1 8  by  the 
Curryville  Church  of  the 
Brethren  and  began  his 
ministry  at  the  Riddlesburg 
church.  Other  Church  of 
the  Brethren  congregations 
he  served  include  Stoner- 
stown,  Beliwood,  lames 
Creek,  Beech  Run,  Water- 
side, Black  Valley,  and 
Pleasant  Union. 

During  his  ministry  Bush 
preached  5,268  sermons, 
conducted  564  prayer 
meetings,  baptized  157 
(including  50  on  one  day 
assisted  by  two  other  pas- 
tors), and  officiated  at  1 10 
weddings  and  1 12  funerals. 


Students  study  civil 
rights  on  tour  of  South 

Manchester  College  profes- 
sor Ken  Brown  and  three 
students  spent  their  January 
session  in  the  South,  visit- 
ing cities  and  sites 
associated  with  the  civil 
rights  movement. 

The  students  in  the  peace 
studies  program — Erica 
Sweitzer,  Eric  Christiansen, 
and  Angela  Florence — were 
taking  a  course  titled, 
"Current  Issues  in  Peace 
and  lustice:  How  the  Civil 


Rights  Movement  has 
Changed  the  South." 

The  group  went  to  the 
University  of  Mississippi, 
the  one-time  segregationist 
school  that  became  a 
hotbed  of  civil  rights  activ- 
ity in  the  1960s.  They 
visited  the  Lorraine  Motel, 
site  of  the  assassination  of 
Dr.  Martin  Luther  King,  Jr. 
They  were  in  Atlanta,  Ga., 
for  the  Martin  Luther  King, 
Ir.  holiday.  In  keeping  with 
the  words  of  Coretta  Scott 
King —  "It's  not  a  day  off, 
it's  a  day  on" —  they  spent 
the  day  volunteering  at  an 
inner-city  school  and  an 
AIDS  shelter. 


After  serious  accident, 
she  shares  her  faith 

Last  lune  Flora  Williams, 
professor  of  family  and 
consumer  economics  at 
Purdue  University  and 
pianist  at  Lafayette  (Ind.) 
Church  of  the  Brethren, 
was  in  Mexico  on  a  tourist 
van  that  crashed.  Her 
injuries  required  the  ampu- 
tation of  her  right  lower 
arm  and  hand. 

A  local  newspaper  article 
highlighted  the  positive 
attitude  that  brought  Flora 
through  her  recovery. 
"Instead  of  being 
depressed,  I  reflect  on  the 
fact  that  I  am  blessed,"  she 
says.  As  one  friend  put  it, 
she  focused  on  the  internal 
and  the  eternal,  instead  of 
the  external. 

She  has  returned  to  class- 
room teaching,  and  is  even 
playing  the  piano  and  organ 
again.  Rather  than  hide  her 
prosthesis,  she  adorns  it 
with  nail  polish  and  splashy 
rings.  "The  Lord  did  not 
promise  life  would  be  easy," 
Flora  says,  "but  he  did 
promise  to  go  with  us  every 
step  of  the  way." 


Eshbach  certified  as 
fund  raising  executive 

Theresa  C.  Eshbach,  of 
Thomasville,  Pa.,  director  of 
institutional  advancement 
for  Bethany  Theological 
Seminary,  was  awarded  the 
professional  designation  of 
Certified  Fund  Raising 
Executive  (CERE)  by  the 
CERE  certification  board. 
Those  certified  have  met 
professional  standards  and 
have  agreed  to  uphold  a 
code  of  ethics  and  the 


Theresa  C.  Eshbach 

Donor  Bill  of  Rights.  Also, 
candidates  must  pass  a  writ- 
ten examination. 


Marjorie  and  Conrad  Burton. 


Remembered 


D.  Conrad  Burton,  77,  of  Long  Beach,  Calif.,  died 
March  51,1 999.  He  was  pastor  of  the  Panorama  City, 
CaliL  congregation  for  17  years.  Later  he  left  the  pastoral 
ministry  to  develop  a  new  mission — the  development,  con- 
struction, and  management  of  non-profit  housing  for  the 
low-income  elderly. 

In  the  1960s,  Burton  ministered  to  despondent  street 
kids  of  Los  Angeles.  "He  would  go  down  to  the  Sunset 
Strip  and  just  talk  and  listen  to  the  kids,"  said  his  wife, 
Marjorie.  "He  would  help  get  them  back  on  their  feet, 
sometimes  reuniting  them  with  their  families." 

Martha  Wenger  Bachman,  77,  of  Lebanon,  Pa.,  died 
)uly  1  1.  She  served  in  Brethren  Volunteer  Service,  and 
with  Civilian  Public  Service  in  Castaiier,  Puerto  Rico.  She 
was  a  member  of  Brethren  Peace  Fellowship  and  was 
known  for  her  dedication  to  the  cause  of  peace. 


■■//;  Touch"  features  news  of  congregations,  districts,  and  individ- 
uals. Send  story  ideas  and  photos  to  "In  Touch. "  Messenger, 
1451  Dundee  Ave..  Elgin.  IE  60120. 


April  2000  Messenger  5 


Brethren  Volunteer  Service  Orientation 
Unit  237  trained  at  Camp  Ithiel,  Gotha. 
Fla.,  Jan.  25  to  Feb.  11.  The  work 
assignments  for  the  volunteers  are 
listed  next  to  their  names.  Front  row: 
Kerry  Labiischagne  (Camp  Brethren 
Woods.  Keezletown.  Va.),  Sue  Grubb 
(staff):  second  row:  Matt  Stauffer 
(staff),  Andy  Kloos  (San  Antonio 
Catholic  Worker  House,  Tex.):  Christy 
Bischoff  (Quaker  Cottage.  Belfast. 
Northern  Ireland):  third  row:  Lynn 
Stoltzfus  (Christian  Peacemaker 
Teams,  Chiapas.  Mexico):  Tobias  Baier 
(National  Farm  Worker  Ministries. 
Florida/North  Carolina).  Ali  Durbin 
(Guatemala  Accompaniment  Project, 
Guatemala  City):  Back  row:  Barrett 
Chaix  (International  Peace  Bureau. 
Geneva,  Switzerland):  Aimee  Edmark 
(Church  of  the  Brethren  Youth 
Services,  Leola,  Pa.):  Tracy  Stoddart 
(staff):  Veli  Turhan  (Tri-City  Homeless 
Coalition,  Fremont,  Calif). 


6  Messenger  April  2000 


Guillermo  Encarnacion,  coordinator  of  theological  training  in  the  Dominican 
Republic:  jerry  Crouse,  mission  co-coordinator  in  the  Dominican  Republic:  Allen 
Hansell,  director  of  ministry  for  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  General  Board:  and 
Becky  Bade  Crouse.  mission  co-coordinator,  join  in  laying  on  hands  as  10  pastors 
are  ordained  in  the  first  Church  of  the  Brethren  ordination  service  in  the 
Dominican  Republic. 


Dominican  Brethren  celebrate 
theology  graduation 

Brethren  in  the  Dominican  Republic 
use  a  traditional  greeting  when 
saying  hello  or  farewell:  "Dios  le 
bendiga"  —  God  bless  you. 

February  proved  to  be  a  month 
especially  filled  with  God's  blessings 
for  the  Dominican  Brethren  and  for 
their  counterparts  in  the  United 
States.  Feb.  12  marked  graduation 
day  for  1  7  students  who  became  the 
first  in  the  nation  to  complete  a  five- 
year  Church  of  the  Brethren 
theological  training  program.  A  week 
later,  the  first  Brethren  ordinations 
in  the  Dominican  Republic  took 
place  at  the  ninth  annual  assembly  of 
congregations  there. 

"This  is  a  very  sacred  and  historic 
moment  in  the  international  Church 
of  the  Brethren,  and  a  special  joy  in 
the  Dominican  Republic,"  said  Gen- 
eral Board  Director  of  Ministry  Allen 
Hansell,  who  conducted  the  services 
among  the  wooden  benches  of  an 
outdoor  pavilion. 

In  addition  to  the  10  pastors  who 
were  ordained,  7  more  people  were 
licensed  during  the  Saturday  evening 
service.  The  group  of  1  7  included 
old  and  young,  men  and  women  — 


all  of  them  exhibiting  a  passion  for 
lesus  Christ  and  the  church.  Each 
minister  came  to  the  front  sur- 
rounded by  members  of  his  or  her 
congregation  to  show  support  and 
community. 

About  30  US  Brethren  were  pre- 
sent for  the  historic  ceremonies, 
joining  more  than  150  Dominicans. 
In  addition  to  Hansell,  the  US  repre- 
sentatives included  executive  director 
|udy  Mills  Reimer  and  Global  Mis- 
sion Partnerships  director  Merv 
Keeney  of  the  General  Board,  Jim 
Myer  of  Brethren  Revival  Fellowship, 


Pastor  Sebastian  Reyes  of  the  Agua 
Viva  congregation  celebrates  his 
ordination. 


and  a  large  workcamp  group  from 
Pennsylvania. 

The  entire  ceremony  painted  a  por- 
trait of  two  cultures  woven  together, 
with  Hansell  delivering  the  ceremony 
and  vows  in  English,  and  Guillermo 
Encarnacion,  coordinator  of  theolog- 
ical training  in  the  Dominican 
Republic,  translating  them  into  the 
native  Spanish.  All  ministry  materi- 
als, such  as  certificates  and 
identification  cards,  were  also  trans- 
lated into  Spanish  for  the  occasion. 

"1  am  happy  and  thrilled,"  said 
newly  ordained  Angelica  Beriguete, 
pastor  of  the  Fuente  de  Vida  congre- 
gation, through  a  translator.  "For 
anyone  who  is  ready  and  feels  called 
by  God,  this  is  a  good  direction.  This 
is  an  exciting  time  for  the  church." 

As  many  as  40  Dominicans  are 
expected  to  enroll  in  the  theological 
training  program  this  year.  Some  of 
those  are  continuing  students,  but 
many  are  new.  Nineteen  congrega- 
tions or  preaching  points  are  now 
functioning  in  the  country  with  the 
guidance  of  Church  of  the  Brethren 
mission  coordinators  Jerry  and  Becky 
Crouse,  who  live  in  Santo  Domingo. 
The  Grouses  received  a  quick  and 
emphatic  round  of  applause  for  their 
work  after  Jerry  delivered  their  report 
at  the  assembly. 

Other  major  items  at  the  assembly 
included  approval  of  the  1999  trea- 
surer's report  and  2000  budget, 
elections  for  the  coming  year,  reports 
from  each  congregation,  and  amend- 
ments to  their  conference's 
constitution. 

Worship  provided  the  central 
heartbeat  of  the  weekend,  however, 
with  energetic  and  abundant  music, 
fervent  prayers,  scripture  readings, 
and  moving  messages  —  including 
addresses  by  Encarnacion  Saturday 
night  and  Reimer  on  Sunday,  follow- 
ing communion. 

As  people  went  their  separate  ways 
after  the  closing  worship,  the  mean- 


ingful words  came  again:  "Dios  le 
bendiga." — Walt  Wiltschek 

General  Board  programs 
finish  fiscal  year  in  black 

Church  of  the  Brethren  General 
Board  treasurer  Judy  E.  Keyser  used 
"solid"  and  "stable"  as  the  two  words 
to  describe  the  organization's  finan- 
cial status  entering  2000. 

"General  programs,"  those  which 
are  not  self-funded,  showed  a  total 
income  over  expense  of  $  1  35,070 
according  to  pre-audit  reports.  That 
strong  showing  came  even  after  sev- 
eral adjustments,  such  as  a  one-time 
transfer  to  Brethren  Press  and  a 
transfer  to  fund  annuity  payments. 

For  self-funding  units,  all  but  one 
finished  in  the  black.  The  New  Wind- 
sor (Md.)  Conference  Center  showed 
the  largest  turnaround,  posting  a 
deficit  in  1998  but  showing  a  $5,450 
net  income  over  expense  in  1999. 
Similar  good  news  came  from 
Brethren  Press  ($1 1,390),  and  from 
Emergency  Response/Service  Min- 
istries ($35,110).  Messenger  showed 
a  net  loss  of  $25,380  for  the  year. 

Urban  Peace  Tour  visits 
churches  of  Los  Angeles 

During  the  week  of  Feb.  8-13  partic- 
ipants in  Urban  Peace  Tour  2000 
traveled  to  Church  of  the  Brethren 
congregations  throughout  the  Los 
Angeles  area.  They  worshiped 
together,  celebrating  their  unique 
cultures  and  backgrounds,  but  united 
under  a  common  identity  as  Chris- 
tians and  members  of  the  Church  of 
the  Brethren. 

The  tour  gathered  participants 
from  Brethren  congregations  across 
the  country  including:  Harrisburg 
(Pa.)  First — Iglesia  del  Discipulado, 
Altoona  (Pa.)  28th  Street,  German- 
town  (Philadelphia,  Pa.),  and 
Phoenix  (Ariz.)  First.  Local  area  par- 


Orlando  Antonio  Jimenez,  a  member  of 
Bella  Vista  Church  of  the  Brethren,  Los 
Angeles,  on  the  Urban  Peace  Tour 

ticipants  from  Imperial  Heights, 
Valley  View  Whittier,  and  Bella  Vista 
congregations  further  strengthened 
the  tour. 

"I  was  continually  amazed  by  the 
worshipful  and  energetic  spirit  in 
which  people  gave  themselves  to  the 
tour — heart  and  soul,"  said  tour 
coordinator  Greg  Laszakovits,  who  is 
finishing  a  year  doing  anti-racism 
education  through  the  General 
Board's  Brethren  Witness  office. 


Ernie  Sewell,  of  Gennantown  Church  of 
the  Brethren,  on  the  Urban  Peace  Tour. 


April  2000  Messenger  7 


Each  night's  worship  celebration 
included  music,  testimonies,  power- 
ful preaching,  and  prayers  for 
personal,  interracial,  and  world 
peace. 

"We  could  really  feel  the  Holy 
Spirit  move  in  those  churches,"  said 
Nate  Olivencia  of  Harrisburg,  Pa.  "It 
was  powerful!" 

One  of  the  highlights  of  the  tour 
was  the  final  worship  service  at  Cen- 
tral Evangelical  Korean  Church  of 
the  Brethren.  The  message  was  deliv- 
ered in  Spanish  by  Pastor  Guillermo 
Olivencia  of  Harrisburg  First  Church 
of  the  Brethren,  Iglesia  del  Discipu- 
lado,  then  translated  to  English,  then 
to  Korean. 

"This  is  what  the  Kingdom  of  God 
will  look  like — look  at  the  diversity!" 
rejoiced  one  church  member. 

Other  stops  on  the  tour  included 
Principe  de  Paz,  Imperial  Heights, 
Pomona  Fellowship,  and  Bella 
Vista/Bittersweet  Ministries. 

Annual  Conference 
announces  ballot 

Paul  Grout  (Putney,  Vt.),  loan  Her- 
shey  (IVIount  Joy,  Pa.),  Marianne 
Rhoades  Pittman  (Blacksburg,  Va.), 
and  David  L.  Rogers  (North  Man- 
chester, Ind.)  are  the  candidates  for 
moderator-elect  on  this  year's 
Annual  Conference  Standing  Com- 
mittee ballot. 

Standing  Committee  will  prepare 
the  ballot  that  delegates  will  vote  on 
by  cutting  the  list  of  nominees  for 
that  and  numerous  other  positions  in 
half  when  it  meets  in  July  prior  to 
Annual  Conference  in  Kansas  City, 
Mo. 

Other  positions  on  the  ballot  this 
year  are  a  member  of  the  Annual 
Conference  Program  and  Arrange- 
ments Committee;  General  Board 
members  from  three  districts —  Illi- 
nois and  Wisconsin,  Northern  Ohio, 
and  Southeastern — plus  an  at-large 
representative;  one  member  each  of 
the  boards  of  On  Earth  Peace  Assem- 
bly, Brethren  Benefit  Trust,  and 


Association  of  Brethren  Caregivers; 
two  members  of  the  Bethany  Theo- 
logical Seminary  board,  one 
representing  the  laity  and  one  repre- 
senting the  ministry;  a  member  of  the 
Pastoral  Compensation  and  Benefits 
Advisory  Committee  representing  the 
laity;  a  member  of  the  Committee  on 
Interchurch  Relations;  and  male  and 
female  members  of  the  Review  and 
Evaluation  Committee. 

CAIR  team  helps  following 
Alaska  Airlines  crash 

The  Crisis  in  Aviation  Incident 
Response  program,  administered  by 
the  Church  of  the  Brethren  General 
Board's  Emergency  Response/Ser- 
vice Ministries,  was  called  upon 
again  after  the  crash  of  Alaska  Air- 
lines flight  261  in  the  Pacific  Ocean. 
Sharon  Gilbert  of  the  La  Verne 
(Calif.)  Church  of  the  Brethren 
helped  to  administer  that  effort. 

Other  Brethren  involved  in  the 
ecumenical  team  included  Sheryl 
Faus  (Chiques  church,  Manheim, 
Pa.),  Judy  Gump  (Prince  of  Peace 
church,  Denver,  Colo.),  John  Kinsel 
(Beavercreek,  Ohio,  church),  and 
Dena  Gilbert  (La  Verne). 

The  team's  work  so  impressed 
Alaska  Airlines  that  a  CAIR  team  was 
requested  to  work  during  a  memorial 
service  in  Seattle  for  families  of  air- 
line employees  involved  in  the  crash. 
Gilbert  again  co-administered  that 
project,  which  included  Brethren 
Patricia  Ronk  of  the  Oak  Grove 
church  (Roanoke,  Va.)  and  Noel 
Gilbert  of  La  Verne. 

They  cared  for  58  infants  and  chil- 
dren during  the  services  at  the 
Seattle  Convention  Center. 

Older  Adult  Conference 
speakers  announced 

The  Association  of  Brethren  Care- 
givers has  announced  the  lineup  of 
speakers  for  this  year's  National 
Older  Adult  Conference,  to  be  held 
Sept.  1 1-15  in  Lake  Junaluska,  N.C. 


Retired  pastor  Jimmy  Ross  of 
Waynesboro,  Va.,  will  provide  the 
message  for  the  Monday  night  open- 
ing celebration,  with  the  title  "More 
than  Leaves  and  Shade." 

Other  speakers  include  Robert  A. 
Raines,  former  director  of  the 
Kirkridge  Retreat  and  Study  Center  in 
Bangor,  Pa.;  McPherson  (Kan.)  Col- 
lege president  emeritus  Paul 
Hoffman;  Marva  J.  Dawn  of  Chris- 
tians Equipped  for  Ministry, 
Vancouver,  Wash.;  and  retired  pastor 
and  former  Annual  Conference  mod- 
erator Dean  M.  Miller. 

Robert  NefL  president  emeritus  of 
Juniata  College  (Huntingdon,  Pa.) 
and  former  general  secretary  of  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  General 
Board,  will  lead  three  days  of  morn- 
ing Bible  study  based  on  the  Psalms. 

Other  presentations  include  a 
musical,  "Heavenly  Days,"  which 
will  be  presented  by  members  of  the 
North  Manchester  (Ind.)  Shepherd 
center,  and  the  biblical  comedy  of 
Ted  Swartz  and  Lee  Eshleman,  better 
known  simply  as  "Ted  and  Lee,"  in 
"The  Creation  Chronicles." 

Personnel  changes 

Mark  Sloan  departed  Feb.  1  for 
Nairobi,  Kenya,  to  begin  serving  as 
special  assistant  to  Haruun  Ruun, 
executive  director  of  the  New  Sudan 
Council  of  Churches.  Sloan  joined 
Ruun  and  Merlyn  Kettering  as  the 
third  member  of  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren  General  Board's  Global 
Mission  Partnerships  team  serving 
with  the  NSCC.  Sloan,  from  Stone 
Church  of  the  Brethren  in  Hunting- 
don, Pa.,  completed  graduate  studies 
in  theology  and  business  administra- 
tion in  December. 

Linda  McCauliff  has  resigned  as  a 
Congregational  Life  Team  member  for 
Area  1  (Northeast)  effective  Feb.  25. 
McCauliff  began  serving  with  the  Gen- 
eral Board  in  January  1998  and  has 
worked  with  the  other  team  members 
in  developing  a  more  direct  General 
Board  approach  to  congregations 


8  Messenger  April  2000 


under  the  umbrella  of  Congregational 
Life  Ministries.  McCauliff  is  continu- 
i  ing  in  her  half-time  associate  district 
executive  position  with  Western  Penn- 
sylvania District. 

Grants  help  after  hurricane 
and  China  earthquakes 

The  second  Emergency  Disaster 
fund  grant  of  2000  provided 
^  I  0,000  to  support  disaster  recovery 
efforts  through  Church  World  Ser- 
vice following  two  Ian.  14 
earthquakes  in  China. 

The  quakes  caused  heavy  destruc- 
tion of  homes  and  public  buildings, 
with  more  than  156,000  rendered 
homeless  out  of  a  population  of 
200,000  in  the  area. 

The  year's  third  allocation  from  the 
fund  went  to  provide  $6,000  to  the 
Falfurrias  Church  of  the  Brethren  to 
assist  with  damage  caused  by  Hurri- 
cane Bret  to  the  church,  its 
parsonage,  and  the  surrounding 
community  in  August  1999. 

Fourth  Song  &  Story  Fest 
set  for  July  in  Iowa 

The  Great  Plains  Song  and  Story  Fest 
will  be  held  the  week  before  Annual 
Conference,  |uly  9-15,  at  Camp  Pine 
Lake  near  Eldora,  Iowa.  This  unique 
family  camp,  offered  for  a  fourth 
straight  year,  features  the  following 
Brethren  leaders:  Debbie  Eisenbise, 
Dena  Pence  Frantz,  loseph  Helfrich, 
Rocci  Hildum,  Jonathan  Hunter,  Lee 
Krahenbiihl,  jim  Lehman,  Peg 
Lehman,  Mike  Stern,  and  others. 
Call  51  5-959-5334  or  e-mail 
camppinelake  (o  earthlink.net  for 
more  information. 

Juniata  College  community 
says  prayers  for  peace 

People  are  gathering  and  saying 
prayers  for  world  peace  at  dawn  each 
morning  this  year  in  the  Elizabeth 
Evans  Baker  Peace  Chapel  of  Juniata 
College,  Huntingdon,  Pa. 


The  prayer  services  consist  of  the 
ringing  of  a  bell,  the  reading  of  an 
interfaith  prayer,  a  time  of  silence, 
and  the  reading  of  a  prayer  from  the 
faith  tradition  of  the  person  oversee- 
ing that  service. 

The  2000  Prayers  effort  is  being 
organized  by  the  Baker  Institute  for 
Peace  and  Conflict  Studies  and  the 
Campus  Ministry  Board  of  the  col- 
lege, along  with  several  area 
churches.  Volunteers  take  turns  lead- 
ing a  week  of  the  prayers. 

The  prayer  services  "will  be  a  daily 
opportunity  for  the  community  to 
remember  those  who  suffer  from  war 
and  injustice  and  to  ask  for  the 
strength  and  wisdom  to  work  for  a 
more  peaceful  world,"  said  Andy 
Murray,  director  of  the  Baker  Institute. 

New  Year's  weekend  event 
caps  year-long  J2K  project 

The  "I2K:  New  Hope,  New  Day" 
project  will  conclude  with  a  major 
theological  gathering  in  Cincinnati 
over  New  Year's  weekend.  Titled 
"Speaking  of  lesus  .  .  .,"  the  event 
will  invite  Brethren  from  across  the 
denomination  and  from  a  variety  of 
faith  perspectives  to  share  about 
their  faith  in  Jesus  and  the  impact  of 
Jesus  on  the  church  and  society. 

Sessions  are  being  designed  to  be 
highly  participatory  in  nature.  Jointly 
sponsored  by  Bethany  Theological 
Seminary  and  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren  General  Board,  the  confer- 
ence will  be  the  first  such  national 
gathering  of  its  kind  in  nearly  20  years. 

The  purpose  of  the  event  is  to 
"explore  our  faith  and  build  commu- 
nity at  a  decisive  time  in  the  life  of 
our  church  and  in  human  history," 
according  to  the  planning  team.  The 
team  consists  of  Sharon  Nearhoof, 
Richard  Kyerematen,  Harriet  Finney, 
Rick  Gardner,  and  David  Radcliff. 

Planners  anticipate  attendance  by 
congregational  leaders,  seminary 
students  and  faculty,  and  district  and 
denominational  staff.  Registration 
will  be  limited  to  the  first  250  appli- 


cants. Special  consideration  will  be 
given  to  assisting  people  who  live 
west  of  the  Mississippi  to  attend. 
Contact  the  J2K  project  office  at 
800-323-8039  for  more  information. 

Space  remains  in  some 
summer  workcamps 

Many  of  the  22  summer  workcamps 
offered  by  the  General  Board's 
Youth/Young  Adult  office  have 
begun  to  fill  up,  but  time  remains  to 
register  for  others. 

Seven  workcamps  were  full  by 
early  March:  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  New 
Windsor,  Md.,  Crossnore,  N.C., 
Richmond,  Va.,  Dominican  Republic 
(BRF);  Lend-a-Hand,  Ky.;  and  Lake 
Geneva,  Wis. 

Workcamps  in  Denver,  Colo.;  the 
second  camp  in  Jamaica;  Pine  Ridge, 
S.D.,  and  Puerto  Rico  were  nearly  full. 

Those  with  the  most  space  still 
remaining  were:  Young  Adult 
Dominican  Republic;  Intergenera- 
tional,  Harrisburg,  Pa.;  Americus, 
Ga.;  Orlando,  Fla.;  Trees  for  Life  in 
Wichita,  Kan.;  Washington,  D.C.; 
Tijuana,  Mexico;  and  Gould  Farm, 
Mass.  For  more  workcamp  informa- 
tion, call  the  Youth/Young  Adult 
office  at  1-800-323-8039. 

Western  US  youth  will  hold 
conference  at  La  Verne 

The  Western  Regional  Youth  Confer- 
ence, held  only  once  every  four 
years,  will  take  place  July  6-10  at  the 
University  of  La  Verne  (Calif.). 

The  event  draws  youth  and  advi- 
sors from  the  Idaho,  Pacific 
Southwest,  and  Oregon/Washington 
districts  and  features  worship,  work- 
shops, music,  recreation,  and  other 
activities. 

For  more  information,  contact 
Dena  Gilbert  in  the  Pacific  Southwest 
District  Office  at  909-593-2254  or  at 
gogilbert@juno.com,  or  Don  Flora  at 
the  University  of  La  Verne  at  909- 
593-351  1,  x4694orat 
florad@ulv.edu. 


April  2000  Messenger  9 


Who  in  your  church  is  suflering  (rem 
mental  illness?  You  may  not  know,  because 
the  mentally  ill  look  no  different  from 
anyone  else.  But  nationwicie,  I  in  10 
persons  is  afflicted  by  mental  illness 
seriously  enough  to  require  treatment. 
One  person  in  the  US  commits  suicide 
every  30  minutes.  Out  of  100  adults 
between  the  ages  of  17  and  74,  some  15 
will  suffer  from  serious  depression  from 
time  to  time.  Pictured  Is  First  Church 
of  the  Brethren,  Springfield,  III.,  a 
congregation  that  has  cared  for  members 
with  mental  illness. 


BY  G.  Martin  Keeney 

les  Albin  of  Harrisburg, 
Pa.,  tragically  lost  his  life 
to  depression  last  August 
][see  article  next  page].  It 
is  our  hope  that  these  words  could  be 
one  component  of  the  grieving 
process  for  his  family,  church,  and 
the  denomination:  trying  to  build 
some  education,  understanding,  and 
growth  into  the  impossible  task  of 
"figuring  out"  the  loss  of  Wes. 

He  was  an  admired  acquaintance 
of  mine,  so  I  have  been  shaken  by  his 
loss.  Being  a  psychiatrist  is  no  pro- 
tection. The  concomitant  sadness, 
contemplation,  prayer,  and  conver- 
sations with  others  have  led  to  some 
reflections  on  what  the  church  can 
offer  to  community  members  suffer- 
ing with  depression. 

A  church  community  offers  much 


What  churches  can 
do  for  the  depressed 


A  psychiatrist  on  the  healing  combination 
of  medicine,  love,  and  understanding 


to  alleviate  all  kinds  of  suffering. 
Empathy,  genuine  hope,  laying  on 
hands,  anointing,  availability,  and 
prayer  are  important  to  those  with 
depression.  It  is  also  important  that 
those  closest  to  the  depressed  receive 
some  of  the  same,  since  it  is  draining 
to  be  in  their  position. 

Frequently  it  is  difficult  to  offer 
this  kind  of  help  because  of  lack  of 
understanding  of  "emotional  prob- 
lems," or  discomfort  with  them. 
Stigma,  however,  becomes  less  for- 
midable in  a  more  knowledgeable 
community  where  words  like  suicide 
and  psychiatrist  can  be  said  without 
choking.  Churches  can  develop  a 
foundation  for  this  by  offering  Chris- 
tian education  about  mental  illness. 

Looking  at  depression  from  an  ill- 
ness or  "biology"  perspective  can 
help,  too.  Although  loss,  stress,  or 
spiritual  issues  are  usually  related  to 


depression,  there  is  a  disease  compo- 
nent as  well.  Indeed,  some  are  more 
prone  to  this  illness  because  of  their 
genes,  in  the  same  way  one  might  be 
at  risk  for  diabetes  or  heart  attacks 
because  it  runs  in  the  family.  This  is 
why  a  combination  of  talking  therapy 
and  biological  therapy  (medication) 
is  usually  the  best  treatment.  More 
information  about  the  disease  and  its 
treatments  is  available  from  treat- 
ment centers  (hospitals  and 
professional  offices)  and  local  chap- 
ters of  the  National  Alliance  for  the 
Mentally  111. 

The  important  message  that 
churches  can  help  deliver  is  that 
most  depression  is  diagnosable  and 
treatable.  Such  knowledge  is  a  pow- 
erful tool  since  it  helps  fuel  honest 
encouragement  and  open  support. 

Many  who  are  eager  to  help  are  sti- 
(continued  on  p.  12) 


1 0  Messenger  April  2000 


Wes  Albin — ^A  walking  partner 

BY  Helen  S.  Hollinger 


ust  before  the  CROP  Walks  started  this  past 
October  in  Harrisburg  and  York,  Pa.,  Church 
World  Service  executive  Roger  Clark  made  a 
request:  "As  you  take  your  steps  this  day  to  alle 
viate  hunger,  we  ask  that  you  walk  in  memory  of 
Wesley  Albin." 

Until  his  sudden  death  on  Aug.  25,  Wesley  Paul 
Albin,  59,  had  served  as  Pennsylvania  regional 
director  of  CWS/CROP  for  24  years.  As  Wes' 
widow,  Joyce,  cut  the  ribbon  for  the  Harrisburg 
walk  to  begin,  Clark  said,  "As  you  participate  in 
today's  CROP  Walk,  know  that  Wesley  Albin  lives 
on  in  our  steps.  Even  as  we  grieve 
deeply  for  our  loss,  we  give  thanks 
for  the  life  and  influence  of  this 
dear  man." 

Recently  Wes  suffered  from 
severe  depression  and  was  under- 
going medical  treatment  and 
therapy.  His  family,  friends,  and 
colleagues  had  rallied  around  him 
with  love  and  support,  along  with 
his  pastors,  Nancy  and  Irvin 
Heishman,  of  the  Harrisburg  (Pa.) 
First  Church  of  the  Brethren. 
Sadly,  however,  even  as  Wes  con- 
tinued to  work  and  to  share  his 
gifted  life  with  others,  he  lost  his 
battle  with  clinical  depression  and 
took  his  own  life. 

"Ironically,  his  life  commitments 
and  work  with  Church  World  Ser- 
vice have  saved  literally  thousands  of  lives  and 
inspired  countless  others  to  deeper  discipleship," 
said  his  co-pastor,  Irvin  Heishman.  "There  is  no 
doubt  but  that  Wes  left  the  world  a  better  place." 

He  took  on  a  servant  role  early  in  his  life.  Born  in 
Ottumwa,  Iowa,  he  was  the  son  of  Brethren  pastor 
Charles  Albin  and  lea  Albin.  Upon  graduating  from 
McPherson  College,  where  he  was  student  body 
president,  he  entered  Brethren  Volunteer  Service  in 
1962,  serving  with  Church  World  Service  in  South 
Korea  as  a  field  representative.  He  worked  to  pro- 
vide food,  clothing,  and  self-help  equipment  to 
some  800  projects,  including  orphanages,  hospi- 
tals, and  land  reclamation  projects.  This  experience 
moved  Wes  to  dedicate  his  life  to  working  to  allevi- 
ate hunger  throughout  the  world. 

He  worked  for  CWS/CROP  in  Iowa,  Wisconsin, 
and  the  Mid-Atlantic  Region  before  opening  a 
regional  office  in  Camp  Hill,  Pa.  In  citing  Wes' 
record  37-year  tenure  of  service  to  Church  World 


Wes  Albin  speaking  to  a  group  in 
York  Pa.,  on  August  24,  1999.  It 
was  the  day  before  he  died. 


Service — the  longest  of  any  CWS  employee,  as 
well  as  any  Church  of  the  Brethren  member — 
Annual  Conference  Moderator  Emily  Mumma 
expressed  gratitude  on  behalf  of  the  church  at  large 
for  his  many  years  of  ministry. 

Over  the  last  25  years,  Wes  was  an  active 
member  of  the  Harrisburg  First  congregation,  serv- 
ing as  church  board  chair,  moderator,  Sunday 
school  teacher,  youth  adviser,  and  member  of 
numerous  congregational  and  Atlantic  Northeast 
District  committees. 
He  was  a  dedicated  family  man,  survived  by 

Joyce,  his  wife  of  nearly  30  years, 
daughters  Elizabeth,  a  teacher  in 
Kinman,  Ariz.,  and  Bridget,  a  stu- 
dent at  Elizabethtown  College,  and 
son  Paul,  a  high  school  junior. 
Also  surviving  are  sisters  Kathleen 
Waterman,  Lavonne  Krushwitz, 
and  brother  Robert,  all  of  Iowa. 
He  enjoyed  the  outdoors,  camp- 
ing, and  of  course,  walking.  He 
was  featured  in  the  December 
1997  Messenger  for  walking  50 
miles  for  CROP  in  Juniata  County, 
Pa. 

As  family,  colleagues,  and 
friends  wrestle  with  the  tragic  loss 
of  Wes,  some  recalled  his  gifts: 
"When  you  talked  with  Wes,  he 
was  tuned  in  only  to  you.  .  .  ."  "His 
kind  wit  hurt  no  one  and  relaxed 
many  a  tedious  moment."  "He  lived  the  gospel  and 
quietly  inspired  others  to  do  so." 

Joyce  Albin  openly  talks  of  her  husband's  strug- 
gle with  depression,  hoping  that  the  unjustified 
stigma  surrounding  this  tragic  illness  will  give  way 
to  better  understanding,  empathy,  and  help  for  its 
victims.  Above  all,  she  hopes  that  "Wes  will  be 
remembered  for  the  kindness,  humor,  and  compas- 
sion he  showed  to  all  people." 

The  longest  route  in  the  recent  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
CROP  Walk  was  fittingly  designated  as  the  "Albin 
route."  Those  who  walked  this  10-mile  route  no 
doubt  had  more  time  to  remember  Wes  Albin's 
compassionate  concern  for  the  hungry.  Indeed,  all 
walkers  could  well  have  thought  of  Wes  Albin  as  an 
immortal  walking  partner  in  the  fight  against  world 
hunger. 

Helen  Stutzman  Hollinger  is  a  member  of  First  Church 
of  the  Brethren,  Harrisburg.  Pa. 


April  2000  Messenger  1 1 


(continued  from  p.  10) 
fled  by  not  knowing  the  right  thing 
to  say  or  do.  Specific  recommenda- 
tions are  difficult  to  make,  since  the 
"right  thing"  grows  out  of  the  feel- 
ings, content,  and  company  of  the 
moment.  But  it  can  be  liberating  to 
remember  that  any  one  statement  is 
not  going  to  make  or  break  recovery 
from  the  illness. 

Empathy  and  loving  one's  neighbor 
are  good  guiding  principles.  These 
are  particularly  important  in  assist- 
ing with  grieving.  "Telling  the  story" 
of  loss  is  often  an  important  part  of 
the  recovery  from  depression  and  for 


survivors  of  those  who  have  taken 
their  lives.  However,  comments 
about  "cheering  up,"  "looking  on  the 
bright  side,"  or  attempts  to  minimize 
the  problem,  are  of  less  value,  even 
irritating. 

It  is  important  not  to  expect  fast 
results  and  showers  of  gratitude  for 
your  kind  words,  listening,  and 
prayer.  That  is  not  "gonna  fix  'em," 
and  if  the  friend  is  frustrated  with 
lack  of  progress  and  quits  visiting,  it 
can  solidify  the  depressed  person's 
hopelessness.  Rather,  since  even  an 
uncomplicated  depression  lasts 
weeks  to  months,  supporters  need  to 


pace  themselves  for  the  long  haul. 

It  is  also  important  to  remember 
that  depression  is,  unfortunately,  a 
potentially  lethal  illness.  A  tragic  end 
does  not  denote  shortcomings  in 
friends,  family,  or  the  community. 

Asking  about  suicide,  though,  is 
important.  Some  worry  about 
offending  by  asking,  but  not  doing  so 
may  preclude  opportunity  for  a  life- 
saving  intervention  (like 
hospitalization,  or  getting  in  touch 
with  the  involved  professionals). 
Rarely  is  anyone  put  off  by  the  dis- 
cussion. It  may  truly  be  a  relief  to  be 
able  to  acknowledge  suicidal 


How  churches  can  raise  the  veil  on  mental  illness 


BY  Robert  Blake 

An  international  survey  indicates  that  mental  illness 
is  on  the  rise  throughout  the  world.  The  Congres- 
sional Record  estimates  that  one-third  of  all 
Americans  will  suffer  from  a  mental  illness  at  some 
point  in  their  lives.  The  American  Psychiatric  Associa- 
tion found  that  nearly  50  percent  of  the  people 
between  the  ages  of  15  and  54  have  experienced  a 
psychiatric  illness  during  their  lifetime.  The  National 
Institute  of  Mental  Health  has  determined  that 
depression,  the  most  common  psychiatric  illness, 
affects  between  8  million  and  20  million  Americans  at 
any  given  time. 

While  these  numbers  are  staggering,  the  stigma 
involved  with  mental  illness  is  devastating.  The 
National  Institute  of  Mental  Health  reported  that 
when  people  were  asked  to  list  disabilities  from  the 
least  offensive  to  the  most  offensive,  mental  illness 
was  rated  lowest,  or  most  offensive.  Research  has 
shown  that  ex-convicts  are  held  in  higher  regard  than 
are  people  who  have  experienced  mental  illness.  In 
our  society  there  is  a  veil  that  hides  the  truth  about 
mental  illness. 

Because  of  the  stigma  involved,  relatively  few 
people  actually  receive  adequate  care  and  treatment 
for  their  illness.  Even  fewer  are  willing  to  divulge  that 
they  are  struggling,  hurting,  and  in  need  of  care  and 
understanding. 

Within  the  Church  of  the  Brethren,  a  new  program 
from  the  Association  of  Brethren  Caregivers  can  help. 


Voice  Ministry's  "Creating  a  Safe  Place"  program 
encourages  congregations  to  be  places  where  people 
are  valued  for  who  they  are.  As  such,  congregations 
have  both  an  opportunity  and  a  duty  to  reach  out  to 
people  who  are  suffering  with  mental  illnesses  and 
invite  them  to  participate  fully  in  the  life  of  the  com- 
munity. 

Churches  can  respond  in  several  ways.  Educational 
endeavors  can  help  church  members  become  accu- 
rately informed  about  mental  illness.  Voice  Ministry 
offers  resources  to  groups  within  the  church  as  they 
work  to  alleviate  the  stigma  attached  to  mental  illness. 
Parishioners  can  reach  out,  accept,  and  support  per- 
sons with  mental  disorders  as  well  as  their  family 
members.  As  this  is  done,  people  who  have  suffered 
the  effects  of  the  stigma  of  mental  illness  will  begin  to 
feel  empowered  and  affirmed. 

The  great  commandment  calls  us  to  love  our  God 
and  our  neighbors.  Jesus  invited  us  to  give  care  to 
him  by  meeting  the  needs  of  those  in  his  family.  It  is 
appropriate  for  us  to  reach  out  to  people  who  suffer 
with  a  mental  illness  and  are  in  need  of  care.  We  have 
an  obligation  to  do  this  from  a  knowledgeable  posi- 
tion and  with  care  and  understanding. 

There  is  a  veil  that  hides  the  truth  about  mental  ill- 
ness. We  have  an  opportunity  to  help  raise  that  veil 
and  the  responsibility  to  help  destroy  the  stigma  that 
surrounds  those  who  suffer  with  mental  illness. 

Robert  Blake  is  program  field  staff  for  the  Association  of 
Brethren  Caregivers. 


1 2  Messenger  April  2000 


thoughts  to  another  person. 

Sharing  the  deep  pain  of  depression 
w  ilh  the  al'llieted  is  dift'icult,  frighten- 
ing, and  agonizing,  but  it  can  broaden 
onc"s  view  of  the  scope  of  human 
experience.  The  exact  healing  words 
are  usually  elusive.  But  an  under- 
standing individual  and  community 
that  can  support  people  living  with 
depression  is  a  powerful  healing  force. 

The  community  can  also  be  helpful 
by  not  being  harmful.  Spiritual  healing 
and  mental  health  treatment  must 
work  together.  Recoveries  have  been 
sabotaged  from  both  directions  by 
poor  communication  and/or  mistrust, 
which  has  been  present  for  decades. 
The  mental  health  community  needs 
to  be  more  open  to  the  benefits  of  reli- 
gion and  spirituality  in  healing. 

The  church  needs  to  be  open  as 
well.  Many  who  suffer  have  received 
the  messages  that  they  "don't  need 
that  medicine,"  or  should  "stay  away 
from  that  anti-religious  psychother- 


apy," or  should  "get  right  with  God," 
or  they  "must  be  being  punished  for 
something."  These  comments, 
whether  overtly  or  covertly  delivered, 
can  lead  to  doubts  about  treatment  or 
to  quitting  treatment  altogether, 
resulting  in  further  intensifying  suffer- 
ing and  slowing  recovery.  Active 
spiritual  lives  and  mental  health  treat- 
ment are  not  exclusive  of  each  other. 
Individuals  and  communities  support- 
ing depressed  loved  ones  must  allow 
for  their  coexistence,  and  should  work 
toward  their  synergism.  My  hope  is 
that  we  begin  to  allow  more  healthy 
discourse  between  spiritual  and  med- 
ical/psychological communities. 

The  spiritual  world  of  the  church 
also  offers  faith  in  God  as  a  unique 
"product."  The  "unforgivableness" 
of  the  depressive  mindset  can  be 
tempered  by  grace  and  salvation.  It  is 
not  a  simple  matter,  though,  since 
some  profoundly  depressed  people 
are  unable  to  fathom  that  salvation 


can  apply  to  them.  Consistent,  com- 
passionate reminders  of  the  "Good 
News"  are  useful  for  some  over  time. 

This  can  even  be  essential  for  some 
whose  depression  has  a  large  guilt 
component.  Some  think  their  illness 
is  an  ongoing  punishment  for  past 
mistakes.  The  past  can  sometimes  be 
placed  into  a  tolerable  context  by 
means  of  grace.  In  short,  God's 
grace  does  apply  to  all,  and  can  be 
fostered  in  the  afflicted  by  a  caring 
faith  community. 

Churches  can  offer  education, 
comfort,  and  enhancement  of  recov- 
ery for  those  profoundly  smothered 
by  this  illness,  without  giving  up  any- 
thing of  their  fundamental  nature,  a 
window  to  grace  and  truth.  I  hope 
we  do  honor  to  Wes  Albin  and 
his  family  in  doing  so. 


/it. 


G.  Martin  Keeney,  M.D.,  is  a  psychia- 
trist and  a  member  of  Stone  Church  of  the 
Brethren.  Huntingdon.  Pa. 


The  s  jght  y  eKaggerated  aduentures  of  a  BVS  hero 


Sot^e^Uere  )•»  6tfate/-'aLa.. 


UlaLldllTIBr!  The  scene  depicted  is  purely  fictional.  Poetic  and  artistic  license  has  been  used  to  elevate  BVS  to 
superhero  status.  Calls  for  help  are  customarily  received  from  agencies  rather  than  local  villagers.  BVS  volunteers 
are  generally  not  required  to  wear  spandex  and  capes,  nor  physically  fly  through  the  air. Transportation  to  and 
from  projects  is  provided.  On  assignment,  BVS  volunteers  will  work  with,  teach  and  learn  from  local  people.  BVS 
volunteers  often  report  to  have  gained  more  from  their  experience  than  they  felt  they  gave. 


1  by  Daniel  Radcliff 


Summer  unit: June  I  I  -July  1,2000 

Held  at  New  Windsor,  Maryland 

Fall  unit:  September  1 7  -  October  7, 2000 

Held  at  Camp  La  Verne,  California 


r&V^ 


Be  Someone  s  Hero 


Brethren  Volunteer  Service  800-323-8039 

145  I  Dundee  Avenue,  Elgin,  Illinois  60  120 


April  2000  Messenger  1 3 


A  Medical 
Docior 

Mission 

A  ministry  of  healing  and 
witness  among  Haitian  refugees. 


story  and  photos  by 
Rebecca  Baile  Grouse 


Passion  and  compassion. 
Those  are  the  two 
words  that  best  describe  the 
faith  and  the  work  of  Dr. 
Hilcias  Ricardo,  who  com- 
pleted her  first  year  of 
medical  work  in  Sabana 
Grande  de  Boya  with  some 
of  the  poorest  of  the  poor 
in  the  Dominican  Republic. 
Dr.  Ricardo's  work  is  being 
supported  by  the  Elizabeth- 
town  (Pa.)  Church  of  the 
Brethren  and  other  individ- 
uals and  congregations 
through  the  Global  Mission 
Partnerships  Office  of  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren 
General  Board. 

Ricardo,  30,  is  the  oldest 
of  six  children  and  recalls 
growing  up  knowing 
poverty.  "I  remember  times 
when  we  did  not  have 
shoes,"  she  says.  Her 
father,  Hipolito  Ricardo 
Caliz,  was  a  miner  and 
earned  about  125  pesos  a 
month  (about  $8.50)  when 
she  was  a  child.  He  would 
often  get  to  come  home 
only  once  a  month  to  be 
with  the  family  in  Santo 
Domingo.  Her  mother,  Ysi- 
dora  Guzman  Vivda  de 
Ricardo,  sewed  clothing  on 
her  treadle  sewing  machine 
to  supplement  the  family's 
income.  Mrs.  Ricardo  said, 
"I  sometimes  would  have  to 
rip  a  zipper  out  of  some 


clothing  and  sell  it  for  25 
centavos  (a  few  pennies)  in 
order  to  buy  some  bread 
and  hot  chocolate  for  the 
children's  breakfast." 

Yet  hers  was  a  Christian 
home  and  Ricardo  devel- 
oped a  passion  for  sharing 
the  good  news  of  Jesus 
Christ.  "We  were  living  by 
faith,"  Ricardo  recalled. 

Three  times  a  week  they 
would  walk  about  a  mile  to 
worship  in  the  church  where 
both  her  parents  worked  as 
ordained  Assemblies  of  God 
pastors.  "We  had  a  neighbor 
who  was  an  evangelist  in  our 
church  and  had  a  loud- 
speaker and  we  would  walk 
through  our  neighborhood 
proclaiming  Christ  with 
him,"  Ricardo  said.  "I 
remember  we  six  children 
playing  the  tambourines  and 
singing  as  we  walked 
through  the  streets." 

Ricardo's  love  for  sharing 
Christ  includes  leading  a 
weekly  Bible  study  for  chil- 
dren in  one  room  of  the 
family's  small  home.  Her 
mother  led  this  time  of 
Bible  study  for  20  years. 
For  the  past  10  years,  every 
Saturday,  Ricardo  and  her 
other  siblings  open  their 
home  to  about  40  children 
from  the  neighborhood  who 
come  to  sing  and  learn 
more  about  the  Bible.  Two 


1 4  Messenger  April  2000 


Dr.  Ricardo  makes  a  house  call  on  a  family  to  insure 
their  use  of  filtered  water  at  the  Las  Charcas  sugar 
cane  worker  community. 


of  those  children  have 
gone  on  to  become  pas- 
tors. 

Because  of  their  difficult 
economic  situation,  the 
family  sought  scholarship 
assistance  through  the  non- 
profit organization 
Compassion  International 
for  Hilcias  and  two  of  her 
sisters,  Anna  Lidia  and 
Ruth  Esther,  to  attend  a 
local  Christian  high  school. 
She  finished  her  high 
school  education  in  1986 
and  graduated  from  the 
Autonomous  University  of 
Santo  Domingo  with  a 
degree  in  medicine  in  1996. 
Her  sister  Anna  Lidia  went 
on  to  become  a  medical 
doctor,  and  her  sister  Ruth 
became  a  lawyer. 

It  was  through  her  two- 
year  residency  work  in  the 
rural  areas  of  Barahona 
that  Ricardo  first  came  in 
contact  with  the  Domini- 
can Church  of  the 
Brethren  through  the 
Fondo  Negro  congrega- 
tion. She  began  attending 
the  Peniel  Church  of  the 
Brethren  in  Santo 
Domingo  in  1998  and 
became  a  charter  member 
of  the  church  Jan.  9,  2000. 
She  is  currently  serving  on 
the  Peniel  leadership  team. 

When  Ricardo  finished 
her  two-year  residency  in 
1998,  she  was  contemplat- 
ing where  she  would  begin 
work  when  an  opportunity 
became  available  through 
COTEDO  (Commission 
for  Dominican  Ecumenical 
Work),  a  Christian  non- 
profit organization 
working  in  the  bateyes 
(sugar  cane  worker  com- 
munities) near  Sabana 
Grande  de  Boya,  about 
two  hours  north  of  Santo 
Domingo.  COTEDO, 
partnering  with  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren 
and  several  other  agencies, 
started  a  medical  project 


in  the  bateyes  to  improve 
the  health  conditions  of 
the  poor,  many  of  whom 
are  of  Haitian  descent. 

"I  remembered  how  it 
was  to  be  poor  and  I 
wanted  to  do  something  to 
help  the  poor,"  Ricardo 
said.  "That's  why  I  came  to 
Sabana  Grande  de  Boya  to 
work  with  cane  workers." 

In  March  1999,  Ricardo 
moved  from  Santo 
Domingo  to  Sabana 
Grande,  living  in  a  small 
rented  room  of  a  local 
family.  She  often  returns 
by  public  bus  to  Santo 
Domingo  on  weekends  to 
visit  her  family. 

Ricardo's  weekly  sched- 
ule includes  visiting  seven 
different  communities 
located  between  5  and  10 
miles  from  Sabana  Grande. 
The  roads  are  very  poor 
and  sometimes  when  the 
pickup  is  not  functioning, 
Ricardo  rides  a  motorcycle 
to  get  out  to  see  her 
patients.  One  other  outly- 
ing community  can  be 
reached  only  by  riding 
horses  or  burros.  Ricardo 
sees  between  35  and  40 
patients  each  day  along 
with  another  physician, 
Erida  Castro,  who  began 
working  with  her  last 
August. 

The  doctors  use  either 
the  school  building,  a 
church,  or  a  home  as  their 
office,  depending  on  the 
community.  Health  pro- 
moters are  local  volunteers 
who  know  the  residents 
and  assist  the  doctors  in 
identifying  people  who 
need  medical  attention. 
The  doctors  often  go  door 
to  door  visiting  in  homes 
to  encourage  the  use  of  fil- 
ters for  clean  water,  or  to 
teach  proper  hygiene  to 
the  families.  The  doctors 
often  are  available  simply 
to  listen  to  the  problems  of 
the  local  residents  as  they 


April  2000  Messenger  1 5 


Dr.  Ricardo  stands  inside  tlie  door  of  a  home  with  some 
children  in  Las  Charcas  bateye,  where  she  visits  regidarly  and 
provides  education,  supervision,  and  consultation  to  improve 
health  conditions  in  the  community. 


offer  supervision,  educa- 
tion, and  consultation  in 
these  communities.  Since 
some  of  the  patients  of 
Haitian  descent  do  not 
speak  Spanish,  a  translator 
helps  the  doctors  commu- 
nicate in  the  bateyes. 

The  doctors  take  some 
medication  with  them  for 
headaches,  colds,  and 
fever,  but  often  they  write 
out  prescriptions  which  a 
member  of  the  family  or 
the  local  health  promoter 
will  bring  to  the  COTEDO 
office  in  Sabana  Grande 
de  Boya,  which  houses  the 
pharmacy  for  the  project. 
The  medications  for  the 
pharmacy  were  donated  by 
the  Interchurch  Medical 
Assistance  (IMA)  office 
located  in  New  Windsor, 
Md.  IMA  is  supported  by 
contributions  from  a 
number  of  denominations, 
including  the  Church  of 
the  Brethren  through  the 
Emergency  Disaster  Fund. 

Diarrhea,  high  blood 
pressure,  and  depression 
are  also  illnesses  the  doc- 


Dr.  Hildas  Ricardo,  medical  missionary 
supported  by  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren,  stands  near  a  sugar  cane 
field  through  which  she  passes  daily 
on  her  visits  to  the  sugar  cane  worker 
communities  surrounding  the  town  of 
Sabana  Grande  de  Boya  in  the 
Dominican  Republic. 


tors  treat  often.  They  see 
pregnant  women  weekly 
and  encourage  the  use  of 
vitamins,  which  they  pro- 
vide as  soon  as  the  women 
learn  they  are  expecting. 

Because  of  the  privatiza- 
tion of  the  sugar  cane 
industry,  many  of  the  resi- 
dents in  the  bateyes  have 
been  without  work  for 
more  than  one  year.  "The 
government  has  forgotten 
them.  But  COTEDO  and 
the  Church  of  the  Brethren 
are  working  together  to 
give  them  some  hope," 
Ricardo  said.  "God  is  using 
us  to  help  the  poor  with 
medicine,  and  support 
them  and  give  them 
encouragement."  Some  of 
the  workers  will  be  hired  by 
the  private  company  in 
their  area  and  begin  work 
this  spring  earning  between 
80  and  1 50  pesos  (between 
$5  and  $10)  per  day. 

Ricardo  said  that  this  is 
the  first  time  many  of  the 
bateye  residents  have  had 
consistent  medical  care. 
Visiting  representatives 
from  the  United  States 
Agency  for  International 
Development  (USAID), 
also  a  funding  partner  for 
the  project,  gave  the  pro- 
gram high  marks  for  its 
overall  effectiveness  in 
improving  the  health  of  the 
people. 

Ricardo  takes  advantage 
of  every  opportunity  she 
can  to  share  her  faith  in 
Jesus  Christ.  She  recendy 
visited  a  man  living  in  the 
Las  Charcas  bateye  who 
has  cancer  in  one  leg. 
Ricardo  first  inquired  about 
how  the  man  was  feeling. 
After  checking  on  his  phys- 
ical needs  and  giving  him 
some  orange  juice  and 
crackers,  Ricardo  asked, 
"And  how  is  your  faith  in 
God?  Is  it  staying  strong?" 

"Yes,"  the  man  replied. 
(continued  on  p.  18) 


1 6  Messenger  April  2000 


The  life  of  Haitians  in 
the  Dominican  Republic 


BY  Amy  Rhoades 


Ybu  can  see  them  in  the  streets,  vending  their  wares. 
You  can  find  them  working  long  hours  in  manual 
construction  or  in  the  endless  fields  of  sugar  cane. 
These  tireless  workers  have  journeyed  from  their 
homeland  of  Haiti,  the  poorest  nation  in  the  Western 
Hemisphere,  to  the  Dominican  Republic,  which  shares  the 
same  island,  in  hopes  of  creating  a  better  life. 

Even  though  opportunities  are  greater  in  the 
Dominican  Republic  than  in  Haiti,  most  Haitian  sugar 
cane  worker  communities,  called  bateyes,  lack  basic 
human  necessities.  A  July  6,  1999,  report  in  Santo 
Domingo's  daily  newspaper  Listen  Diario  revealed  these 
statistics  about  the  bateyes.  There  are  200,000  residents 
(2  percent  of  the  Dominican  population),  or  about 
45, 1  54  families,  residing  in  220  bateyes. 

Fifty  percent  of  the  families  live  in  barracks  or 
duplex-style  one-room  homes.  Two-thirds  of  the  homes 
have  no  form  of  latrines,  resulting  in  most  people  using 
the  sugar  cane  fields  as  restrooms.  In  32  percent  of  the 
bateyes  there  is  no  drinkable  water  and  in  the  remaining 
68  percent  the  present  water  filtration  systems  have 
missing  or  malfunctioning  parts.  One-third  of  the 
bateyes  offer  no  schooling  for  children  and  a  third  of  the 
population  over  age  10  cannot  read  or  write.  Fifty  per- 
cent of  the  bateyes  have  no  electricity. 

Sixteen  percent  of  residents  receive  no  type  of  med- 
ical assistance  and  50  percent  rely  on  a  local  volunteer  health  promoter.  In  26  percent  of  the  bateyes  there 
are  outpatient  clinics,  4  percent  have  a  medical  office,  3  percent  have  rural  clinics,  and  2  percent  have  small 
pharmacies.  These  health  statistics  show  the  great  need  being  met  through  the  medical  project  sponsored  by 
COTEDO  and  the  Church  of  the  Brethren. 

From  1 822- 1  844,  Haiti  occupied  the  Dominican  Republic.  Then  a  war  between  the  two  countries 
ensued  and  the  Republic  gained  independence  from  its  neighbor.  Restoration  of  international  relations  has 
not  been  easy.  Haiti  and  the  Dominican  Republic  continue  to  have  their  differences.  Currently,  tensions 
between  the  two  countries  still  exist  and  many  Dominicans  view  the  pilgrimage  of  Haitians  into  the  Domini- 
can Republic  to  find  work  an  invasion  of  their  land. 

The  Church  of  the  Brethren  is  seeking  to  set  an  example  in  the  Dominican  Republic.  Intercultural  rela- 
tionships are  continually  being  formed.  Of  the  19  congregations,  fellowships,  and  preaching  points  in  the 
Dominican  Republic,  two  congregations  and  one  preaching  point  are  composed  mainly  of  persons  of  Haitian 
descent.  The  youth  and  adults  from  these  two  nationalities  gather  and  share  in  song,  prayer,  and  scripture. 
These  worship  activities  cross  the  cultural  boundaries  and  help  unite  the  Dominican  Brethren. 

"My  impression  is  that  amid  the  significant  historical,  economic,  and  racial  tensions  that  exist  between 
people  of  Haitian  and  Dominican  descent,  the  Dominican  Brethren  have  shown  significant  spiritual  maturity 
in  the  way  they  live  and  work  together  as  one  body  of  Christ,"  says  Jerry  Crouse,  mission  coordinator  for  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  General  Board. 

Amy  Rhoades.  a  member  of  Trinity  Church  of  the  Brethren.  Daleville.  Va.,  is  living  in  the  Dominican  Republic  for  six 
months  assisting  with  translation  for  mission  work  and  workcamps  and  living  with  Dominican  Brethren  families. 


Dr.  Ricardo  checks  Israel  Castro,  a  patient  from  Las 
Cabilma,  a  community  outside  ofSabana  Grande 
de  Bova  that  can  be  reached  only  by  horseback. 


April  2000  Messenger  1 7 


(continued  from  p.  16) 
Through  Ricardo's  initiatives,  two 
Dominican  Church  of  the  Brethren 
congregations  have  joined  together 
to  begin  preaching  points  in  the  Las 
Charcas  and  Carmona  bateyes. 
Ricardo  is  grateful  for  this  opportu- 
nity to  share  her  passion  for  Christ 
and  her  compassion  for  the  poor. 
"My  work  here  is  a  great  experi- 
ence," she  said.  "I'm  like  a  missionary 
and  I'm  very  happy  to  be  here." 
Elizabethtown  Church  of  the 
Brethren  pastor  Ralph  Detrick  says 
that  Ricardo  and  her  ministry  have 
been  a  blessing  to  their  congregation 
as  well.  Karen  Wenger  of  the  congre- 
gation's witness  commission 
observes,  "I  am  so  pleased  with  the 
success  of  Ricardo's  efforts.  1  am 
also  delighted  in  the  support  we  have 
seen,  not  only  from  our  membership, 
but  from  others  as  well.  Our  pro- 
jected workcamp  in  the  Dominican 
Republic  for  this  August  filled 
quickly.  We  even  have  a  weekly 
Spanish  class  organized  so  that  we 
can  learn  to  speak  with  our  new 
friends.  I  hope  our  relationship 
will  continue  for  a  long  time." 


/a. 


Rebecca  Baile  Croiise.  and  her  hus- 
band, Gerald,  serve  as  mission 
coordinators  for  tiie  Church  of  the 
Brethren  General  Board  in  the  Dominican 
Republic.  She  is  an  ordained  minister  and 
a  member  of  the  Antioch  congregation. 
Roclcy  Mount,  Va.  SIjc  has  three  children. 
Steve.  10.  Jacob.  8.  and  Christv.  5. 


Turn  to  an  e-service  you  can  trust. 

eMountain  Communications,  the  electronic  ministry  of  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren  Benefit  Trust,  can  assist  you  v^ith  your  Internet  and 
technology  needs. 

•  Basic  Web  hosting.  Reasonable  rates  to  get  you  or  your 
congregation  on  the  Web:  $4.95/month  basic  plan;  $l2.95/month 
enhanced  plan. 

•  Secure  Web  hosting  and  e-mail.  Encrypted  Web  transactions 
and  e-mail  messages  provide  a  protected  environment  for 
commerce,  registrations,  and  donations. 

•  Internet  access.  ClearViewNet  delivers  filtered  Internet  access 
that  adheres  to  and  witnesses  Brethren  values. 

•  Other  Services.  Web  site  design,  basic  e-mail  accounts,  domain 
name  registration,  e-commerce  Web  sites,  and  video  conferencing. 


A  ministry  of 
Brethren  Benefit  Trust 

I  505  Dundee  Avenue,  Elgin,  IL  60 1  20- 1  6  1 9 
800-250-5757     847-742-0135  fax 
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Brethrening 

A  prayer  to  share 


After  Monroe  and  Ada  Good,  of  Holtwood,  Pa.,  came 
across  this  anonymously  written  prayer  in  an  ecumenical 
newsletter,  they  shared  it  with  family  friends  and  those 
who  participated  with  Monroe  in  Nigeria  workcamps. 

"May  God  bless  you  with  discomfort  at  easy  answers, 
half-truths,  and  superficial  relationships,  so  that  you  will 
live  deep  in  your  heart. 

"May  God  bless  you  with  anger  at  injustice,  oppression, 
exploitation  of  people  and  the  earth,  so  that  you  will  work 


for  justice,  equity,  and  peace. 

"May  God  bless  you  with  tears  to  shed  for  those  who 
suffer,  so  you  will  reach  out  your  hand  to  comfort  them 
and  change  their  pain  into  joy. 

"And  may  God  bless  you  with  foolishness  to  think  that 
you  can  make  a  difference  in  the  world  so  you  will  do  the 
things  which  others  say  cannot  be  done." 


Messenger  lUOuU  like  to  ptil^lish  other  short,  colorful,  humorous  or  poignant  stories  of  real-life 
incidents  involving  Brethren.  Please  send  your  submission  to  Messenger,  1451  Dundee  Ave., 
Elgin,  IL  60120-1694  or  e-mail  to  the  editor  at  ffarrar_gh@hrethren.org. 


1 8  Messenger  April  2000 


Caring  for  creation 


Roil  Hiiiiik  i]l  /rofi  I,  Ioii\i  ciiioys  his  iiioiiiciit  in  the  sun  during  a  hike 
in  Bhic  Hole  Witloiuil  Park.  Earlier  he  and  the  others  had  been  cauglit 
along  tills  rain  forest  trail — appropriately,  perhaps — in  a  downpour 


Reflections  from  a 

Faith  Expedition  to 

Central  America 

PHOTOS  AND  STORY  BY  DaVII)  RaDCLIFF 


lants  with  leaves  as  broad  as  ironing  boards. 
Bugs  bigger  than  we'd  ever  care  to  meet.  Rain 
alighting  high  in  the  canopy,  never  to  make  its 
way  to  the  ground.  Five-inch-wide  highways 
along  the  ground  created  by  the  relentless 
march  of  leaf-cutter  ants.  The  tantalizing  possi- 
bility of  a  jungle  cat  sighting.  Experiencing  all  this 
while  based  at  the  solar-powered  jaguar  Creek  Chris- 
tian environmental  center  in  the  middle  of  the  jungle. 

And  this  was  just  the  Belize  half  of  the  experience.  From 
there  it  was  on  to  Guatemala  for  1  5  participants  taking 
part  in  a  first-ever  environmental  Faith  Expedition  spon- 
sored by  the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  The  group  ranged  in 
age  from  15  to  65,  and  took  on  spelunking,  snorkeling, 
hiking  through  rain  storms,  visiting  isolated  Guatemalan 
communities,  and  generally  soaking  up  the  sights,  sounds, 
and  smells  of  life  in  the  tropics  during  their  January  trip. 

As  the  firsthand  accounts  below  testify,  the  trip  was 
clear  evidence  that  we  live  in  an  increasingly  interrelated 
world.  Of  course,  this  is  how  God  planned  it:  The  earth  as 
a  living  system  in  which  goodness  is  spread  through  the 
chain  of  life.  Yet  we  now  find  that  goodness  is  not  the  only 
thing  that  courses  along  the  chain.  Economic  policies  on 
one  continent  have  environmental  impact  on  another,  as 
do  choices  about  how  we  use  land  or  what  kind  of  foods 
we  expect  to  have  readily  available. 

Some  say  that  the  chain  is  stretched  taut,  with  links  in 
danger  of  pulling  apart.  It's  hard  to  believe  otherwise 
when  hearing  that  as  many  as  100  species  of  living  things 
become  extinct  each  day,  mostly  due  to  habitat  destruction 
in  the  tropics.  Do  we  have  the  right  to  so  easily  destroy 
what  God  so  lovingly  created?  And  isn't  it  even  in  our  self- 
interest  to  think  twice  before  bidding  any  part  of  God's 
creation  an  eternal  farewell,  as  only  one  percent  of  plants 
on  the  planet  have  been  tested  for  possible  human  benefit? 
At  the  conclusion  of  this  article  are  ideas  about  living  as 
better  stewards  of  God's  good  earth.  For  now,  here  are 
reflections  of  some  of  the  folks  who  recently  flew  south  for 
part  of  their  winter. 


April  2000  Messenger  1 9 


Karl  Joseph 

16  years  old 
Oiiekaina,  Mich. 

This  trip  was  an  amazing  experience  for  me.  I  saw  and 
learned  a  million  things,  but  1  think  what  made  the  biggest 
impression  on  me  was  the  drastic  difference  between  the 
Central  American  peoples'  relationship  with  the  land,  and 
ours. 

I  had  never  before  seen  a  place  where  most  of  the  people 
make  a  living  on  the  land  they  farm.  It  seemed  to  be  that 
everyone  who  lived  in  rural  areas  had  a  farm  to  support 
their  family. 

We  spent  one  morning  in  Belize  with  a  Mayan  man 
named  Jacinto  who  used  the  land  the  same  way  as  his 
ancestors  did,  with  the  slash  and  burn  techniques,  [acinto 
explained  the  good  and  bad  points  of  that  approach  to 
farming,  including  the  problem  of  increasing  population. 
Many,  many  families  have  10  or  15  children.  Large  fami- 
lies are  a  part  of  their  culture,  but  now  it  is  a  problem, 
because  land  and  resources  are  becoming  increasingly 
scarce. 

The  contrast  between  Belize  and  Guatemala  was  quite 
drastic.  In  Guatemala,  we  could  see  the  harsh  environ- 
mental problems  everywhere  we  went.  Most  of  the  small 
farmers  are  too  poor  to  be  environmentally  responsible. 
They  need  to  have  firewood  all  the  time,  to  cook  all  their 
meals.  They  have  to  use  the  little  land  they  have  for  farm- 
ing to  make  a  living,  and  that  usually  means  that  they  plant 
coffee  and  bananas  on  hillsides  that  are  obviously  too 
steep.  Many  people  know  how  precious  the  land  and 
forests  are.  But  even  if  they  realize  their  impact  on  the 
environment,  their  poverty  forces  them  to  try  to  get  the 
most  from  what  they  have. 

American-owned  corporations  in  Central  America  grow 
coffee  and  bananas,  often  using  chemical  fertilizers  and 
pesticides  and  corrupt  farming  practices  that  are  exploita- 
tive to  the  land  and  the  farmers  working  for  them. 

Only  a  fraction  of  the  money  that  we  pay  for  this  food 
that  we  take  for  granted  actually  goes  to  the  farmers.  Also, 
the  export  crops  use  land  that  would  otherwise  grow  food 
for  the  Guatemalan  people. 

I  was  constantly  amazed  by  how  much  our  lifestyle  as 
Americans  affects  the  environmental  and  economic  situa- 
tion in  Central  America.  The  most  crucial  thing  1  learned 
while  I  was  on  this  trip  was  the  importance  of  being,  at  the 
very  least,  aware  of  these  problems  that  seem  so  far  away. 
The  earth,  our  home,  is  amazingly  fragile  and  intercon- 
nected— something  we  as  Americans  often  have  a  hard 
time  seeing.  This  visit  was  a  vivid  reminder  to  me  of  just 
how  true  that  really  is. 


Plant  life  ill  the  tropical  forest 
is  diverse,  exotic,  and  leans  to 
gigantisin.  Tropical  forest  may 
contain  more  than  65  different 
species  of  trees  per  acre  compared 
to  only  four  tree  species  per  acre 
in  a  (North  American  or 
European)  temperate  forest.  Less 
than  one  percent  of  the  earth's 
plants  liai'c  been  tested  for 
possible  hiimaii  benefit:  one  in 
eight  plants  is  currently 
threatened  with  extinction . 


20  Messenger  April  2000 


77/c  hcdllli  of  iropiidi  birds  is 
iloscly  lied  10  iiciioiis  icihcii  in 
soiiicirlhU  Icss-tliiiii-cxotii  j)liiccs 
like  ilic  fields  and  jorcsis — and 
\iroccr)'  stores  and  pet  shops — 
oj  onr  on'ii  conntry.Jnst  as  for 
parrots  and  iiiacaii's,  loss  of 
habitat  a\id  the  pet  trade  threaten 
the  Keel-billed  Toncan. 


Marisa  Yoder 

Hi^h  school  biology  teacher,  ciivinviiiiciital 
awareness  advocate  for  Brethren  Witness  office 
Goshen,  hid. 

Life  is  a  balancing  act.  Inhale,  exhale.  Work,  play.  Earn 
money,  spend  money.  Athlete,  couch  potato.  Talk,  listen. 
Home,  church,  work.  Balance  is  crucial  to  the  quality  of 
our  lives.  So  it  is  with  nature  too.  God  created  day  and 
night,  land  and  water,  plant  and  animal,  male  and  female, 
birth  and  death. 

I  was  reminded  of  the  delicate  balance  that  exists  in  nature 
as  I  stood  under  the  large  leaves  of  a  young  tree  in  Belize's 
Blue  Hole  National  Park  during  a  hard  rain.  I  could  hear  the 
pounding  of  rain  on  the  leaves  of  the  upper  canopy,  so  I 
knew  it  was  raining  hard,  but  I  was  not  getting  drenched. 

As  the  raindrops  slid  down  one  leaf  to  the  next  then  to  a 
stem  and  on  to  a  tree  trunk,  some  of  the  water  was  cap- 
tured by  orchids,  bromeliads  and  ferns,  and  the  force  and 
the  quantity  of  the  water  was  diminished.  Water  that  hit 
the  forest  floor  covered  with  leaf  litter  slowly  trickled  into 
the  protected  soil. 

Water  that  hit  the  bare,  compacted  footpath,  on  the  other 
hand,  created  a  little  stream  that  soon  took  on  the  reddish 
color  of  the  soil  as  it  flowed  to  lower  ground.  The  soil  needs 
to  retain  water  to  sustain  plant  life  that  in  turn  sustains  the 
birds,  the  insects,  the  frogs,  and  many  other  animals.  Cut 
down  the  trees  and  lose  both  the  wildlife  and  the  soil.  Lose 
the  soil  and  eventually  the  trees  will  perish  and  the  wildlife 
with  them.  Balance  between  soil,  water,  animals,  and  plants 
is  what  keeps  a  rain  forest  alive  and  productive. 

The  narrow  footpath  created  by  hikers  before  me  and 
used  by  our  group  had  obviously  upset  the  balance  of  the 
rain  forest  in  a  small  way.  But  I  am  guilty  of  disturbing  the 
delicate  balance  of  the  rain  forest  in  more  dramatic  ways. 
My  lifestyle  demands  resources  like  lumber,  oranges,  cab- 
bage, snow  peas,  and  coffee  that  are  coming  from  the 
logging  or  the  destruction  of  rain  forests — and  this  is  in 
part  why  rain  forest  in  the  tropics  is  being  cut  down  at  the 
rate  of  an  acre  a  second.  In  addition,  Belize  and 
Guatemala  have  huge  financial  debts  and  they  are  trying  to 
repay  those  debts  by  increasing  their  exports  to  the  US. 

How  can  I  help  restore  the  balance?  1  can  buy  only 
products  that  have  the  Eco-OK  symbol.  I  can  demand  to 
know  where  my  goods  are  coming  from.  I  can  become  a 
wiser  consumer,  which  often  means  spending  a  little  bit 
more  money,  while  supporting  businesses  that  buy  their 
goods  from  cooperatives,  organic  farmers,  or  shade  farm- 
ers. I  can  help  maintain  the  balance  of  nature  by  investing 
a  little  more  of  my  time  and  my  resources  in  practices  that 
are  nature-friendly. 

Life — all  of  life  on  this  planet — is  a  balancing  act.  What 
is  each  of  us  doing  to  maintain  the  balance  that  God 
intends  for  this  good  earth? 


April  2000  Messenger  21 


Chris  Eberly 

Oniirliologist,  Mid-Atlantic  District  creation  stewardship-)  advocate 
Warreiitou,  Va. 

Neotropical  migratory  birds  nest  in  the  US  and  Canada,  then 
migrate  south  to  the  tropics  each  fall.  Every  year,  these  birds 
keep  our  nation's  forests,  grasslands,  and  wetlands  healthy  by 
consuming  literally  tons  of  insects,  often  keeping  potentially 
damaging  outbreaks  in  check.  And  just  try  to  imagine  a  sunny 
spring  morning  without  their  beautiful  dawn  chorus. 

But  we  are  in  danger  of  losing  them.  Neotropical  migrant 
bird  populations  have  been  declining  at  an  alarming  rate 
over  the  past  30  years,  as  documented  by  a  continent-wide 
survey.  Only  recently  have  we  begun  to  unravel  the  con- 
nections of  the  different  habitats  that  these  birds  require 
throughout  the  four  seasons. 

In  our  country,  forest  fragmentation  from  development 
and  the  conversion  of  native  grasslands  to  agriculture 
reduce  nesting  success.  Coastal  areas  that  used  to  provide 
critical  refueling  stops  during  migration  have  now  been 
"developed"  as  luxury  resorts. 

Further  south,  tropical  deforestation  completes  the  frac- 
tured puzzle  these  birds  must  piece  together  every  year  in 
order  to  survive.  Envision  birds  that  breed  throughout  the 
vastness  of  the  US,  Canada,  and  Alaska  converging  on 
Mexico  and  Central  America  each  fall — an  area  perhaps 
one-tenth  that  size.  We  can  then  begin  to  understand  the 
impact  of  losing  even  small  areas  of  tropical  forest. 

The  areas  we  visited  in  Belize  and  Guatemala  provided  a 
stark  contrast  in  forest  cover  and  in  the  number  and  diver- 
sity of  bird  species.  While  Belize  was  striking  for  its  often 
heavily  forested  hills  and  mountains,  historically  forested 
areas  on  the  Pacific  slope  highlands  of  Guatemala  are  now 
heavily  farmed  and  mostly  devoid  of  forests,  even  on  steep 
hillsides.  In  addition,  pesticides  such  as  DDT  (supplied  by 
the  US)  are  still  used,  often  haphazardly. 

Have  the  insatiable  demands  of  the  American  consumer 
society  doomed  these  birds?  Coffee  is  only  one  example,  but  a 
good  one.  Corporations  that  produce  our  supermarket  coffee 
brands  cut  down  rain  forest  and  plant  coffee  as  a  crop  in  full 
sun.  Not  only  does  this  require  chemicals  that  run  off  into 
streams  and  wells,  these  sun  coffee  plantations  are  almost 
completely  devoid  of  biological  life.  Coffee  grown  in  the  tradi- 
tional manner  under  the  shade  of  the  rain  forest  canopy  (or 
banana  or  cacao  trees)  does  not  require  pesticides  or  chemical 
fertilizers.  And  shade  coffee  plantations  retain  as  much  bio- 
logical diversity  as  rain  forest. 

There  are  many  ways  we  can  help  conserve  habitat  for 
migratory  birds  (and  help  people,  too,  in  the  process).  One 
is  certainly  through  our  consumer  purchasing  power. 

When  you  consider  your  coffee  purchases  this  spring, 
think  birds!  Migratory  songbirds  prefer  shade  coffee. 
Shouldn't  we? 


1»fe 


llic  Cliiircli  of  the  Brctlircii  is  joiiiiiio 
ail  effort  to  purchase  4,000  acres  in 
the  Eden  Conservancy,  a  portion  of 
u'lticli  is  pictuieit  lieiv.  Oiange  fjivves 
encroiU'li  less  tlian  100  y^rits  from 
ttiis  spot  alon{;  the  river. 


22  Messenger  April  2000 


houldn't  we  each  be  living  like  the  stewards 
God  calls  us  to  be?  BVSer  Samantha 
Morris  of  the  Evergreen  congregation, 
Stanardsville,  Va.,  took  that  call  seri- 
ously, spending  the  past  year  at  the 
Jaguar  Creek  Center  helping  carry  out 
the  creative  and  important  ministries 
of  that  Christian  organization.  And 
BVSer  Robert  Stiles  is  working  even  now 
with  Church  of  the  Brethren-sponsored  envi- 
ronmental development  projects  in  Guatemala.  Both  played 
key  roles  in  making  the  recent  Faith  Expedition  possible. 

But  we  don't  all  have  to  go  to  Belize  or  Guatemala  for  a 
short  trip  or  a  long-term  project.  There  are  plenty  of  things 
we  can  do  right  where  we  live  to  maintain  or  restore  bal- 
ance to  God's  earth. 

•Become  a  Creation  Care  Congregation,  making  stew- 
ardship of  creation  a  priority  in  personal  and  community 
life. 

•Request  care  of  creation  resources,  including  the  envi- 
ronmental newsletter  The  Third  Day. 

•Take  part  in  the  "If  a  tree  falls.  .  ."  project  of  rain  forest 
preservation  being  undertaken  by  the  General  Board.  Every 
$125  preserves  an  acre  of  rain  forest  in  Belize  or  helps 
plant  several  thousand  trees  in  Guatemala. 

•Go  along  on  a  Faith  Expedition  to  Central  America — or 
visit  an  unspoiled  area  near  your  home. 

•loin  BVSers  and  head  to  Central  America  as  part  of  an 
environmental  project  (contact  the  BVS  office  or  Global 
Mission  Partnerships  office  of  the  General  Board). 

•Give  to  the  Global  Food  Crisis  Fund  wood-conserving 
stove  project  in  Guatemala.  Compared  to  open  fires,  each 
stove  reduces  wood  consumption — and  resultant  defor- 
estation— by  75  percent. 

•  Become  passionate  about  some  aspect  of  respecting  and 
renewing  God's  good  earth. 

The  Brethren  Witness  office  can  provide  these  and  other 
resources.  But  that's  just  the  beginning.  The  real  work — 
and  real  joy — begin  when  we  ask  God  to  help  us  find  our 
place  in  this  wonderful  and  well-balanced  world,  a  world 
that  brings  us  blessing  even  as  we  return  the  favor  by 
becoming  the  good  stewards  that  God  intends. 


M. 


David  Radcliff  is  director  of  Brethren  Witness  for  the  General 
Board. 


April  2000  Messenger  23 


If  causes  me  to  tremble 

On  Caster  reHecf ion  on  a  favorite  spiritual 

BY  Kenneth  L.  Gibble 


What  makes  you  tremble?  What  makes 
you  shake  or  shiver,  quake  or  quiver? 
When  you're  sick  with  the  flu,  your  body 
does  those  things,  of  course.  Or  when  you  go 
swimming  and  you  get  out  of  the  water  and 
the  cool  air  hits  you,  maybe  your  teeth  chat- 
ter, your  skin  gets  goose  bumps,  and  you 
stand  there  shivering. 

But  what  else  makes  you  tremble,  makes 
your  body  quiver  with  excitement  or  anticipa- 
tion? A  first  date,  a  job  interview,  a  tense 
moment  in  a  ball  game?  How  about  going  to 
church?  Does  the  possibility  of  what  might 
happen  to  you  in  worship,  on  Easter  Sunday 
or  any  other  Sunday,  make  you  tremble? 
Probably  not,  right? 

Most  North  Americans  expect  worship  on  a 
Sunday  morning  to  be  fairly  quiet  and  digni- 


fied. It's  what  we  are  used  to.  Some  Chris- 
tians, of  course,  are  used  to  worship  that  is 
noisy  and  rambunctious,  with  lots  of  body 
movement,  hand  clapping,  even  shouting.  But 
most  of  us  don't  tremble  outwardly  in  church. 

What  about  inwardly?  Does  what  is  said  or 
sung,  spoken  or  prayed,  ever  make  you  trem- 
ble inside?  Are  you  ever  overwhelmed  by  the 
power  of  the  gospel,  by  the  amazing  grace  of 
God?  Does  it  ever  shake  you  up? 

The  spiritual  asks,  not  once  but  twice: 
"Were  you  there  when  they  crucified  my 
Lord?"  And  then,  without  waiting  for  an 
answer,  the  song  makes  its  own  testimony: 
"Oh,  sometimes  it  causes  me  to  tremble, 
tremble,  tremble."  And  you  can  tell,  by  those 
words,  that  whether  or  not  you  or  I  were 
there  when  they  crucified  our  Lord,  the 


'\l 


24  Messenger  April  2000 


singer  was  there,  and  the  sight  of  lesus  being 
nailed  to  the  tree,  pierced  in  the  side,  laid  in  the 
tomb,  caused  a  terrible,  fearful  trembling. 

But  then  we  come  to  the  last  verse  of  the  spiri- 
tual: "Were  you  there  when  he  rose  up  from  the 
dead?"  And  you'd  think  that  resurrection  would 
elicit  a  different  reaction.  Not  fear,  but  gladness. 
But  notice  what  the  song  says:  "Were  you  there 
when  he  rose  up  from  the  dead?  Oh,  sometimes 
it  causes  me  to  tremble,  tremble." 

And  if  you  are  wondering  why  the  trembling, 
why  not  a  breaking  forth  of  hallelujahs  on  Easter 
in  this  song,  remember  that  in  the  Gospel  accounts 
of  the  first  Easter,  the  reaction  of  those  who  learn 
about  the  resurrection  is  not  happiness,  not  ela- 
tion, but  confusion,  disbelief,  and  fear. 

Wouldn't  your  reaction  and  mine  have  been 
the  same?  1  prefer  life  to  be  predictable,  sensible, 
manageable.  I'm  not  fond  of  surprises.  Even 
pleasant  surprises  make  me  uncomfortable. 
Whenever  one  of  those  eventful  birthdays  came 
along  for  me — like  the  big  Four-0  or  the  big 
Five-0 — I  told  my  wife:  "Promise  me,  no  sur- 
prise birthday  parties." 

I  realize  this  confession  makes  me  sound 
hopelessly  dull  and  boring,  but  there  it  is.  I'm 
the  kind  of  person  who  prefers  that,  as  the  Apos- 
tle Paul  put  it,  "all  things  should  be  done 
decently  and  in  order"  (1  Cor.  14:40). 

Decently  and  in  order.  That's  how  Luke's 
account  of  the  first  Easter  begins.  Joseph, 
described  as  "a  good  and  righteous  man,"  does  a 
good  and  righteous  thing.  He  takes  the  corpse  of 
lesus  and  lays  it  in  a  tomb.  And  the  women  did 
what  was  customary  in  their  time  when  a  loved 
one  died.  They  prepared  spices  and  ointments, 
and  they  made  plans  to  go  to  the  tomb  and 
anoint  the  body  of  the  dead  man. 

Listening  to  this  account,  we  admire  Joseph 
and  the  women  for  their  faithfulness  and  their 
courage.  We  nod  our  heads  in  approval  at  their 
steadfastness,  their  loyalty.  There  is  much  to  be 
said  about  such  people,  the  kind  of  people  you 
can  count  on — people  who  are  dependable,  who 


won't  let  you  down  when  the  going  gets  rough, 
people  who  will  be  there  for  you  at  times  of  dis- 
appointment and  sadness,  people  who  know 
what  needs  to  be  done  and  will  do  it. 

When  these  good,  loyal  women  come  to  the 
tomb  and  find  it  empty,  when  they  see  "two  men 
...  in  dazzling  apparel"  and  hear  them  say  that 
their  Lord  is  risen  from  the  dead,  it's  perfectly 
natural  that  the  women  would  be  terribly  fright- 
ened, would  fall  face  down  on  the  ground.  A 
Lord  risen  from  the  dead  is  not  predictable,  it  is 
not  manageable,  it  is  something  totally  new. 
When  resurrection  happens,  you  tremble. 

So  the  women  get  to  their  feet  and  run  back  to 
tell  the  men  what  they  had  seen  and  heard.  And 
the  reaction  of  the  men?  Luke  says,  "these  words 
seemed  to  them  an  idle  tale,  and  they  did  not 
believe  [the  women] "  (24: 11). 

And  why  should  they  believe  them?  Resurrec- 
tion is  not  believable.  It  doesn't  fit  the  way  we 
live  our  sensible,  predictable,  manageable  lives. 

We  have  domesticated  Easter,  tamed  it, 
stripped  it  of  its  power  to  produce  anything  that 
remotely  resembles  trembling.  Easter  is  some- 
thing we  just  do — once  every  spring. 

But  resurrection?  Resurrection  is  something 
only  God  can  do. 

So  let  me  ask  you  again:  What  makes  you 
tremble?  I  hope  that  Easter  makes  you  tremble 
at  least  a  little  bit.  Not  because  it's  a  one-day- 
and-done-deal  each  spring,  but  because  it  is  the 
announcement  of  God's  victory  over  all  the 
things  that  conspire  against  us — discourage- 
ment, pain,  loneliness,  disease,  loss,  injustice, 
hatred,  and  yes,  even  death.  Even  death.  The 
final  word  belongs  to  God.  It's  a  word  of  tri- 
umph. It's  the  bold  assertion  that  nothing  can 
defeat  the  power  of  God's  love  and  grace. 

That  is  enough  to  make  you  and  me  trem-  r7T~ 
ble  with  amazement  and  with  joy.  l — ! 


Kenneth  L.  Gibble.  pastor  of  the  Chambersburg  {Pa.) 
Church  of  the  Brethren,  is  a  frequent  contributor  to 
Messenger. 


April  2000  Messenger  25 


An  unneeded  house  at  Camp  Mack  was  transformed — by  the 
Holy  Spirit  ami  hard  work — into  a  spiritual  retreat  center 

BY  Sandy  Henderson 

It  was  a  dark  and  stormy  night"  when  I  first  came  to  A 
Quiet  Place  in  April  of  1 996 — one  of  a  group  of  six 
women  gathering  at  this  Brethren  contemplative  prayer 
center  on  the  grounds  of  Camp  Mack  in  Milford,  Ind.  We 
had  been  meeting  in  each  others'  homes  for  more  than  a 
year,  but  most  of  us  had  never  been  on  this  kind  of  a 
retreat  before. 

I  remember  the  light  spilling  from  the  farmhouse  door, 
and  director  Norma  Miller's  warm  smile  and  soft-spoken 
greeting.  I  remember  the  plaque  above  the  kitchen  table: 
"Come  with  me  by  yourselves  to  a  quiet  place  and  get 
some  rest"  (Mark  6:3  1).  The  day's  busyness  and  the 
stress  of  the  hour-long  drive  flowed  away  into  the  peace- 
fulness  of  that  simple  welcome. 

The  phone  rang.  Norma  announced  that  there  was  a 
tornado  warning  and  we  should  take  shelter.  The  seven  of 
us  clambered  down  the  steep  basement  stairs  (it  was  your 
basic  "unfinished"  farmhouse  basement).  We  perched 
where  we  could,  and  to  entertain  ourselves  began  to  sing 
old  songs  some  of  us  remembered  from  Sunday  school 
and  camp:  "Amazing  Grace,"  "This  Little  Light  of  Mine," 
and  rousing  choruses  of  "Rise  and  shine  and  give  God  the 
glory,  glory!" 

My  friend  Patty  Lane  wrote  later,  "The  basement 
uncovered  tones  in  our  voices  that  we  had  not  heard 
before  today.  We  blended  and  there  was  something  hyp- 
notic about  our  voices  ringing  together  in  the  stone  room. 
As  each  song  ended  I  felt  like  I  was  waking  up." 

I  have  been  to  several  retreats  at  the  Quiet  Place  since 
that  first  one,  and  each  one  has  brought  a  special  gift,  of 


'Come  with  me 
to  a  quiet  place' 


Retreat  house  at  Camp  Macl{  ivelcomes 
the  weary  and  feeds  the  spiritually  hungry 


tears  or  song  or  silence  or  discovering  a  wild  place  on  a 
new  path.  What  was  once  an  ordinary  "dark  and  rather 
uninviting  house"  (in  the  words  of  Norma  Miller)  has  been 
transformed  by  love,  faith,  care,  and  prayer  to  something 
we  need  and  long  for,  whether  we  know  it  or  not. 

I  know  that  most  of  us  are  spiritually  starved  —  hungry  at 
least — and  we  are  not  aware  of  it  until  we  get  to  a  place 
that  is  quiet  enough,"  Milller  told  me  as  we  sat  at  the  Quiet 
Place  kitchen  table  on  a  sunny  fall  afternoon.  She  described  i 
feeling  one  point  in  her  life  that  her  soul  was  shriveled, 
"like  those  dehydrated  vegetables.  Qnce  you  add  water, 
though,  they  become  pretty  good  vegetables. 

"I  don't  think  we  know  how  much  trouble  we're  in." 

Qn  her  first  retreat  (some  years  ago  in  Michigan), 
Miller  was  so  exhausted  she  slept  most  of  the  weekend. 
The  director  of  the  retreat  center  gave  her  the  scripture 
Psalm  1  27,  v. 2:  "It  is  in  vain  that  you  rise  up  early  and  go 
late  to  rest,  eating  the 
bread  of  anxious  toil; 
for  he  gives  sleep  to 
his  beloved." 

"it  gave  me  permis- 
sion to  take  care  of 
myself,"  Miller  said. 
"Eventually  I  realized 
that  rather  than  run- 
ning away  from 
situations  [by  going 
on  retreat],  I  was 
running  to  God.  lesus 
took  care  of  himself 
that  way,  getting  into 
a  boat,  just  rowing 
away  from  the  people. 

"I  came  to  a  very 
important  awareness 
of  the  intimate  loving 
relationship  with  God 
— sitting  at  the  feet  of 
[esus,  not  because 
there  isn't  anything 
else  important  to  do, 
but  because  it's  what 
you  want  to  do." 


How  to  visit 
A  Quiet  Place 

A  Quiet  Place  can  accom- 
modate five  or  six  people  for 
an  overnight  stay  —  more 
than  that  for  day-long 
retreats.  Retreats  can  be 
directed,  or  can  be  personal 
prayer  time.  Spiritual  direc- 
tion is  available.  The 
grounds  include  many  trails 
through  open  meadows, 
prairie,  and  wooded  areas: 
and  wildlife  is  abundant. 
For  more  information 
about  A  Quiet  Place,  con- 
tact: A  Quiet  Place,  Camp 
Alexander  Mack,  PO.  Box 
158,  Milford.  IN  46542.  Tel. 
219-658-4851  You  can  also 
find  information  on  the  Web 
at  www.campmack.org 


26  Messenger  April  2001 


A  Quiet  Place  began  as  a  dream  in 
the  heart  of  former  Annual  Confer- 
ence moderator  Phyllis  Carter,  who 
believed  strongly  that  the  Church  of 
the  Brethren  needed  a  place  for  quiet 
retreat  and  prayer.  With  a  committee 
of  people  who  shared  that  dream,  she 
spent  a  year  and  a  half  searching  for  a 
possible  location.  Meanwhile,  Camp 
Mack  had  a  small  house  no  longer 
needed  as  lodging  for  volunteer  work- 
ers. Camp  director  Becky  Ball-Miller 
wondered  what  might  be  done  with 
the  house  —  and  asked  Phyllis  if  she 
knew  anything  about  retreat  centers! 

fhe  Holy  Spirit  may  have  provided 
the  opportunity,  but  it  took  many 
hours  of  hard  work  by  John  Carter 
and  other  volunteers  to  prepare  the 
pkice.  They  painted  and  renovated  the 
lu'use;  provided  furniture,  books,  and 
:iri\\ork  as  well  as  such  mundane  things  as  pots  and  pans 
and  bedding;  and  cleaned  up  the  grounds.  A  Quiet  Place 
olTicially  opened  on  March  3,  1 996,  just  a  few  weeks 
before  my  group  arrived. 

"I  can  choose  things  for  the  house  that  have  been  espe- 
cially meaningful  for  me  but  I  am  always 
surprised  by  what  catches  someone  else 
and  nurtures  them,"  said  Miller  of  her 
work  as  the  center's  part-time  director. 
"I  call  it  'Ambushed  by  the  Spirit.'  It  is 
such  a  blessing  to  realize  that  you  are 
not  in  control  of  that. 

"One  pastor  here  on  retreats  watched  a 
particular  tree.  Qne  day  she  went  back 
and  lightning  had  split  it.  She  had  been 
working  with  her  church  on  what  happens 
when  a  church  splits.  She  used  the  image 
of  that  tree  in  her  journal." 

A  recent  addition  to  A  Quiet  Place  that 
has  caught  people's  attention  is  a 
labyrinth  mowed  into  the  grass  near  the 
house  by  Elsa  Littman  of  La  Porte,  Ind. 
Miller  has  written  a  brochure  of  prayers 
to  be  used  in  walking  the  labyrinth,  an 
ancient  prayer  practice  that  has  recently 
become  widely  popular.  "I  am  always  so 
surprised  by  the  number  of  people  who 
just  stop  by  and  walk  it.  ...  A  person 
recently  spent  an  entire  morning  journal- 
ing  on  her  reflections  of  what  happened 
with  her  and  the  labyrinth.  It  was  a  pow- 
erful time  between  her  and  God." 

Miller  stresses  the  importance  of  times 
of  complete  silence,  and  encourages 
silence  at  retreat  meals,  especially 
breakfast.  "Everything  we  do  should 


Objects  in  the  house  nuiiure  retreatants 
in  different  ways,  depending  on  the 
leading  oftlie  Spirit. 


have  that  constant  awareness  of  the 
presence  of  God  in  it." 

Contemplative  practices  like  retreats 
to  A  Quiet  Place  seem  somehow  for- 
eign to  many  down-to-earth  Brethren, 
and  silence  can  be  downright  scary. 
Many  of  those  who  come  to  A  Quiet 
Place  are  from  other  denominations. 
The  prayer  center  offers  a  free  retreat 
day  as  a  birthday  present  to  all  Church 
of  the  Brethren  pastors  in  the  area,  but 
only  a  few  have  taken  up  the  offer. 

What  would  encourage  more 
Brethren  to  explore  the  possibilities  of 
A  Quiet  Place?  "I  wish  I  knew,"  Miller 
said.  "No  amount  of  writing  is  going 
to  change  people's  minds.  But  gener- 
ally when  people  experience  A  Quiet 
Place  they  want  to  come  back." 

"I  hope  as  we  receive  more  guests  here 
that  it  will  become  more  evident  — that 

this  is  a  place  where  many  prayers  have  been  said."  I 

can  feel  that,  every  time  I  arrive. 


Ai. 


Sandy  Henderson  is  a  member  of  the  La  Porte  (Ind.)  CiTurch  of 
the  Brethren. 


The  journey  from  here 

A  report  on  the  state  of  the  church 

Messenger  Dinner 
5  pm,  Sunday,  July  16 


Judy  MillsTleimer 

Executive  Directar,  General  Board 


Kansas  Qty 


Join  Messenger  for  a  relaxing  dinner,  then  hearthe  executive  director  of  the 
General  Board  deliver  her  "State  of  the  Church"  address,  a  report  on  where 
we  are  and  where  we're  going  as  a  denomination  at  the  beginning  of  the 
new  millennium.  Program  concludes  in  time  for  the  evening  business  session. 


Please  order  tickets  in  advance.  There  may  be  no  on-site  ticket  sales. 
Call  the  Annual  Conference  office  at  800-323-8039  to  order 


April  2000  Messenger  27 


Mers 


Brethren  and  Calvinists  should  not  he  surprised  by  the  growth  in 
churches  where  the  witness  is  expected  to  he  more  vocal. 


I 


Not  just  anything  goes 

I  write  regarding  the  |an.-Feb.  letter 
from  one  who  does  not  want  to 
"emphasize  the  name  of  Jesus"  and 
feels  so  "sad  to  hear  so  much  empha- 
sis on  the  Christian  religion 
compared  to  other  religions." 

It  may  sound  sweet  and  loving  to 
think  any  religion  goes.  The  Bible 
just  does  not  teach  so.  A  better  part 
of  the  Old  Testament  is  God's  warn- 
ing and  response  to  the  Israelites' 
tolerance  and  incorporation  of  other 
religions.  Most  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment uncompromisingly  espouses 
Christ  as  the  only  way,  and  the  Great 
Commission  to  carry  this  message  to 
the  ends  of  the  earth. 

joy  Welch 

Pyrmont  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Lafayette.  Incl. 

My  vision  for  the  church 

The  name  by  which  our  denomina- 
tion chooses  to  be  known  is  much 
less  significant  to  me  than  the  fol- 
lowing: 

•  that  we  strive  to  be  inclusive. 

•  that  we  always  ensure  "our  word 
is  as  good  as  our  bond." 

•  that  seeking  "to  do  the  things 
that  make  for  peace"  (both  locally 
and  globally)  continues  high  on  our 
list  of  priorities. 

•  that  we  be  true  to  our  spiritual 
heritage  as  we  "remain  in  the  world 
but  not  o/it." 

Peggy  Yoder 

Stone  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Huntingdon.  Pa. 


A  pearl  of  wisdom 

As  one  who  is  very  sympathetic  to 
Brethren  ways  and  who  served  as  a 
Brethren  pastor  from  1992  to  1998, 
I  was  interested  in  Fletcher  Farrar's 
reaction  to  the  interpretation  of  the 


parable  of  the  Pearl  of  Great  Price 
which  indicated  that  we  believers  are 
the  pearl  [see  "Bible  study  and  the 
Kingdom  of  God,"  Ian. -Feb.]. 

From  my  Reformed  (Calvinist) 
background  perspective,  this  is  a 
rather  common  interpretation.  And  it 
serves  to  illustrate  some  variables  on 
how  one  reaches  conclusions  regard- 
ing scripture  interpretation.  The 
Calvinist  has  obvious  doctrinal  pre- 
suppositions (emphasizing  God's 
sovereignty,  election  to  salvation, 
predestined  ends  and  means,  etc.) 
which  make  it  natural  to  see  these  in 
the  aforementioned  parable.  If  the 
Brethren  person  reached  that  inter- 
pretation through  Spirit-led  and 
corporate  study,  that  is  worth  cele- 
brating. 


The  sobering  realities  for  both 
groups  involve  the  tendency  on  the 
one  hand  for  Calvinists  to  conclude 
that  one  must  believe  the  correct  doc- 
trines. This  may  or  may  not  lead  to  a 
grace-filled  and  joyous  evangelistic 
witness  resulting  in  numerical  growth 
for  God's  kingdom.  On  the  other 
hand.  Brethren  will  be  too  often  satis- 
fied with  behaving  correctly,  following 
the  example  of  |esus,  and  may  seldom 
give  voice  to  answer  anyone  who  asks 
a  reason  for  the  hope  that  you  have  (1 
Peter  3:15). 

Brethren  and  Calvinists  should  not 
be  surprised  by  the  growth  in 
churches  where  the  witness  is 
expected  to  be  more  vocal. 

Carl  H.  Van  Farowe 
Johnston.  Iowa 


Enrich  decision-making  and  congregational  life  through: 


Storytelling  Biblical  reflection 

Prayful  discernment  Vision 


For  more  information,  call  your  Congregational  Life 
Team  Coordinator,  or  contact  your  District  Executive. 

A  Ministry  of  the  Congregational  Life  Ministries  in 
Partnership  with  Bethany  Seminary  and  the  Districts. 

©  Worshipful-Work 


JL 


Church  of  the  Brethren 
Ceuera]  Bcirci 


28  Messenger  April  2000 


MOM:  A  model  for  ministry 

After  I  5  years  in  pastoral  ministry  in 
small,  rural  congregations,  I  feel  that  I 
ihave  finally  determined  what  it  is  that 
people  want  and  expect  from  a  pastor. 
They  want  to  be  loved,  they  want  to  be 
encouraged,  they  want  to  be  cared  for, 
they  even  want  to  be  pampered.  In 
short,  they  want  to  be  mothered. 

Now  there  is  the  irony.  Who  is 
better  able  to  mother  than  mothers? 
Women?  We  men  are  simply  not  able 
to  provide  what  congregations  want 
as  well  as  women,  and  yet  who  do  we 
still  often  exlude?  Those  who  are 
most  gifted  and  qualified  for  the  job. 
Now  mind  you,  some  men  do  pretty 
well,  and  some  women  really  mess  it 
up,  but  let's  face  it,  those  qualities 
we  usually  expect  from  our  pastors 
are  unequally  present  in  those  we  are 
often  hesitant  to  utilize. 

So  why  are  we  so  hesitant?  Our 
stated  reason  is  that  we  desire  to  be 
faithful  to  scripture.  We  especially 
like  Paul,  because  Paul  has  lent  him- 
self to  easy  interpretations  that  serve 
our  cause,  but  let's  take  a  little  fur- 
ther look.  Probably  the  most  often 
cited  passage  is  1  Corinthians  14:33- 
40.  Interestingly  enough,  however, 
women  speaking  in  church  is  not  the 
issue  here,  but  the  issue  is,  rather, 
orderly  and  reverent  worship.  Now, 
it  would  take  an  entire  theological 
treatise  to  unravel  all  the  complexi- 
ties of  Paul's  theology,  and  frankly, 
I'm  not  convinced  that  anyone  who 
does  not  want  to  be  persuaded  would 
be  impressed,  so  I  won't  take  the 
time.  Let  me  simply  remind  us  that 
this  is  the  same  apostle  who  stated  in 
Galatians  3:28  that  in  Christ  {esus, 
there  is  neither  male  nor  female. 

So  the  real  question  is,  do  we  of 
the  small  congregation  really  want  an 
answer  to  our  dilemma?  Do  we  really 
want  good  pastors?  There  is  a  fur- 
ther irony.  Another  lesson  of  the  past 
15  years  is  that  our  small  congrega- 
tions that  survive  do  so  because  of 
the  dedication  of  women.  In  many 
.cases,  the  men  have  simply  dropped 
the  ball,  while  the  women  have  borne 
the  burden  of  the  tasks  necessary  to 


keep  the  local  church  alive.  I  suspect 
that  this  has  always  been  the  case.  In 
Romans  16,  Paul  urges  support  for 
those  he  names  as  the  leaders  and 
servants  of  the  church,  and  the 
majority  he  names  are  women. 

I  have  a  pretty  strong  streak  of 
nonresistance  in  me.  I  have  no  desire 
to  fight  or  argue  over  the  issue.  I'm 
not  interested  in  forcing  my  opinions 
on  anyone.  What  I  am  interested  in  is 
helping  any  small  congregations  that 
are  frustrated  or  discouraged  by 
inability  to  find  an  adequate  pastor, 
to  broaden  the  horizons  of  their 
search.  I'm  not  suggesting  that  you 
"settle"  for  a  woman.  I'm  suggesting 
that  if  you  can  get  over  the  hurdle  of 
a  lifetime  of  scriptural  misinterpreta- 
tion, you  could  be  rewarded  with  just 
exactly  what  you  have  needed  and 
wanted  in  a  pastor  in  the  first  place. 

When  it  comes  to  unconditional 
love,  you  just  can't  beat  mom.  When 
I  was  growing  up,  1  was  fortunate  to 
have  two  loving  parents.  But  when 
there  was  a  real  need  for  understand- 
ing and  acceptance,  it  was  mom  who 
could  be  counted  on.  Several  years 
ago  my  mother  died.  I  had  never 
considered  the  possibility  of  anyone 
else  filling  that  role,  but  my  dad  has 
remarried,  and  wonder  of  wonders,  1 
have  a  brand  new  mom!  Forty-nine 
years  old,  and  I  can  still  go  and  feast 
at  the  table  of  acceptance  and 
unconditional  love. 

Perhaps  someone  is  offended  by  the 
model  of  the  church  as  a  bunch  of 
pathetic  creatures  who  still  need  their 
mamas.  Well,  every  metaphor  breaks 
down  eventually,  but  I  do  believe  that 
real  men  and  real  women  have  an 
eternal  bond  with  their  mothers,  pre- 
cisely because  of  the  quality  of  the 
relationship.  And  it  is  those  qualities 
from  which  the  church  can  benefit.  I 
am  not  suggesting  that  we  think  of 
female  pastors  as  our  mothers:  I'm 
suggesting  that  the  qualities  which 
made  certain  people  good  mothers  can 
make  them  good  pastors. 

Steven  W.  Mason,  pastor 

Pleasant  Hill  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Grottoes.  Va. 


Coordinator, 
Brethren  Academy 

Bethany  Theological  Seminary  and  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  General  Board 
announce  an  opening  for  the  position  of 
Coordinator,  Brethren  Academy  for 
Ministerial  Leadership,  beginning  Sep- 
tember 1,  2000.  Areas  of  responsibility 
include  certificate  programs  of  ministry 
training,  continuing  education  and  new 
initiatives  for  leadership  development. 

For  a  fuller  description  of  responsibil- 
ities and  qualifications,  see  "News"  at 
www.brethren.org/Bethany,  or  call  to 
request  a  copy  at  1-800-287-8822,  Ext. 
1821,  Qualified  candidates  are  invited  to 
send  a  resume  and  letter  of  application, 
and  to  request  three  references  to  send 
letters  of  recommendation  to: 

Academic  Dean 

Bethany  Theological  Seminary 

615  National  Road  West 

Richmond,  IN  47374-4019 

Application  deadline:  May  I.  2000 


"if  we  suddenly  find 
ourselves  face  to  face  with 
dying,  we  come  up  against 

ultimate  questions After  I 

received  the  diagnosis  of 
advanced  lung  cancer,  I 
needed  to  deal  with  those 
questions  more  intensely 
than  I  ever  had  before." 

Hope  — 
Beyond 
Healing 


Hope  Beyond  Healing:  A  Cancer  Journal 
by  Dale  Aukerman  available  now  from 
Brethren  Press  for  $14.95  p'us  shipping 
and  handling  charges. 


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April  2000  Messenger  29 


Messenger 
on  Tape 

Messenger  is  available  on 
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visual  impairments.  Each 
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An  Uncommon  Woman: 

The  Life  and  Times  of  Sarah  Righter  Major 

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mid  1800s  as  a  woman  preacher  in  a  man's  world. 
Sister  Sarah  bravely  preached  the  gospel  wherever 
people  invited  her  to  speak.  Nancy  Kettering  Frye 
provides  details,  facts,  and  stories  about  the  life  of 
the  first  female  Brethren  preacher.  Step  into  the  iglh 
century  and  meet  the  men  and  women  who  influenced 
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INVITATION 

First  Church,  Chicago.  75  Years  -  April  29  &  30, 
2000.  Hundreds  of  Brethren  have  been  part  of  our  past. 
We  invite  you  to  join  our  future:  1)  Come  to  Chicago 
April  29  &  30  for  a  two-day  celebration/tea  and  home- 
coming. 2)  Help  us  replace  our  front  windows.  Our 
campaign  goal  of  $40,000  maintains  our  commitment 
to  East  Garfield  Park  and  metro  Chicago.  More  info; 
call  Mary  Scott  Borea  (g'  773/235-7038.  Pastor  Orlando 
Redekopp.  425  Central  Park  Ave.  Chicago,  IL  60624 

TRAVEL 

Travel  with  us  by  coach  to  Annual  Conference 

ill  Kansas  City,  leaving  Elizabethtown,  July  13,  return- 
ingjuly  21.  Visit  Bethany  Seminan'  in  Richmond,  Indiana 
enroute.  For  information,  please  write  to  J.  Kenneth 
Kreider,  1300  Sheaffer  Rd,  Elizabethtown  PA  17022. 

Travel  to  the  White  Continent— Antarctica— includ- 
ing Argentina  and  Uruguay  January  2001.  Optional  visits 
to  Iguassau  Falls  and  Chile  available.  Write  to  J.  Kenneth 
Kreider,  1300  Sheaffer  Road,  Elizabethtown  PA  17022. 

Travel  with  a  purpose  to:  Eastern  Europe  and 
the  "Passion  Play,"  July  31  to  August  14,2000,  with 
Wendell  and  Joan  Bohrer.  Visit  Prague,  Vienna, 
Budapest,  Bratislava,  Krakow,  Warsaw  and  much  more. 
First  Class  tickets  to  the  Passion  Play  Folklore  Show 
in  Warsaw,  Prague  and  Budapest.  A  Danube  River  Cruise 
in  Budapest,  Buffet  breakfast  and  dinner  throughout. 
Contact  the  Bohrers  by  mail-3651  US  Hwy  27  S.  #40, 
Sebring,  FL  33870.0  Tel/Fa.x  941-382-9371.  E-mail 
rdwboh@strato.net 

POSITION  AVAILABLE 

Brethren  Housing  Association,  a  non-profit  orga- 
nization celebrating  its  tenth  year  sening  the  homeless 
families  in  the  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  area  has  a  position  a\'ail- 
able  for  an  Executive  Director.  Duties  involve  broad 
utiministrative  responsibilities  including  directing  BLL\s 
program,  public  relations,  fund  raising  and  property 
( i\'ersight.  Experience  pi-eferred  in  administration  and/or 
pastoral  work  with  strong  interpersonal  skills.  Hours 
and  benefits  negotiable.  Please  send  resume  to:  Paul 
Wessell,  Rlioads  &  Sinon  LLP  PO  Box  II46,  Harrisbui-g, 
PA  ri08. 

La  Casa  de  Maria  y  Marta  seeks  applicants  for  ilirec- 
tor  This  San  Antonio  Mennonite  Church  mini.strv 
provides  opportunities  for  groups  to  serve  in  the  cit\' 
while  learning  about  realities  in  San  Antonio  and  Smiih 
Texas.  Responsibilities  include  developing  and  direct- 
ing service  and  learning  programs  for  youth  and  ailulis 
and  coordinating  cross-cultural  seminars  for  college 
students.  Full-time,  salaried  position,  housing  proMilcd, 
Spanish  helpful  but  not  required.  For  further  inhu- 
mation and  an  application,  contact  John  Lichty  (2  liM 
533-7181, 


30  Messenger  Apnl  2000 


Iiiriiiiif  Foiiits 


New  members 

Bclhlchcm,  Booncs  Mill.  Va.:  Sharon 
GrindMalT 

Big  Creek,  Gushing,  Okla.:  Celena 
Cox,  Bill  McCaslin.  Virginia 
McCaslin.  Bobby  Lease,  Dennis 
Francis,  Pamela  Francis 

Chambersburg,  Pa.:  Bobby  and  ,'\nn 
Angle.  Maria  Banks.  Richard  Brown. 
Brenda  DeLong.  Tom  Hovetler. 
Heidi  Lightl'oot,  jim  and  Dody 
Myers,  Gary  and  Pam  Seibert,  Bev- 
erly Warren 

Coventry,  Pottstown,  Pa.:  Megan  Mon- 
ahan,  Sarah  Naylor,  Nathan 
Brownback 

Dayton,  Va.:  Galen  Knighten,  |r., 
Adam  Myers.  Bob  and  Pat  Taylor, 
Claudette  Trout,  ludi  Miller 

Geiger.  Friedens.  Pa.:  Barry  KJink, 
Molly  Klink.  Danny  Vettori.  Michael 
Miller.  Diane  Miller 

Good  Shepherd,  Tipp  City.  Ohio:  ielT 
Hendricks.  Lisa  Hendricks.  Amanda 
Morris.  Richard  Kee.  Elizabeth  Kee 

Hollidaysburg,  Pa.:  Brian  McGuire. 
Larry  Shelow 

Hollins  Road,  Roanoke,  Va.:  lonathan 
Avers.  Amber  Booth.  Jennifer  Gar- 
rett, lessie  Lamb 

Huntsdale,  Carlisle,  Pa.:  Charles 

Fahnestock.,  Rose  Fahnestock,  Crys- 
tal Sinith,  Barbara  Keefer,  lulie 
'Meager 

Ivester,  Grundy  Center.  Iowa:  Megan 
Button.  Connie  Duncan,  Mark 
Haren.  Susan  Haren.  Sandy  Hogle, 
Ashley  lensen,  Kollin  Leiand,  Kylee 
Leland,  Leanne  Kruse.  Christy 
Reents.  Elaine  Reents.  Sandy 
Schafer.  Mark  Tobias.  Robby  Tobias 

Kokomo,  Ind.:  Shannon  Taflinger. 
lohn  and  loyce  Fruth.  Tiffany  Seekri 

Leake's  Chapel,  Stanley.  Va.:  Meagan 
Turner.  Whitney  Knighton.  Ashley 
Newitt.  Clay  Newitt.  Kaithyn 
Southers 

JLebanon,  Pa.:  Ronald  E.  Ludwick. 
Peggy  Ludwick 

Liberty  Mills,  Ind.:  Terry  and  Deborah 
Barrett,  Alicia  Barrett,  Andrea  Bar- 
rett. Emma  Barrett.  Kris  and  Beverly 
Dierks.  Chad  and  Cindy  Michael, 
Harold  Poe.  Carrie  Poe^  Holly  Wal- 
ters. Drew  Walters.  Weslev  Williams. 
E\an  Williams 

Mechanic  Grove,  Quarryville.  Pa.: 
Richard  Drennen  III.  Sylvia  Dren- 
nen.  Walter  Buckley,  .^ngel  Weigand. 
Matthew  Kreider 

Mohican,  West  Salem.  Ohio:  Willow 
Spencer,  Scott  lohnson,  Todd  lohn- 
son,  Edmond  and  Phyllis  Becker 

Osceola,  Mo.:  Regina  Miller 

Paradise.  Smithville.  Ohio:  Cleona 
Winkler  Scott 

Petersburg  Memorial,  Petersburg,  W. 
Va.:  lonathan  Taylor,  Kelli  Mullena.x. 
Katie  Lambert,  Sarah  Beth  Taylor. 
Kimberly  Bible.  Kim  Mullena.x. 
Corey  Lambert.  Ryan  Lambert, 
Derek  Nesselrodt.  Pammy  Alt 

South  Bay  Community,  Redondo 
Beach.  Calif.:  Esther  Alexander 

Sugar  Creek  West,  Lima.  Ohio:  .Audrey 
Holt.  Thomas  White.  Phyllis  Borger. 
Kristin  Hackworth,  Jennifer  lones. 
Matthew  Jones,  Stephanie  White 

fopeka,  Kan.:  Bradley  Puderbaugh. 


Paul  Ingle,  Regina  Ingle,  Doris 
Broadfoot,  Casey  Roberts,  Andrew 
Fry.  Andy  Taylor.  Ashley  Puder- 
baugh 

Troy,  Ohio:  Emma  Batdorf,  Sarah 
Langdon,  Caitlin  Neiswander. 
Matthew  Riege,  leannine  Reed 

Walnut  Grove,  Johnstown.  Pa.:  E.  V. 
Shearer,  Virginia  Mountain,  William 
Roudabush.  Nancy  Locher.  Eric 
Locher.  Arnold  Locher 

York,  Pa.:  Jodi  Yingling,  Leo  and  Linda 
Min,  Ted  and  Alma  Sievers.  Carol 
Diehl 

Wedding 
anniversaries 

Barr,  Ernest  and  Leita,  Virden,  111.,  60 

Bechlelheimer,  John  and  Retha,  Glen- 
dale.  Ariz..  50 

Bucher,  Mark  and  Alice,  Carlisle,  Pa..  60 

Flora,  Ernest  and  Maybelle,  Boones 
Mill.  Va.,  50 

Huber,  Earl  and  Charlotte,  Conestoga. 
Pa..  50 

Jordan,  Fred  A.  and  Clara,  Salem,  Va..  71 

Kimmel,  William  and  Mildred,  Oza- 
wkie,  Kan..  50 

Oshel,  Clifford  and  Phyllis,  Topeka, 
Kan..  50 

Scofield,  Donald  and  Dorothy,  Kansas 
City.  Mo.,  55 

Sharpes,  Don  and  Bonnie.  Dayton.  Va.. 
50 

Thomas,  Bernard  and  Eleanor, 
Sebring.  Fla.,  50 

Trenary,  Morris  and  Alda.  Bridgewater, 
Va.,  50 

Wentz,  Edwin  and  Emma,  Strasburg. 
Pa..  50 

Whitcraft,  John  and  Mary,  North  Man- 
chester. Ind.,  60 

Deaths 

Ballard,  Orville,  89,  Mt.  Morris,  111., 

Ian.  16 
Beall,  Donald  M.,  Sr..  70,  Beaverton, 

Mich.,  Dec.  2 
Bennett,  Viola,  89,  Hagerstown,  Md.. 

April  13,  1999 
Bishop,  Dale.  75.  Greenville,  Ohio. 

Dec.  6 
Bishop,  lanice.  64,  Greenville,  Ohio. 

Sept.  26 
Biough,  Alma,  88,  Somerset,  Pa.,  Dec.  1 1 
Bowers,  Dale,  73,  Dixon,  III.,  Dec.  29 
Bowman,  Anna,  86,  Greenville.  Ohio. 

Dec.  8 
Bowman,  Earnest  E.,  Fostoria,  Ohio. 

Jan.  12 
Boyd,  Grace,  85,  Troy,  Ohio,  Jan.  3 
Bullard,  Wayne,  80,  Topeka,  Kan.. 

May  9.  1998 
Butler,  Lillian.  84,  Kokomo,  Ind..  Dec.  10 
Butts,  Betty.  67.  Chambersburg,  Pa.. 

March  18,  1999 
Campbell,  Henry,  76.  Kokomo.  Ind.. 

Oct.  15 
Chance,  Sara  "Sally,"  80.  west  Grove. 

Pa..  Dec.  28 
Clark,  Shelva.  61,  July  21 
Clingan,  Mildred,  80,  Hagerstown, 

Md..  Dec.  18 
Craighead,  Virginia  Mullins.  82, 

Roanoke.  Va..  Feb.  7.  1999 
Cruz,  Roger,  Chicago.  111..  Dec.  18 
Davis,  Ada,  91.  Mt.  Morris.  ML.  Oct.  8 
Divers,  Robert.  81.  Rocky  Mount.  Va.. 

Nov.  16 


Estep,  Paul.  Dayton,  Va.,  Dec. 
Fairbanks,  Helen.  82,  Greenville. 

Ohio.  Nov.  17 
Pike,  Rebecca  Barr,  Goshen  Ind..  Oct.  10 
Fillmore,  Gene.  75.  Gushing.  Okla.. 

Jan.  4 
Firebaugh,  Florence,  Mt.  Morris.  111.. 

Oct.  21 
Gilbert,  Altha  Swoyer,  89,  Manhattan. 

Kan..  Oct.  6,  1998 
Gorman,  Dorothy  C,  Pasadena,  Md., 

Dec.  31 
Grabill,  Daniel.  94.  Chambersburg. 

Pa..  Dec.  19 
Groff,  Everett,  Sebring,  Fla..  Oct.  9 
Hann,  Pansye,  85,  Waynesboro.  Pa.. 

Dec.  19 
Hardy,  Walter.  88,  Defiance,  Ohio, 

Dec.  29 
Harris,  Hessie  Perdue.  82.  Roanoke. 

Va.,  Nov.  29 
Hite,  Carl  T,  86.  La  Place.  111..  Dec.  1  7 
Hoke,  Robert,  Dover.  Pa..  Aug.  15 
Holderread,  Edith.  75.  Gushing,  Okla.. 

Oct.  28 
Hopkins,  William,  81,  Hagerstown. 

Md..  April  20.  1999 
Howes,  R.  Eugene.  85.  Kaleva.  Mich.. 

Nov.  10 
Hykes,  Charles,  89,  Feb.  22,  1999 
(ones,  Mabel  F,  91,  Chatham,  111..  Dec.  14 
Karns,  Willis,  89,  Tipp  City,  Ohio. 

March  18,  1999 
Keim,  Maurice,  Sebring,  Fla.,  Dec.  1 1 
Kline,  Catherine,  85,  Williamsport, 

Md..  March  3,  1999 
Kreider,  |.  Benjamin,  74,  Willow 

Street.  Pa..  Dec.  2 
Leaman,  Ruth  Irvin.  93,  Wooster, 

Ohio.  Dec.  19 
Lowe,  leonard,  Sebring,  Fla..  July  10 
McAdams,  Ernest,  85,  Tipp  City,  Ohio. 

Oct.  4 
Middlekauff,  John.  Sebring,  Fla.,  Oct.  18 
Miller,  Fern,  92,  Englewood.  Fla..  Nov.  2 1 
Miller,  Mary,  85,  Williainsport,  Md., 

Jan.  7,  1999 
Mills,  Grace,  Monroeville,  Pa..  Dec.  23 
Mills,  William.  Monroeville,  Pa..  Dec.  16 
Moats,  Glen.  89,  Grundy  Center,  Iowa. 

April  29.  1999 
Mohler,  Harold  I..  82.  Warrensburg. 

Mo..  Dec.  7 
Murrey,  Chester.  84.  McPherson.  Kan.. 

Dec.  29 
Neff,  Eva  V.  R..  93,  Harrisonburg,  Va.. 

Jan.  1 
Niesley,  Robert.  Monroeville,  Pa.,  Nov.  10 
Palmer,  Geraldine,  85,  Hagerstown. 

Md..  lune  25 
Park,  Hazel,  91,  Lima,  Ohio,  Jan.  5 
Patterson,  Elizabeth,  Mt.  Morris.  111.. 

April  27 
Peiper,  Martin.  83,  Carlisle,  Pa.,  Aug.  28 
Peters,  Kathryn,  Sebring,  Fla.,  Oct.  24 
Peterson,  Gertrude,  Greenville.  Ohio. 

Oct.  22 
Peyton,  Katherine.  89.  Phillips,  Eva, 

73,  Topeka,  Kan.,  May  19 
Powers,  Willard,  90,  Mt.  Morris.  111.. 

Dec.  9 
Raish,  Richard,  Dayton,  Va..  Dec. 
Rebcrl,  Helen.  96,  Carlisle.  Pa..  April 

3.  1999 
Ridenour,  Hattie.  84.  Hagerstown. 

Md..  .April  1.  1999 
Rowzer,  Hazel.  92.  Topeka.  Kan..  May 

10.  1998 
Rodgers,  Todd  D..  79.  Windber.  Pa.. 

Nov.  8 


Rose,  Edith,  85,  Tipp  City,  Ohio,  Oct.  1 9 
Rummel,  Carmen,  97,  Windber,  Pa., 

Dec.  29 
Schaff,  Martha.  87,  Hagerstown,  Md., 

Nov.  17 
Sell,  Ethel,  82,  Claysburg,  Pa.,  |an.  7 
Sheller,  Charles,  Marshalltown,  Iowa, 

Dec.  1  15 
Sibley,  Prudence,  88,  Topeka.  Kan.. 

Ian.  17,  1998 
Slifer,  Clarence.  Grundy  Center.  Iowa, 

Nov.  12 
Sollenberger,  Marian.  94,  Carlisle,  Pa., 

Sept.  21 
Stoner,  Mary  lane,  75,  Hagerstown, 

Md..  Ian.  10,  1999 
Stong,  Mary  Ruth,  67,  Huntington, 

Ind..  Nov.  8 
Stump,  Maurice  C.  84.  Christiana, 

Pa..  Dec.  21 
Thomas,  Ellen,  89,  Holsopple.  Pa..  Jan.  3 
Tolman,  Irene.  88.  Topeka,  Kan.,  May  2 
Travis,  Ron,  50.  Eldora,  Iowa,  June  14 
Trimmer,  Alice.  88,  Carlisle,  Pa.,  Dec.  27 
Troupe,  Esta.  92,  Hagerstown,  Md., 

Feb.  5.  1999 
Tudor,  Lawrence  E.,  79,  Springfield, 

111..  Ian.  11 
Van  Nordan,  Thomas.  75,  Hager- 
stown. md..  Nov.  12 
Vaughn,  Leonard  E.,  83.  Alexandria. 

Va..  Nov.  29 
Vivian,  Howard  L.,  74.  Springfield. 

111..  Dec.  5 
Walters,  Emma.  104,  Boswell,  Pa., 

Dec.  27 
Warner,  Kathryn.  84,  Dayton,  Ohio, 

Dec.  6 
Will,  Mildred,  94,  Hagerstown.  md.. 

March  24.  1999 
Wright,  Ralph,  Rocky  Mount,  Va.,  Nov.  22 
Yeager,  Savilla  E.,  88,  Chambersburg, 

Pa..  Aug.  21 

Licensings 

Mickle,  Chad  Wayne.  Dec.  5.  New 
Enterprise,  Pa. 

Reffner,  Earla.  Nov.  28.  New  Enter- 
prise. Pa. 

Snair,  Freeman  Allen  |r.,  Dec.  26, 
Rockhill.  Rockhill  Furnace,  Pa. 

Ordinations 

Crumrine,  Duane  E..  Dec.  3.  Clover 

Creek,  Martinsburg,  Pa. 
Hooks,  Eric,  Sept.  26,  Shelocta,  Pa. 
Mosorjak,  Gary,  |an.  23,  Locust 

Grove,  Mount  Airy,  Md. 
Yi,  Tae  Ho.  Dec.  12.  Grace  Christian. 

Upper  Darby.  Pa. 

Pastoral  placement 

Hunter,  Steve,  from  interim  to  perma- 
nent. Mount  Etna.  Iowa 

Leaman,  Frank,  to  West  Shore,  Enola,  Pa. 

Miller,  David  Lloyd,  from  chaplaincy  to 
Lick  Creek,  Bryan,  Ohio  (Note: 
March  Turning  Points  listed  incor- 
rectly David  L.  Miller  leaving  Carson 
Valley.  Duncansville,  Pa.  David  L. 
Miller  remains  at  Carson  Valley.) 

Schreyer,  Manfred,  to  West  Alexandria, 
Ohio 

Snell,  Donald,  to  West  Goshen, 
Goshen.  Ind. 

Watern,  Steve,  from  youth  pastor  at 
Cedar  Grove,  New  Paris,  Ohio,  to 
Beech  Grove,  Hollansburg,  Ohio 


April  2000  Messenger  3 1 


Living  like  we're  dying 


In  October  1998,  I  had  the  privilege  of  having  breakfast 
in  the  home  of  Dale  and  Ruth  Aukerman.  I  had  heard 
of  Dale  for  years  and  seen  his  byline  in  Sojourners  and 
elsewhere,  and  so  had  been  pleased  when  he  sent  me  the 
manuscript  that  became  his  article  "Living  with  dying" 
(April  1998  Messenger). 

Even  though  I  was  meeting  him  at  the  end  of  his  life  1 
will  always  be  grateful  for  that  moment.  It  was  an  almost 
enchanting  time  when  he  picked  me  up  in  the  near  dark 
of  a  chill  autumn  dawn,  and  we  drove  in  his  basic  car  the 
few  miles  to  where  we  turned  into  his  country  lane.  I  was 
surprised  by  the  prim  neatness  of  the  yard  and  shrubs. 
And  then  after  a  warm  welcome  by  Dale's  wife,  Ruth,  I 
was  surprised  again  when  she  set  before  us  a  breakfast 
of,  not  tofu  and  sprouts,  but  fried  eggs. 

The  handcrafted  house,  decorated  with  relics,  family 
photos,  and  Ruth's  art,  was  elegant  in  its  simplicity,  as 
was  our  conversation.  It  was,  that  is,  until  1  asked  Dale 
what  writing  projects  he  was  working  on.  He  said  he  was 
writing  a  journal  about  his  struggle  with  terminal  cancer, 
which  he  hoped  to  get  Brethren  Press  to  publish.  But  he 
said  he  didn't  know  how  long  he  would  have  to  work  on 
this.  "You  mean  you  don't  know  your  decidVme?"  I 
blurted. 

He  laughed,  thank  goodness.  Later  I  received  a  letter 
from  Dale:  "In  German  there  is  a  word,  Sternstunde,  an 
occasion  that  stands  out  as  very  notable  and  blessed. 
During  this  time  I've  been  given  Sternstunden  again  and 
again,  and  the  breafast  with  you  here  was  one  of  them." 

Now  that  I  have  read  Dale's  new  book,  Hope  Beyond 
Healing:  A  Cancer  Journal,  just  out  from  Brethren  Press,  I 
realize  that  it  was  precisely  because  he  did  know  his  dead- 
line, at  least  more  nearly  than  most  of  us  know  ours,  that 
he  lived  so  intendy  and  so  well  during  his  last  almost  three 
years.  The  book  begins  with  his  diagnosis  of  cancer  in 
November  1996,  and  everything  afterward  is  measured  by 
the  time  "since  the  diagnosis."  The  journal  doesn't  tell  us 
how  his  days  were  spent  before  the  diagnosis,  though  I 
gather  his  life  was  always  pretty  intense.  But  after  he  has 
cancer  he  visits  with  friends  he  hasn't  seen  in  years,  fre- 
quently talks  with  his  wife  about  their  love  for  each  other, 
has  his  grown  children  home  often,  writes  important  arti- 
cles, ponders  scripture  deeply,  shares  his  faith  openly,  and 
plants  trees. 

Granted,  we  all  work  better  with  a  deadline,  but  1  came 
away  thinking,  this  is  how  I  want  to  live  now.  This  book 
may  be  a  good  one  to  pull  out  and  read  again  just  before 
dying.  But  I  think  it  is  a  good  one  to  read  just  before 
living.  Besides,  we  all  have  a  deadline  approaching.  How 
close  does  it  have  to  be  before  we  start  living  life  fully? 

32  Messenger  April  2000 


Dale  worried  about  all  the  media  attention  he  was  get- 
ting for  his  public  dying,  even  though  he  hadn't  sought 
it.  Others  were  dying  with  more  faith  and  courage,  he 
wrote.  He  came  to  peace  on  this  issue  by  assuring  him- 
self that  his  intent  was  to  point  toward  Jesus,  not  himself. 
I  think  God  chose  him  for  this  job  because,  while  he  may 
have  been  a  spiritual  giant,  he  was  a  down-to-earth  one, 
with  a  simple  faith  we  all  can  identify  with,  a  sense  of 
humor,  and  a  gift  of  words.  His  theology  is  more  child- 
like than  high.  When  his  friend  Don  Murray,  the  actor, 
tells  him  we  shouldn't  speculate  on  the  afterlife,  he 
protests  that  scripture  gives  us  an  inkling,  so  there's  no 
need  to  be  too  agnostic  about  it.  Then  he  goes  on  to 
speculate  that  there  will  be  a  transition  time  after  death 
before  judgment,  that  we  will  be  reunited  with  our 
spouses,  and  that  heaven  will  be  like  a  city  where  in  the 
evening  everyone  comes  into  the  street  for  shared  life. 

He  twinkles  when  he  tells  of  his  big-city  friend  Jim 
Wallis,  editor  of  Sojourners,  coming  to  the  country  to 
help  the  Aukermans  plant  trees.  Wallis  admits  he's  never 
planted  a  tree  before,  but  nobody  pays  attention  until  he 
plants  one  with  the  roots  pointing  skyward. 

Dale  notes  several  times  the  irony  of  his  accepting  free 
oncology  treatment  from  the  US  Navy  as  part  of  a  clini- 
cal trial,  after  having  spent  a  lifetime  as  a  pacifist  and 
protester  against  the  military.  When  he  exults  to  a  doctor 
about  the  treatment  being  free,  the  doctor  responds, 
"You  pay  taxes  like  everybody  else."  Dale's  son  Daniel, 
knowing  of  his  father's  war  tax  resistance  and  his  pen- 
chant for  earning  a  less-than-taxable  income,  says  later, 
"If  he  only  knew." 

I  love  the  way  Dale  ponders  scripture.  "I  need  to  give 
more  attention  to  the  passage  in  Romans  14:7-9,"  he 
writes  on  New  Year's  Day,  1997.  On  the  wedding  feast 
passage  of  Mark  2:18-19  he  writes,  "I'm  to  be  glad  with 
Jesus  the  Bridegroom  at  the  big  party  of  life  until  I'm  the 
one  taken  away."  He  loves  Bach,  and  quotes  Milton, 
Donne,  and  Shakespeare,  too.  But  he  keeps  returning  to 
scripture — Zephaniah,  Isaiah,  Job,  Psalms,  the  Gospels, 
Revelation,  Acts.  This  man  had  the  Bible  in  his  bones. 

At  the  memorial  service,  Paul  Grout  noted  that  young 
people  are  rejecting  the  church,  and  we  have  presumed 
they  are  rejecting  Christ.  But  he  asks,  "Is  it  possible  they 
are  rejecting  our  religion  because  they  have  not  seen 
Christ  in  it?"  In  Dale  Aukerman  there  was  Christ 
through  and  through.  And  he  has  made  me  want  to  get 
started  living  like  I'm  dying.  — Fletcher  Farrar 

Readers  may  order  Hope  Beyond  Healing /ro»;  Brethren 
Press  at  800-441-3712.  Price:  $14.95.  Ask  for  Item  #8233. 


i\  Bretfiren  Education 


.oininy  Academic  Excellence 
with  Brethren  Values 


Brethren  Colleges  Abroad 
North  Manchester,  Indiana 

ethany  Theological  Seminary 
Richmond.  Indiana 


Bridgewater  College 
Bridgewater,  Virginia 

Elizabethtown  College 
Elizabethtown,  Pennsylvania 


Juniata  College 
Huntingdon,  Pennsylvania 

University  of  La  Verne 
La  Verne,  California 


Manchester  College 
North  Manchester,  Indiana 

McPherson  College 
McPherson.  Kansas 


The  cornerstones  of 

a  Brethren  education 

are  found  in  the  values 

of  the  church  itself: 

faith,  peace,  justice 

and  service.  Upon  this 

foundation,  students 

develop  the  qualities 

essential  for 

intellectual  grov/th, 

personal  integrity, 

a  strong  faith,  and 

service  to  their  church 

and  communities. 

A  Brethren  education 

reinforces  in  students 

a  system  of  values 

which  they  v/ill  carry 

throughout  their  lives. 


fJLi 


% 


COBCOA 


e  Brethren  Recruiting  Project  •   Church  of  the  Brethren  General  Board   •    1451  Dundee  Ave.   •   Elgin,  IL  601  20 


^^WlTHOUT  THE 


ELP  OF  YO 
CHURCH,  GM 
DREi^S  COULD 


NOT  HAVE  COME 


TRUE 


)) 


-the  women  of  El  Estribo,  Honduras 


A  women's  group  yearnin|nfe>f  a'  bet^  life.WpaftFJer  agency  equipping 
and  encouraging  them.  A  Global  Food  Crisis  grant  providing  chickens  and 
pigs.The  good  Lord  creating  the  water  and  soil  and  life  itself  It's  the  stuff 
dreams  are  made  of 


And    now  we've   been   asked    by   our   partner, 
the  Christian  Commission  for  Development,  to 
assist  in  providing  animals  for  over  800  women  In. ,,;> 
dozens  of  other  communities. 


Other  agencies  had  turned  them  down. The  Global 
Food  Crisis  Fund  said  yes.  $42,676  worth  of  yes. 
The  funds  are  to  be  sent  over  the  coming  months. 


Now  you — yourself  your  class,  your  Vacation 
Bible  School,  your  congregation — can  say  yes, 
too.  Support  this  and  other  life-giving,  dream- 
fulfilling  ministries  of  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren  through  the  Global  Food  Crisis  Fund. 


Give  'til  it  helps. 

Global  Food  Crisis  Fund 

Church  of  the  Brethren  General  Board 
1 45 1  Dundee  Avenue 
Elgin,  Illinois  60120 
1-800-323-8039,  ext.  228 


\!i 

Church  of  the  Brethren                 www.brethren.org             May  2000 

M 

( 

ma 

m 

..ove  one  another  as  I  have  loved  you. 


m 


Moderator    Emily   Mumma 

Showing  Us  How  to  Love 


Envision  a  world  where 
the  environment  is  protected, 
human  dignity  is  upheld, 
and  there  is  no  violence. 


Come  envision  that  world 
WITH  us  AT  Annual  Conference 


»*««4.r 


The  Staff  and  Board  of  Church  of  the  Brethren  Benefit  Trust  Cordially  Invite  You  to  the 

Socially  Responsive  Investing  Reception 

Monday,  July  17,2000,4:30  P.M.  to  6:30  P.M. 
Marriott  Hotel  Downtown,  Basie  Ballroom  Bl 


Sample  hot  appetizers,  socialize,  and  learn  more  about  socially  responsive  investing. 

There  will  be  opportunities  to  ask  questions  and  to  listen  to  short,  informal  presentations 
on  socially  responsive  investing  by  Geeta  Aiyer  of  Walden  Asset  Management  and 
Wil  Nolen  of  Brethren  Benefit  Trust. 

Reservations  required.  To  R.S.V.R,  call  800-746-l505,ext.  388,  or  e-mail  ACReception@Brethren.org. 


CHURCH   OF  THE   BRETHREN 

BENEFIT  TRUST 


For  more  information  on  tine  Walden/BBT  Social  Index  Funds,  including  charges,  expenses,  and  ongoing  fees,  please  call  800-746-1505  ext.  388  to  receive  a  prospectus.  Read  the  prospectus  carefully  before 
investing  or  sending  money.  United  States  Trust  Company  of  Boston  is  the  Investment  Adviser  for  the  Funds  and  has  designated  its  Walden  division  to  fulfill  its  obligations  with  respect  to  the  Funds.  Brethren 
Beneft  Trust  serves  as  a  consultant  on  issues  concerning  peace  and  justice  and  is  compensated  by  the  adviser  BISYS  Fund  Services  is  the  Funds'  Distributor 


www.brethren.org 


Editor:  Fletcher  Farrar 
News:  Walt  Wiltschek 
Subscriptions:  Peggy  Reinacher 
Publisher:  Wendy  McFadden 
Designer:  Paul  Stocksdale 
Advertising:  Russ  Matteson 


On  the  cover:  When  Emily  Mumma  was  visiting  the  South/ 
Central  Indiana  District  in  her  travels  as  moderator,  she  dropped 
by  the  campus  of  Manchester  College,  for  a  brief  visit  with  her 
oldest  granddaughter,  Jessica  Mclnnis,  a  freshman.  The  cover  photo  shows 
Emily  with  Jessica  and  her  roommate,  Erica  Switzer,  in  their  room  at 
Manchester.  Emily  comments  on  the  photo:  "Being  there  with  lessica 
brought  to  mind  precious  memories  of  when  her  mother  (our  daughter, 
Sara)  was  at  Manchester  and 
I'd  make  the  drives  up  from 
our  home  in  Florida  to  help  her 
settle  in  and  then  pick  her  up  at 
the  end  of  each  year."  We 
thought  the  photo  made  a  good 
illustration  for  the  theme  Emily 
chose  for  this  year's  Annual 
Conference:  "Love,  as  I  have 
lo\ed  vou." 


10     Moderator  Mumma's  message 

Before  Annual  Conference,  get  to  know  this  year's 
moderator  with  this  profile  of  Emily  Mumma. 
Though  she  is  a  sometimes  reluctant  leader,  when 
God  calls  she  answers,  carrying  with  her  a  message  of 
what  love  is  all  about. 

14     The  Bible  comes  to  Sudan 

An  article  by  Esther  Boleyn  and  a  four-page  spread  of 
color  photographs  by  David  Sollenberger  help  to  tell  a 
miraculous  story  from  Sudan.  Last-minute  changes 
to  a  major  ceremony,  a  harrowing  flight,  and  a  land 
torn  apart  by  war  and  famine  couldn't  slop  God's 
Word  from  coming  to  the  Nuer  people. 


Departments 


2 

From  the  Publisher 

3 

In  Touch 

6 

News 

28 

Letters 

31 

Turning  Points 

32 

Editorial 

Spiritual  renewal  takes  work 

There  were  800  people  at  the  Renovare  Conference 
on  Spiritual  Renewal  in  Elizabethtown,  Pa. 
Participants  heard  Richard  Foster  teach  that 
"balanced"  spiritual  growth  takes  training  and 
discipline.  Small  groups  help  to  sustain  it. 

Good  medicine  for  the  world 

Interchurch  Medical  Assistance,  a  ministry  with 
headquarters  at  the  Brethren  Service  Center  in 
New  Windsor,  Md.,  celebrates  40  years  of 
delivering  healing  medicines  to  hurting  people 
around  the  globe.  With  support  from  the  Church  of 
the  Brethren,  the  partner  ministry  faces  new 
challenges  to  provide  for  unrelenting  needs. 


May  2000  MESSENGER  1 


tk  hmm 


When  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  General  Board  adopted 
a  vision  statement  in  March,  it  selected  the  simplest  of  phrases. 
Unlike  most  ecclesiastical  language,  this  statement  has  no  big 
words  and  can  be  understood  and  remembered  by  a  child.  It  has 
six  words.  None  is  longer  than  four  letters.  Three  words  are  the  same.  The  other 
three  are  mere  prepositions. 

Of  God,  for  God.  with  God.  The  words  are  deceptively  simple.  But  the  longer 
one  lives  with  them,  the  more  depth  one  finds.  Together  they  demonstrate  how  pro- 
found language  can  be. 

"Of  God"  describes  whose  we  are.  It  evokes  the  first  half  of  the  Christopher 
Sauer  words  "For  the  glory  of  God  and  my  neighbor's  good."  It  is  an  affirmation  of 
sitting  in  the  presence  of  God,  of  receiving  grace.  "For  by  grace  you  have  been  saved 
through  faith,  and  this  is  not  your  own  doing;  it  is  the  gift  of  God"  (Eph.  2:8) . 

"Christ  is  the  divine  presence  that  permeates  the  church,"  write  Ben  Campbell- 
Johnson  and  Glenn  McDonald  in  Imagining  a  Church  in  the  Spirit  (p.  9).  "Too  often 
we  have  become  blind  to  the  presence  and  have  continued  running  the  church  on  a 
memory  rather  than  actual  communion  with  the  living  Lord."  Despite  the  church's 
humanness,  however,  we  are  also  a  "bearer  of  the  holy."  Richard  Foster  says  we  are 
"participants  in  the  work  of  grace"  (Streams  of  Living  Water,  p.  90). 

"For  God"  has  to  do  with  mission  and  purpose.  If  we  are  "for  God,"  we  are  con- 
stantly seeking  to  discern  the  will  of  God.  We  will  be  the  body  of  Christ  in  the 
world — reaching  out,  giving  ourselves  in  acts  of  service,  witnessing  to  peace  and  justice. 

"With  God"  speaks  to  the  how.  It  implies  a  life  of  daily  discipleship,  of  being 
immersed  in  the  Spirit.  "We  are  God's  servants,  working  together;  you  are  God's 
field,  God's  building"  (1  Cor.  3:9). 

Together,  these  simple  prepositional  phrases  embody  the  inward  and  the  out- 
ward, the  pietistic  and  the  Anabaptist,  the  being  and  the  doing.  The  three  parts  also 
hint  at  the  trinity.  We  are  o/God,  brought  into  being  by  God  the  creator  and  made 
whole  by  grace.  We  are  for  God,  serving  as  the  body  of  Christ  in  the  world — earthen 
vessels  that  we  are.  And  we  are  with  God,  living  in  the  light  and  strength  of  the  Spirit. 

These  six  words  are  not  a  mission  statement,  a  description  of  what  the  General 
Board  does.  Rather,  they  serve  as  a  magnet,  drawing  the  board  forward  into  the 
future.  The  words  are  a  touchstone,  guiding  the  board's  decisionmaking.  They 
express  a  yearning  for  that  which  has  not  yet  been  fully  achieved. 

This  is  the  vision  of  the  General  Board  as  it  seeks  to  serve  and  lead  the  Church  of 
the  Brethren.  What  is  your  vision?  As  each  of  us  uncovers  the  vision  that  God  has 
given  us,  may  we  work  together  to  more  nearly  approach  the  fullness  of  life  in  Jesus 
Christ. 


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Messenger  is  the  official  publication  of  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren.  Entered  as  periodical  postage  matter 
Aug,  20,  1918,  under  Act  of  Congress  of  Oct.  1 7, 
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® 


Printed  on  recycled  paper 


2  Messenger  May  2000 


HI 


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Wrapping  it  up:  Green  Tree 

Wiiuess  Commission 

members  and  friends  at  the 

church's  first  Cook-n-Pack 

party.  Pictured  left  to  right. 

Leeann  Randall  and  her 

mother.  Maggie  Randall. 

Dorothy  Fundenvhite.  Frank 

Litardo.  Harry  Groff,  fudi 

Murphy.  Joan  Groff  and 

Mary  Levengood. 


A  Cook-n-Pack  Party  helps  the  homeboiind 

Last  November  the  witness  commission  at  Green  Tree  Church  of  the  Brethren, 
Oaks,  Pa.,  sponsored  a  Cook-n-Pack  Party  to  support  Aid  For  Friends.  The  organi- 
zation supplies  frozen  meals  and  toaster  ovens  to  cook  them  for  homebound  residents  in 
a  five-county  Philadelphia  area. 

Last  year  the  witness  commission  handed  out  instructions  and  meal  tins  to  members 
of  the  congregation.  Now,  every  Sunday  people  come  to  church  bringing  with  them 
trays  filled  with  home-cooked  food. 

But  more  meals  were  needed,  so  the  witness  commission  decided  to  get  together  in  the 
church's  kitchen  and  cook  and  package  many  meals  at  once.  The  group  packaged  nearly 
100  meals  of  turkey  and  stuffing,  green  beans,  and  apple  crisp.  Plans  are  for  the  church 
to  do  this  several  times  a  year. — Laurie  Pavone 


o 


Celebrating  a  life  full 
of  Brethren  memories 

Born  Ian.  4,  1899,  Miriam 
Longenecker  Wagner 
celebrated  her  101st 
birthday  this  year  at  the 
Brethren  Home  in 
Palmyra,  Pa.  She  remem- 
bers growing  up  active  in 
the  Hoverday,  Pa.,  con- 
gregation. She  can 
remember  the  Harvest 


Home  service  of  1905, 
which  was  held  in  their 
barn.  This  was  a  worship 
service  of  thanksgiving, 
followed  by  a  meal. 

Her  hobbies  have  included 
gardening,  quilting,  letter 
writing,  and  good  conversa- 
tion. She  has  quilted  some 
100  quilts  and  sent  count- 
less letters. 

The  lives  she  has  touched 
include  family,  including 


four  generations  of  descen- 
dants, neighbors,  friends,  an 
orphan  boy,  whom  she  and 
her  husband,  Clarence, 
raised  as  their  own,  and  a 
German  exchange  student, 
whom  they  hosted  in  1950. 
She  was  married  to  Clarence 
in  1 920  by  her  grandfather. 
Elder  Jacob  H.  Longe- 
necker. She  says  a  highlight 
of  her  life  is  her  visit  to  the 
Holy  Land  in  1979. 


May  2000  Messenger  3 


Ill 


Renewal  leader  and 

evangelist  Russell  Bixler 

leading  a  session  at 

the  1977  Holy  Spirit 

Conference  at  Bowling 

Green,  Ohio. 


Smith  Mountain  Lake 
dedicates  building  site 

The  Smith  Mountain  Lake 
Community  Church,  a  new 
church  start  of  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren  near 
Roanoke,  Va.,  dedicated  its 
newly  purchased  five-acre 
site  March  19.  The  property 
was  secured  through  a  part- 
nership of  the  Community 
Church  and  the  congrega- 
tions of  Virlina  District. 

Pastor  Jerry  Naff  and 
Virlina  district  executive 
David  K.  Shumate  spoke 
at  the  dedication.  The 
service  concluded  with  a 
ground-breaking  service 
followed  by  remarks  from 
John  Hamilton,  trustee  of  the 
Hamilton  Trust  from  which 
the  property  was  purchased. 

Members  of  the  Smith 
Mountain  Lake  building 
committee,  chaired  by 
Clinton  Wade,  said  it 
hopes  the  congregation 
will  be  in  its  new  building 
by  November.  Completion 
of  the  building  will  require 
a  $230,000  indebtedness. 
The  fellowship  reports 
having  received  pledges 
totaling  $103,000  for  the 
project. 


Groundbreaking:  ferry  Naff  (pastor).  Cami  Jones,  and  Rick 
Taylor  break  ground  for  a  new  church  building.  At  right  is 
the  site's  original  log  cabin,  which  will  be  torn  down. 


Remembered 

Judy  Dotterer  of  Wood- 
bine, Md.,  died  March  20. 
Judy  served  as  unofficial 
"host  mother"  for  dozens 
of  On  Earth  Peace  Assem- 
bly Peace  Academies  in  the 
late  1980s  and  early  1990s. 
She  helped  counsel  and 
mentor  hundreds  of  young 
people  who  came  to  the 
Brethren  Service  Center  in 
New  Windsor,  Md.,  to 
learn  about  the  teachings  of 
Jesus  and  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren  related  to  peace- 
making. As  a  recipient  of  a 


kidney  and  pancreas  trans- 
plant, she  was  an  activist 
for  organ  transplantation. 
She  was  an  active  member 
of  the  Union  Bridge  (Md.) 
Church  of  the  Brethren, 
and  is  survived  by  her  hus- 
band, Kevin. 

Roy  Blough,  98,  a 
former  Manchester  Col- 
lege professor  and  a 
member  of  President 
Harry  Truman's  Council  of 
Economic  Advisers,  died 
Feb.  25  in  Mitchellville, 
Md.  He  was  a  graduate  of 
Manchester  College, 
North  Manchester,  Ind. 


Bixler  remembered  and  honored 

Russell  Bixler,  pastor,  renewal  leader,  and  a  pioneer  in  television  evangelism,  was 
honored  posthumously  by  the  National  Religious  Broadcasters  on  Feb.  5  at  the 
group's  annual  convention  in  Anaheim,  Calif.  He  died  Jan.  30  at  age  72. 

Co-founder  of  Cornerstone  Television  in  Pittsburgh  with  his  wife.  Norma  (Bowman), 
Bixler  was  honored  with  the  NRB's  William  Ayer  Distinguished  Service  Award  for  2000. 
Cornerstone,  which  is  based  in  Wall,  Pa.,  has  become  a  multi-channel  network  with  four 
broadcast  facilities,  a  24-hour  satellite  channel,  and  163  affiliate  stations. 

For  13  years  pastor  of  the  Pittsburgh  Church  of  the  Brethren  (1959-72),  Bixler 
founded  the  Greater  Pittsburgh  Charismatic  Conference  and,  in  the  1970s,  was  a  leader 
in  the  Holy  Spirit  renewal  movement  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  He  wrote  and  edited 
for  eight  publishers  of  Christian  books;  one  of  his  books.  It  Can  Happen  to  Anybody!. 
has  sold  more  than  100,000  copies. 

Bixler  graduated  from  Bridgewater  College  in  1947,  George  Washington  University  in 
1949,  and  Bethany  Theological  Seminary  in  1959.  He  graduated  cum  laude  from  the 
seminary.  His  ministry  was  profiled  in  the  July  1973  Messenger. 

Besides  his  wife  of  52  years,  Bixler  is  survived  by  four  children  and  ten  grandchildren. 
One  son,  Paul,  is  a  producer/director  for  Cornerstone  Television. — Howard  Royer 


4  Messenger  May  2000 


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Highway  threatens 
historic  homestead 

The  homestead  ot  |aeob 
Ulrich,  established  in  Dou- 
glas County,  Kan.,  in  1857 
and  where  the  first  known 
Brethren  love  feast  in 
Kansas  was  held,  is  again 
under  threat  of  destruction. 

William  C.  Quantrill's 
guerrillas,  on  Aug.  21,  1863, 
sacked  the  anti-slavery  town 
of  Lawrence,  then  set  afire 
the  Ulrich  homestead, 
eight  miles  south  of  town. 
This  year  Dean  Carlson, 
secretary  of  the  Kansas 
Department  of  Transporta- 
tion, (KDOT),  announced 
plans  to  finish  the  job. 

Carlson  reaffirmed  the 
state's  plan  to  build  a  new 
freeway  from  Ottawa  to 
Lawrence.  The  proposed 
route  would  cut  across  the 
Ulrich  farm,  now  owned  by 
Dr.  Nelson  McCluggage. 
McCluggage  and  his  neigh- 


]acob  Ulrich 

bors  have  retained  attorneys 
to  attempt  to  stop  the  project. 

He  has  also  brought  in 
instructors  from  Haskell 
Native  American  Indian 
University,  who  are  investi- 
gating signs  that  their 
ancestors  lived  on  this  land. 
McCluggage  lives  in  the 
Ulrich  home. 

When  he  purchased  the 
Ulrich  farm  from  lane  Plum- 
mer  more  than  20  years  ago, 
McCluggage  promised  she 


Leon  Kagarise  with  only  a  small  part  of  his  newsmaking  collection  of  records  and  tapes. 

Music  man  featured  in  Washington  Post 

Leon  Kagarise  has  so  much  love  that  his  little  house  can't  hold  it  all,"  begins  the 
J  long  article  in  the  March  9  Washington  Post.  "Kagarise  loves  music.  American 
music — blues,  jazz,  gospel,  and  especially  old-time  country  music.  His  house  is  filled 
with  it.  Well,  not  completely  filled.  There's  still  a  little  bit  of  space  left  to  live  in." 

Kagarise,  a  longtime  active  member  of  the  Long  Green  Valley  Church  of  the  Brethren, 
Glen  Arm,  Md.,  was  featured  in  the  Post  for  his  collection  of  hundreds  of  tapes  he 
recorded  at  country  music  shows  in  the  Baltimore  area  40  years  ago — performances  by 
Johnny  Cash,  George  Jones,  Tammy  Wynette,  and  Patsy  Cline,  among  many  others.  The 
vintage  recordings  are  now  in  demand  by  recording  companies,  the  Library  of  Congress, 
and  the  Country  Music  Hall  of  Fame. 

The  rare  recordings  sit  among  some  100,000  records  and  many  old  photographs  as 
well.  According  to  the  article,  people  tend  to  rib  him  about  being  a  pack  rat. 

"I'm  a  rather  avid  Christian,"  he  told  the  newspaper.  "I  belong  to  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren.  One  of  the  things  the  Brethren  believe  in  is  living  the  simple  life.  Anything  that 
takes  time  away  from  Jesus  is  not  good." 

Then,  according  to  the  article,  he  gazed  at  the  thousands  of  records  piled  around  him 
and  confessed:  "I'm  a  sinner." 


could  live  there  as  long  as 
she  wanted.  He  took  posses- 
sion only  when  Plummer,  in 
her  nineties,  entered  a  nurs- 
ing home. 

When  McCluggage 
rehabbed  the  home,  he  left 
the  house's  charred  rafters 
from  Quantrill's  Raid 
intact.  He  also  displays  the 
remnants  from  the  original 
barn.  "Not  only  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Washington 


Creek  Church  of  the 
Brethren  often  in  this 
home,  but  John  Brown  as 
well  as  Senator  Jim  Lane 
were  also  frequent  guests," 
McCluggage  said. 

In  1997,  when  KDOT 
began  discussing  widening 


20  miles  of  US  Highway  59 
to  four  lanes,  the  estimated 
price  was  $70  million.  Now 
the  cost  is  estimated  at  $161 
million.  Construction  is  esti- 
mated to  be  at  least  seven 
years  away. — Irene  Shull 
Reynolds 


"In  Touch"  features  news  of  congregations,  districts,  and  individ- 
uals. Send  story  ideas  and  pliotos  to  "In  Touch. "  Messenger, 
1451  Dundee  Ave..  Elgin,  IL  60120. 


May  2000  Messenger  5 


N 


General  board  meetings 
address  vision,  structure 

The  Church  of  the  Brethren  General 
Board  met  March  11-13  in  Elgin, 
111.,  using  the  One  Great  Hour  of 
Sharing  theme,  "Gifts  of  Living 


director.  Sitting  on  the  Leadership 
Team  will  be  directors  of  Brethren 
Press,  Brethren  Service  Center,  Cen- 
tralized Resources/Treasurer, 
Congregational  Life  Ministries,  and 
Global  Mission  Partnerships. 

Stated  goals  of  the  plan,  which 
involved  no  job  cuts  or  changes  in 
compensation,  included  seeking  to 


Gilbert  Romero,  General  Board 

member  and  pastor  of  the  Bella 

Vista  congregation  in  Los 

Angeles,  helped  to  lead  an 

energetic  Sunday  morning 

worship  service  during  General 

Board  meetings  in  March. 


Water,"  based  on  )ohn  7;58b.  In 
business  sessions  the  board  again 
used  the  Worshipful  Work  model  of 
discernment  through  prayer,  silence, 
sharing,  and  singing. 

Among  its  activities,  the  board 
adopted  a  vision  statement  to  guide 
its  ongoing  work:  "Of  God,  for  God, 
with  God,"  developed  by  a  board- 
appointed  committee.  (For  more  on 
this  see  "From  the  Publisher,"  p.  2). 

Another  item  brought  a  realign- 
ment of  the  General  Board  staff 
structure,  reducing  the  Leadership 
Team  to  five  members  plus  the  exec- 
utive director  rather  than  the 
previous  eight  plus  the  executive 


A  vision  statement  to  guide  the  work  of 
the  General  Board  was  adopted. 

improve  the  communication  and  effi- 
ciency of  the  Leadership  Team, 
working  to  coordinate  the  activities 
of  the  various  offices,  and  giving  a 
stronger  voice  to  the  Brethren  Ser- 
vice Center,  located  in  New 
Windsor,  Md. 

Other  major  actions  included: 

•Approval  of  a  request  from  the 
Committee  on  Interchurch  Relations 
to  have  the  General  Board  ask 
Annual  Conference  to  join  the  World 
Council  of  Churches'  Decade  to 
Overcome  Violence  (2001-2010). 

•Adoption  of  a  resolution  seeking 
greater  ethnic  inclusion  in  church 
leadership. 

•Approval  of  continued  explo- 
ration of  renewed  mission  in  Brazil, 
with  a  recommendation  and  budget 
projections  to  be  brought  to  the 
board  no  later  than  March  2001. 

•Approval  of  a  Mission  and  Min- 
istries Planning  Council  request  to 
join  Eastern  Mennonite  Missions  in 
sponsoring  the  three-year  placement 
of  Grace  Mishler  of  the  Union  Center 
Church  of  the  Brethren  (Nappanee, 
Ind.)  at  Ho  Chi  Minh  City  University 
in  Vietnam,  where  she  will  be  estab- 
lishing a  social  work  program. 


6  Messenger  May  2000 


Board  member  David  Miller  emcees  a 
banquet  program  celebrating  General 
Board  ministries. 

Brethren  join  protests  against 
Vieques  policy  in  Puerto  Rico 

More  than  100,000  Puerto  Ricans  and 
other  protesters  marched  down  a 
major  expressway  in  San  [uan  in  late 
February,  calling  for  the  US  Navy  to 
leave  the  island  of  Vieques.  US  mili- 
tary maneuvers  and  bombing  tests 
have  been  held  on  Vieques  for  nearly 
six  decades,  and  protesters  are  seeking 
an  immediate  stop  and  withdrawal. 

The  Evangelical  Council  of  Puerto 
Rico,  which  represents  10  Protestant 
denoininations  including  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren  in  Puerto  Rico, 
joined  with  the  Catholic  Church  to 
coordinate  the  response.  Church  of 
the  Brethren  General  Board  execu- 
tive director  ludy  Mills  Reiiner  also 
issued  a  letter  to  the  Clinton  admin- 
istration stating  concern  over  US 
actions  on  Vieques. 

A  Christian  Peacemaker  Teams  dele- 
gation traveled  to  Puerto  Rico  in 
mid- March  to  work  with  churches  and 
visit  with  political  and  religious  leaders 
and  with  people  on  Vieques.  CPT 
worker  Cliff  Kindy,  a  member  of  the 
Manchester  Church  of  the  Brethren 
(North  Manchester,  Ind.),  and  Eric 
Christiansen  of  the  Franklin  Grove 
(111.)  Church  of  the  Brethren  were 
among  that  group.  The  visit  came  at 
the  invitation  of  Brethren  pastor  juan 
Figueroa  of  the  Rio  Piedras  congrega- 
tion and  other  Puerto  Rican  Brethren. 


Disaster  and  food  crisis 
grants  aid  needy  families 

Recent  Emergency  Disaster  Fund 
grants  include: 

•  S 1 0,000  to  support  the  drought 
relief  efforts  of  Family  Farm  Drought 
Response.  The  ecumenical  project 
began  this  past  summer  to  meet 
needs  caused  by  severe  drought  in 
the  Northeast  and  Mid-Atlantic. 

•$6,000  to  support  a  tornado  recov- 
ery project  in  Haysville,  Kan.  The 
project  had  closed  before  Christmas, 
but  Emergency  Response/Service 
Ministries  received  an  invitation  to 
return  to  the  area  and  complete  some 
unmet  needs.  The  project  reopened  on 
March  1  and  was  expected  to  continue 
for  about  two  months. 

•$25,000  to  assist  disaster  recov- 
ery efforts  following  severe  flooding 
in  southern  Africa  from  Cyclone 
Eline  and  ongoing  torrential  rains. 
The  floods  have  affected  Mozam- 
bique, South  Africa,  Botswana, 
Zimbabwe,  and  Namibia.  Mozam- 
bique has  been  the  most  severely 
affected,  with  at  least  300,000 
people  displaced  from  their  homes 
and  thousands  left  stranded  on 
rooftops  without  food  and  water. 

The  request  comes  in  response  to  a 
Church  World  Service  appeal  in  which 
funds  will  be  used  to  provide  blankets 
for  2,000  people,  technical  assistance, 
and  support  to  the  relief  programs  of 
the  Christian  Council  of  Mozambique. 


The  Global  Food  Crisis  Fund  gave 
$42,676  in  February  to  provide  small 
livestock  to  more  than  800  women  in 
dozens  of  communities  in  southern 
Honduras,  part  of  a  continuing  pro- 
ject after  a  successful  pilot  program 
in  El  Estribo. 


Personnel  changes 

Tom  Hurst  resigned  as  executive 
director  of  On  Earth  Peace  Assembly 
effective  March  1  7,  following  a  decade 
of  service  with  the  organization. 

•Ron  and  Harriet  Finney  have 
resigned  effective  Sept.  50  as  co- 
coordinators  of  the  Brethren 
Academy  for  Ministerial  Leadership. 
A  search  for  a  replacement  is  under 
way.  The  Finneys  continue  in  their 
positions  as  co-executives  of  the 
South/Central  Indiana  District. 

•Donald  R.  Booz,  currently  pastor 
of  the  McPherson  (Kan.)  congrega- 
tion, will  become  district  executive  of 
Mid-Adantic  District  effective  June  15. 

•Lester  Boleyn  began  April  1  as  a 
member  of  the  General  Board's  Area 
3  Congregational  Life  Team.  Boleyn 
will  work  out  of  the  Cumberland, 
Md.,  area  in  West  Marva  District. 

•Greg  Laszakovits  has  been 
named  full-time  coordinator  of  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  Washington 
Office.  He  began  on  April  1 . 

•Martha  R.  Beach  began  as  half- 
time  district  executive  for  Atlantic 
Southeast  on  March  20. 

•Tim  Van  Meter,  director  of 
research  for  the  Youth  Theological 
Initiative  at  Candler  School  of  The- 
ology in  Atlanta,  will  become  the  first 
director  of  Bethany  Theological 
Seminary's  new  Institute  for  Min- 
istry with  Young  and  Young  Adults, 
effective  Aug.  1 . 

800  Honduran  women 

received  livestock  through 
the  Global  Food  Crisis 
Fund  in  Februarv. 


May  2000  Messenger  7 


Tutu  brings  reconciliation 
message  to  Elizabethtown 

Archbishop  Desmond  Tutu,  a  major 
figure  in  South  Africa's  struggle 
against  apartheid,  dehvered  a  stirring 
speech  of  forgiveness  and  reconciha- 
tion  to  highHght  Elizabethtown  (Pa.) 
College's  year-long  centennial  cele- 
bration. 

Tutu  spoke  March  1  7  to  a  full 
house  of  about  3,000  people  in 
Thompson  Gymnasium  following 
spiritual  numbers  from  the  Eliza- 
bethtown College  Concert  Choir  and 
introductory  remarks  from  president 
Theodore  Long.  With  a  mix  of 
somber  history,  lively  stories,  and 
humor.  Tutu  quickly  captivated  the 
audience. 

At  one  point,  Tutu  laughingly 
encouraged  the  entire  group  of  "shy 
and  reserved  Americans"  to  join  in 
frenzied  applause  and  celebration  for 


the  success  achieved  by  all  those  who 
helped  topple  apartheid.  He  finished 
his  talk  with  a  final  plea  to  continue 
that  work,  outlining  his  dreams  of  a 
world  with  "more  compassion, 
caring,  laughter,  and  sharing." 

"I  have  no  one  except  you,  and 
you,  and  you  to  realize  my  dream," 
he  said,  pointing  to  spots  in  the 
crowd.  "Will  you  help  me,  please?" 


Ethnic-religious  violence 
affects  EYN  churches 

Three  members  of  the  Ekklesiyar 
Yan'uwa  a  Nigeria,  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren's  large  sister  congregation 
in  Nigeria,  were  killed  in  outbreaks 
of  ethnic-religious  violence  in 
Kaduna  province  in  late  February. 

An  EYN  report  identified  the  vic- 
tims as  the  Rev.  lyasco  Taru, 
pastor  of  the  Badarwa  congrega- 


Tutu  in  Elizabethtown:  Roger  Ingold, 
a  member  of  the  Spring  Creek 
congregation.  Hershey,  Pa.,  who 
traveled  with  Archbishop  Desmond 
Tutu  in  South  Africa,  reunited  with 
him  during  Tutu's  visit  to 
EUzabethtown  College. 


tion;  Musa  Garba,  a  member  of  the 
Badarwa  church;  and  John  Danfu- 
lani,  also  a  member  at  Badarwa. 
Two  members  of  the  Narayi  church 
were  seriously  injured. 

More  than  300  people  were 
reported  killed  in  the  fighting 
between  Christians  and  Muslims  in 
Kaduna.  Retaliatory  violence  in  the 
southern  city  of  Aba  killed  at  least 
200  more,  according  to  news 
reports.  Property  damage  was  also 
widespread,  with  the  large  Badarwa 
EYN  church  building  and  an  old 
church  building  there  among  those 
burned.  Numerous  individual  EYN 
members  also  lost  homes  and/or 
business  properties. 

The  violence  occurred  as  Chris- 
tians were  protesting  Muslim 
attempts  to  have  Islamic  "shari'a" 
law  instituted  in  Kaduna,  a  multi- 
religious  state  where  Muslims  are  not 
in  the  majority,  according  to  EYN 
leader  Bitrus  Debki. 

A  statement  by  EYN  leadership 
responded  to  the  situation,  saying,  "We 
hereby  condemn  in  very  strong  terms 
the  recent  attack  meted  out  on  inno- 
cent Christians  in  Kaduna  metropolis 
and  its  environs  while  on  peaceful 
demonstration  to  Government  House 
to  express  their  feeling  as  regards  the 
imposition  of  shari'a  on  them." 

Media  reports  in  the  weeks  follow- 
ing the  initial  conflict  identified 
additional  pockets  of  violence  in  the 
major  city  of  Lagos  and  in  the  north- 
western part  of  the  country. 

The  General  Board  took  time  at  its 
spring  meeting  to  pray  for  the  situa- 
tion in  Nigeria. 


8  Messenger  May  2000 


ABC  and  OEPA  experience 
financial  growing  pains 

The  Association  of  Brethren  Care- 
givers reports  that  1999  ended 
about  as  expected  from  a  financial 
perspective.  ABC  had  projected  a 
deficit  of  more  than  $  1 00,000  when 
the  1999  budget  was  prepared,  and 
pre-audit  figures  for  the  year 
showed  an  actual  deficit  of 
$1 1  7,862.  The  deficit  was  paid 
from  organization  reserves. 

On  Earth  Peace  Assembly,  which 
was  also  spun  off  from  the  General 
Board  and  then  approved  as  a  sepa- 
rate Annual  Conference  agency  along 
with  ABC  in  1998,  showed  a  similar 
pre-audit  deficit  for  1999,  at 
$96,746.  OEPA  used  about  $75,000 
of  endowment  gain  to  cover  the  extra 
program  expenditures. 

When  ABC  became  an  independent 
organization,  the  board  implemented 
a  transition  plan  projecting  three 
years  of  deficit  budgets  while  the 
denomination  adjusted  to  its  new 
organizational  structure  and  a  new 
way  of  financially  supporting  the 
denominational  agencies. 

ABC's  reserves  will  cover  the 
deficits,  with  the  expectation  that  the 
organization's  operations  will  return 
to  a  financial  balance  by  the  end  of 
200 1 .  At  the  end  of  1 999,  the  second 
of  the  three  years,  ABC  was  within 
the  parameters  of  its  transition  plan. 

ABC's  total  revenue  for  1999  was 
$522,248.  Congregational  support 
was  $54,037  from  164  congrega- 
tions in  1999,  an  increase  from  the 
1998  total  of  $15, 236  from  57  con- 
gregations. Support  from  individuals 
in  1999  was  $59,545  compared  to 
the  1998  total  of  $57,870. 

"These  are  challenging  times  for 
ABC.  Congregations  are  still  learn- 
ing about  ABC  and  the  other 
organizations  within  the  new 
denominational  structure,"  said 
ABC  executive  director  Steve 
Mason.  "As  this  new  understanding 


is  made  in  congregations,  they  will 
decide  whether  and  how  to  support 
the  denominational  agencies.  We 
believe  this  support  will  be  in  mea- 
sure to  the  value  placed  on  the 
services  of  these  organizations. 
Once  ABC's  support  base  is  estab- 
lished, we  will  adjust  our  programs 
accordingly,  if  necessary." 

OEPA  showed  a  total  pre-audit 
income  of  $229,362  for  the  year, 
including  $59,3  1 9  of  general  gift 
income  from  individuals  and 
$40,735  from  congregations. 


Churches  need  to  understand 
population  "browning" 

Anabaptists  wanting  to  establish  new 
congregations  in  the  21st  century 
will  be  successful  only  if  they 
increase  awareness  of  the  multicul- 
tural, diversifying,  and  "browning" 
population  in  North  America. 

That's  the  message  about  40  prac- 
titioners and  scholars  heard  at  the 
third  annual  Anabaptist  Evangelism 
Council,  held  at  a  snowbound  Asso- 
ciated Mennonite  Biblical  Seminary 
in  Elkhart,  Ind.,  Feb.  19-20. 

"We  are  a  browning  nation,"  said 
researcher  Rocky  Kidd,  director  of 
Chicago  Opportunity  for  Peace  in 
Action,  whose  study  of  17  multi- 
cultural churches  showed  a  rapid 
shift  in  urban  centers  toward  a 
polyglot  of  brown,  yellow,  black, 
white,  and  mestizo  (mixed).  "And 
those  who  do  not  live  in  the  urban 
centers  are  greatly  influenced  by 
an  omnipresent  urban  popular  cul- 
ture, piped  into  the  American 
consciousness  via  the  entertain- 
ment/media world." 

The  council  was  sponsored  by  New 
Life  Ministries,  a  partnership  in  out- 
reach of  both  branches  of  the 
merging  Mennonite  groups,  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren,  The 
Brethren  Church  (Ashland,  Ohio) 
and  two  parachurch  organizations: 


Shalom  Foundation  of  Harrisonburg, 
Va.,  and  Christian  Community  of 
Fort  Wayne,  Ind. 

Next  year's  council  will  be  held  at 
the  Church  of  the  Brethren  offices  in 
Elgin,  111.,  expanding  to  a  three-day 
event,  Feb.  16-18.  The  2001  theme 
will  center  on  church  planting. 

Youth  team,  young  adults 
prepare  for  summer  service 

The  2000  Youth  Peace  Travel  Team 
is  made  up  of  Marshall  Camden  of 
Virginia  Beach,  Va.;  Daniel  Royer 
of  Trotwood,  Ohio;  Myra  Martin- 
Adkins  of  Washington,  D.C.; 
Meghan  Sheller  of  Eldora,  Iowa; 
and  Pete  Dobberstein  of 
Brookville,  Ohio. 

The  team,  sponsored  by  the  Gen- 
eral Board's  Youth/Young  Adult  and 
Brethren  Witness  offices,  Outdoor 
Ministries  Association,  and  On 
Earth  Peace  Assembly,  annually 
visits  and  provides  leadership  for 
junior  and  senior  high  camps  in  var- 
ious regions  of  the  country.  It  will 
start  with  an  orientation  in  mid- 
lune  before  heading  out  to  the 
camps  in  the  East  this  year. 

Thirteen  young  adults,  meanwhile, 
have  registered  to  be  part  of  this 
year's  Ministry  Summer  Service  pro- 
gram, a  cooperative  effort  of  the 
General  Board's  Youth/Young  Adult 
and  Ministry  offices.  The  program 
offers  opportunities  to  explore 
church  vocations  through  10-week 
placements  under  a  mentor  in  con- 
gregations or  other  settings. 

This  year's  orientation  will  occur 
June  2-9  at  Bethany  Theological 
Seminary  in  Richmond,  Ind.,  with 
mentors  and  project  sites  in  six  states, 
from  Pennsylvania  and  Delaware 
to  California.  Volunteers  receive 
food,  housing,  and  a  $45-per-month 
stipend  from  the  congregation,  plus 
an  available  tuition  grant  of  $2,000 
for  college  students. 


May  2000  Messenger  9 


vaLL  ABIDE   IN   MY   LOVE,  JUST  AS  J:  HAVE   KEPT  MY 
AID  THESE  THINGS  TO  YOU  S(  VT  MY   ]OY  MAY  BE   i 

OMMANDMENT,  THAT  YOU   LOVE    ONE    ANOTHER   AS 

"HIS,  TO  LAY  DOWN  ONE's  LIFE 

,R.E  MY  FRIENDS  IF  YOU  DQ  WHAT  I  COMMAND  YC  , 
ERVANT  DOES  NOT  KNOW  WHAT  THE  MASTER  IS  DOL.  J 
NOWN  TO  YOU  EVERYTHING  THAT  I  HAVE  HEARD  F 


lNl 


APPOINTED  YOU  TO  GO   AND  BEAR  FRUIT,   FR 


FOR  THE  LOVe  OF  EMIlf 


A  strong  but  humble  leader, 

Moderator  Emily  Mumma  has  been 

called  a  ''servant  of  grace.'' 


WORDS  FROM  THE 
MODERATOR 

On  evangelism:  "For 
me  evangelism  is 
important,  but  with- 
out discipleship  it's 
empty.  Which  brings 
me  back  to  love.  I 
don't  think  evangelism 
is  always  done  in  love. 
It's  sometimes  done 
with  shaming  or  guilt 
or  a  superior  attitude, 
rather  than  a  deep 
love  for  the  person. 

"We  have  to  let 
people  have  the  free- 
dom to  say  no.  That's 
what  love  can  do.  Love 
gives  people  the  liberty 
to  turn  us  down,  even  to 
persecute  us.  But  their 
actions  are  not  going  to 
determine  how  we 
relate  to  them.  That's 
the  kind  of  discipleship 
that  has  meaning  for 
evangelism." 


BY  Fletcher  Farrar 

When  Emily  Mumma  starts  throwing 
little  balls  made  of  yarn  around  the 
august  boardroom  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren 
offices  in  Elgin,  one  wonders  if  the  pressures  of 
the  office  of  moderator  have  become  too  much 
for  her.  As  she  empties  another  shopping  bag  of 
the  balls  she  calls  "fuzzies,"  and  throws  them  one 
by  one  to  General  Board  members  engaged  in 
the  serious  business  of  the  church,  one  sniffs  that 
this  is  unconventional  behavior,  to  say  the  least. 

Then  one  gets  into  it.  Even  the  most  dour  in 
the  group  pick  up  a  yarn  ball  and  hurl  it  glee- 
fully to,  or  at,  somebody.  The  room  is  soon 
filled  with  laughter  and  surprise. 

"My  vision  is  to  radiate  the  joy  that  comes 
from  a  giving,  loving  spirit,"  she  says  in  an 
interview.  "When  I  look  out  over  a  congrega- 
tion I  often  see  such  sad  faces.  I  would  like  to 
see  some  happy  faces." 

Like  Johnny  Appleseed  sowing  gratitude  for 
the  Lord's  goodness,  Mumma  takes  her 
fuzzies  with  her  on  her  travels  across  the 
denomination,  disrupting  many  a  district  con- 
ference and  other  church  meetings  with  her 
unconventional  seeds  of  love. 

The  yarn  balls  are  made  by  Carol  Miller,  a 
member  of  the  Hollidaysburg,  Pa.,  congre- 
gation, which  Mumma  pastors.  Baptized 
recently.  Miller  wanted  to  serve  others,  but 
she  is  disabled  by  a  painful  neurological  dis- 
order. In  her  home  she  began  to  make  the 


fuzzies  and  give  them  away  so  people  would 
feel  loved  and  appreciated.  She  began  giving 
them,  not  only  on  birthdays  and  anniver- 
saries, but  on  no  occasion  in  particular,  and 
not  only  to  friends,  but  also  to  strangers. 
They  brought  a  smile  every  time. 

She  caught  a  vision  of  spreading  God's  love 
with  abandon,  and  decided  to  send  fuzzies 
with  her  pastor  everywhere  she  goes  as  mod- 
erator. With  some  help.  Miller  has  made  more 
than  5,000  fuzzies  already.  "I  pack  each  one 
with  God's  love,"  she  says. 

They  tie  in  well  with  the  moderator's  message 
of  love,  expressed  in  the  Annual  Conference 
theme,  "Love  as  I  have  loved  you,"  from  John 
15:12.  Mumma  relates  that  when  she  announced 
the  love  theme,  a  prominent  church  leader  told 
her  it  was  too  sentimental  and  superficial.  That 
only  strengthened  her  resolve  to  give  the  theme 
enough  substance  to  make  it  profound. 

"Love  is  foundational,"  she  says.  "It  is  at 
the  center  of  what  it  means  to  be  a  follower  of 
Christ.  Without  love,  faith  is  very  shallow. 
Service  becomes  burdensome  instead  of  being 
a  joy.  Complainers  and  murmurers  are  people 
who  have  not  learned  to  either  give  or  receive 
love.  Unless  love  is  at  the  core  of  our  pro- 
grams and  plans,  they  aren't  going  to  fly." 

There  is  little  about  this  kind  of  love  that 
could  be  called  merely  sentimental.  "Love  is 
hard  work,"  she  says.  "It's  this  kind  of  love 
that  took  lesus  Christ  to  the  cross.  There  is 
nothing  harder  than  practicing  Christlike  love. 
It  means  I  won't  allow  myself  to  be  so  easily 
hurt.  I  won't  take  offense  so  easily:  I  won't  be 
defensive  so  quickly.  I  will  look  for  the  good  in 
the  other  in  the  midst  of  disagreement." 

The  capacity  to  love,  and  to  receive  love, 
doesn't  come  all  at  once  but  has  to  be  cultivated 
and  nurtured.  "It  is  a  lifelong  journey,"  she  says. 

Mumma's  journey  began  in  Ohio,  where  she 


10  Messenger  May  2000 


lAVE    LOVED  YOU. 


N  HIS  LOVE.  I  HA 

\Y   BE  COMPLETE.  ThIS  IS  V 

iNE  HAS   GREATER   LOVE  TITA 

u   uO  WHAT  I  COMMAND  YOU.  Yc 

RVANTS  ANY  LONGER,  BECAUSE  TL 

^U  PR  TRNOS. 


was  born  during  the  Depression.  She  grew  up 
helping  her  parents.  Rebert  and  Edna  Met- 
zger,  on  the  family  farm,  located  between 
New  Carlisle  and  Springfield.  The  family 
attended  the  Donnels  Creek  Church  of  the 
Brethren,  Southern  Ohio  District. 

After  high  school  she  decided  not  to  go  to 
college,  but  opted  for  the  "University  of  Life 
Experience"  instead.  That  coursework  began 
with  Brethren  Volunteer  Service  when  she 
became  a  member  of  Unit  1 1 .  She  was  assigned 
to  help  young  Chinese  war  brides  adapt  to  life 
in  inner-city  Chicago.  Never  having  ridden  a 
city  bus  before,  she  traveled  all  over  the  urban 
area  helping  mothers  learn  to  care  for  babies 
and  shop  for  groceries.  She  helped  teach  a 
Sunday  school  class  for  Chinese  immigrants  at 
Chicago's  First  Church  of  the  Brethren. 

In  1952  she  married  fellow  BVSer  Luke 
Mumma.  and  they  setded  in  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
his  hometown.  From  1960  to  1968  they  owned 
and  operated  together  a  home  appliance  repair 
business.  He  did  the  repair  work  while  she  ran 
the  office.  She  was  also  raising  two  children, 
Samuel  and  Sara.  Active  in  the  Harrisburg  First 
congregation,  she  taught  the  first  Sunday  school 
class  organized  for  black  children  there. 

In  1968  the  family  moved  to  Florida  for  the 
sake  of  the  children's  health,  and  settled  in 
St.  Petersburg,  where  her  parents  lived.  Luke 
became  a  plumber,  while  she  stayed  home  to 
be  available  to  her  children,  then  in  junior 
high  and  high  school.  "All  1  wanted  was  to  be 
a  good  wife,  a  good  mother,  and  a  good 
homemaker,"  she  recalls.  She  went  to  night 
classes  to  learn  to  sew  and  cook.  And  she 


made  a  big  garden  each  year,  selling  enough 
to  pay  the  garden's  expenses,  with  the  rest  of 
the  produce  going  to  family  and  friends. 

Around  1970  she  was  called  to  represent  her 
home  congregation.  First  Church,  St.  Peters- 
burg, on  the  district  board.  "From  that  time  on, 
there  was  no  time  I  wasn't  involved  heavily  in 
district  and  denominational  work,"  she  says. 
She  was  district  moderator  in  1978,  served  on 
Standing  Committee,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
General  Board  from  1982  to  1986. 

She  received  training  in  conflict  management 
and  mediation  through  seminars,  including  work 
with  Brethren  mediator  Barbara  Date  in  1986. 
This  equipped  her  for  volunteer  assignments  in 
conflict  resolution,  as  well  as  other  district 
responsibilities,  at  the  request  of  five  different 
Florida  district  executives,  who  served  part  time. 

"I  didn't  have  a  tide  then,"  says  Mumma.  "I 
wasn't  ordained  or  even  licensed.  But  tides  some- 
times create  barriers.  People  trusted  me  more 
because  I  didn't  have  a  tide.  I  was  just  a  friend." 

Having  taken  the  Three-year  Reading  Course, 
she  was  finally  licensed  to  the  ministry  in  1988. 
In  1990  she  served  three  months  as  interim 
pastor  for  her  home  congregation,  St.  Peters- 
burg. In  1995,  during  Annual  Conference  in 
Indianapolis,  the  executive  of  Middle  Pennsylva- 
nia District,  Randy  Yoder,  asked  her  to  consider 
an  interim  pastor  assignment  in  Hollidaysburg. 
Pa.  She  agreed,  and  with  her  husband  moved 
that  fall  to  Pennsylvania,  expecting  to  be  there 
only  temporarily.  She  was  ordained  that  year, 
and,  in  August  1994,  the  Hollidaysburg  congre- 
gation called  her  to  be  its  regular  pastor.  She 
has  been  in  that  position  ever  since. 

Rita  Murphy,  the  church's  part-time  secre- 
tary, says  Emily  Mumma  is  the  "most 


WORDS  FROM  THE 
MODERATOR 

On  simple  living:  "In 

my  own  life  it  has 
been  amazing  how 
often  I  don't  need 
what  1  thought  I 
needed.  By  no  means 
am  I  hurting  because 
of  what  I've  given  up. 
But  I  am  aware  that 
some  things  that  most 
people  consider  neces- 
sities I  don't.  I'm  also 
aware  that  there  are 
things  I  consider 
necessities  that  plenty 
of  people  in  the  world 
don't  have." 


May  2000  Messenger  1 1 


WORDS  FROM  THE 
MODERATOR 

On  stewardship: 

"I  sometimes  hear 
people  say  if  we  get 
more  people  in  our 
church  we  can  get  a 
bigger  budget.  I  think 
Jesus  must  weep  when 
he  hears  that  kind  of 
stuff.  I  feel  that  if  the 
heart  is  right  the 
money  will  be  there. 

"That  doesn't  mean 
we  don't  have  to  talk 
about  stewardship. 
Everything  I  have  is  a 
gift  from  God.  Out  of 
love  I  owe  God  and 
want  to  give  to  God. 
To  write  out  that  check 
to  the  church  becomes 
a  joy,  not  a  burden." 

On  women  in 
leadership:  "When 
people  ask,  'How  does 
it  feel  to  be  a  woman 
moderator?'  I've  said  I 
look  at  'call'  first  as  a 
person,  and  I  happen 
to  be  a  woman.  I  don't 
feel  like,  'Look  at  me 
I'm  a  woman  doing 
this.'  It's  me  doing 
this.  I  also  happen  to 
be  a  woman.  I  don't 
deny  that,  but  I  don't 
flaunt  that. 

"I  think  denomina- 
tional leaders  are 
more  in  tune  with 
having  women  in 
ministry  than  con- 
gregations are.  There 
is  a  lot  of  work  to  be 
done  at  the  congre- 
gational level  to  get 
them  to  see  the 
place  of  women  in 
leadership." 


Family  time  in  the  North  Carolina  mountains,  1995: 

At  left  are  gniiulcliiklrcn  liana  and  Kialha  Mamma. 

standing  in  front  of  their  parents.  Samuel  and 

Debbie  Mamma,  of  Dade  City.  Fla.  Center  is  Emily 

Mumma,  with  her  Itusband.  Luke,  in  back.  At  right 

are  grandchildren  Joshua  and  Jessica  Mclnnis. 

standing  in  front  of  their  parents.  Sara  Mumma 

Mclnnis  and  Ron  Mclnnis,  of  Cape  Coral,  Fla. 


detail-oriented  person  I  have  ever  met,"  send- 
ing birthday  and  anniversary  greetings  to 
everyone  in  the  congregation,  even  during  her 
term  as  moderator.  "She  recognizes  the  gifts 
in  each  person  and  calls  upon  the  use  of  the 
gifts,"  Murphy  says.  "She  allows  many  people 
to  feel  successful,  not  overburdening  anyone 
with  a  task  they  would  not  be  good  at." 

Randy  Yoder,  Mumma's  district  executive, 
calls  her  a  "servant  of  grace." 

"She  is  a  very  kind  and  humble  person  who 
cares  about  people,"  he  says.  "She  particu- 
larly has  a  heart  for  the  'little'  people — those 
who  are  powerless  and  often  deprived  of  a 
voice  or  the  sharing  of  their  gifts  and  abilities. 
For  instance,  she  as  a  pastor  has  stood  firm  in 
several  instances  when  justice  was  called  for." 

Though  often  reluctant  to  be  cast  into  lead- 
ership positions,  Mumma  accepts  each  call  as  it 
comes  along,  when  she  is  convinced  it  is  God's 
call.  On  finally  accepting  the  title  of  pastor,  she 
reflects:  "As  painful  as  it  is  to  be  away  from  my 
children  and  grandchildren  in  Florida,  1  have 
an  inner  joy  that  1  have  never  known  before." 

The  same  reluctance  came  to  her  when  she 
was  asked  to  consider  allowing  her  name  to  be 
placed  on  the  ballot  for  moderator,  the  highest 
office  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  "At  first  I 
said  I'm  not  interested  at  all,"  she  said.  "Any- 
thing like  that  just  scares  the  heck  out  of  me.  I 
don't  like  being  out  front.  I'd  rather  be  behind 
the  scenes  working  with  a  team.  Speaking 
before  people  has  never  been  easy  for  me." 

But  she  gradually  became  convinced,  first  by 
a  representative  of  the  Annual  Conference  nom- 
inating committee  and  then  by  the  unanimous 
support  of  her  congregation's  executive  com- 
mittee, that  this  was  another  true  call  which  she 
must  accept  out  of  obedience  to  Christ. 

Noting  that  the  moderator  is  asked  to  visit 
as  many  districts  and  attend  as  many  district 
and  denominational  events  as  possible,  "I  was 
concerned  that  at  my  age  I  might  not  have  the 
physical,  emotional,  and  mental  energy  to 
keep  up  the  fast  pace." 

She  asked  God  for  an  image  to  carry  her 
through,  and  it  was  manna,  the  food  God  pro- 
vided the  children  of  Israel  in  the  desert,  just 
enough  for  the  day  at  hand.  "It's  like  God  was 


saying,  'Emily,  I'm  going  to  give  you  manna 
in  the  form  of  strength  and  energy.  You  need 
to  trust  me.  But  there's  not  going  to  be  any 
extra.  When  I'm  feeling  pushed,  I  hear  God 
saying,  'Are  you  going  to  wait  for  my  manna?' 
God  does  supply  the  need. 

"I  have  gone  from  being  very  fearful  to  find- 
ing a  delight  in  being  moderator.  That's  God's 
gift,  not  what  I  could  do.  I'm  enjoying  it, 
though  there  are  still  some  times  I'm  uneasy  at 
the  prospect  of  the  Conference  business  ses- 
sion, and  all  those  people.  As  long  as  I  can  keep 
my  eyes  on  |esus,  then  I'm  okay.  But  when  I 
think  about  all  the  wonderful  things  that  past 
moderators  have  done,  sometimes  I  get  caught. 
I  have  to  remember  that  God  didn't  call  me  to 
be  like  anyone  else.  He  called  me  to  be  who  I 
am.  It's  been  a  wonderful  faith  walk." 

By  March  this  year,  Mumma  had  already 
traveled  more  than  55,000  miles  visit- 
ing districts  and  churches  as  moderator,  and 
faced  her  heaviest  travel  season  as  Annual 
Conference  approaches. 

"I've  been  surprised  by  the  care  that  1  find 
out  there,"  she  says.  "I  find  care  and  support 
for  me,  but  also  a  deep  caring  for  the  church. 
Even  when  people  have  questions,  or  disagree 
with  a  General  Board  program,  I  sense  a  deep 
level  of  caring."  She  also  found  a  commitment 
to  prayer  support  for  the  denomination,  for  her 
congregation,  and  for  her  work  as  moderator. 

Though  she  has  not  taken  a  leave  of  absence 
from  her  congregation  of  about  150  members, 
the  church  has  contracted  with  a  retired  pastor 
to  fill  the  pulpit  during  her  frequent  Sunday 
absences,  a  temporary  measure  that  has  been 
working  well.  Mumma  often  credits  the  sup- 
port of  her  congregation  for  helping  to  make 
her  term  as  moderator  successful. 

As  denominational  leader,  she  said  most  of 


12  Messenger  May  2000 


A  PREVIEW  OF  ANNUAL  CONFERENCE 

For  five  days  this  summer,  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  will  be 
home  to  several  thousand  Brethren  coming  together  for 
the  2000  Annual  Conference  at  the  city's  Bartle  Hall 
convention  complex.  Here's  what  you  can  expect: 

The  format.  After  many  years  of  running  from  Tuesday 
to  Sunday,  Conference  switches  to  a  shorter,  Saturday-to- 
Wednesday  format  this  year.  A  new  feature  will  be  the 
"Brethren  Ministries  LIVE"  report,  building  on  the  General 
Board  Live  report  of  years  past,  but  now  including  all  five 
Annual  Conference  agencies. 

The  worship.  A  series  of  speakers  will  build  on  the 
theme  by  addressing  different  aspects  of  Godlike  love, 
according  to  Mumma,  who  will  deliver  the  Saturday 
evening  message.  Other  speakers  are  [oel  Nogle,  pastor 
of  the  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  church,  Belita  Mitchell  of  the 
Imperial  Heights  church  in  Los  Angeles,  and  ecumeni- 
cal guests  Emanuel  Cleaver  and  Thomas  Troeger. 


The  business.  This  year's  agenda  has  grown  large, 
with  10  items  of  business  requiring  action,  in  addition 
to  the  usual  series  of  reports,  elections,  and  other  items. 
Delegates  will  address  three  major  unfinished  business 
items — papers  on  congregational  structure,  on  the  process 
for  calling  denominational  leadership,  and  on  caring  for 
the  poor — plus  hear  an  update  on  a  study  of  Brethren  and 
litigation.  The  congregational  structure  and  denomina- 
tional leadership  papers  can  be  viewed  at  the  Annual 
Conference  section  of  the  www.brethren.org  website. 

New  business  includes  five  queries  plus  a  General 
Board  request  for  Conference  to  endorse  the  World 
Council  of  Churches'  Decade  to  Overcome  Violence. 
The  queries  focus  on  guidelines  for  district  employees, 
the  role  and  relationship  of  district  executives  to  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  organizational  structure,  two  on 
discipleship  and  reconciliation  polity,  and  one  on  per- 
sonal evangelism  and  church  growth. — Walt  Wiltschek 


the  complaints  and  questions  she 
receives  in  letters  and  on  her  travels 
relate  to  the  need  for  clarification 
about  connections.  What's  the  rela- 
tionship of  Annual  Conference  to 
General  Board?  What's  the  meaning 
of  all  these  other  agencies? 

"1  think  there  are  people  who  care 
and  have  not  understood,"  she  says. 
"They  have  not  understood  the 
reason  for  redesign."  As  Mumma 
explains  patiently  the  history  and 
rationale  for  the  organizational 
changes  of  recent  years,  she  does  not 
sense  a  continuing  anger  or  discon- 
tent with  denominational  governance. 

"I  perceive  a  higher  level  of  trust 
in  the  General  Board  right  now  than 
I  have  seen  in  a  number  of  years," 
she  says.  "I  think  the  communica- 
tion is  better.  I  think  people's 
questions  are  being  answered,  and 
answered  more  promptly." 

The  moderator  who  Annual  Con- 
ference delegates  will  encounter  in 
Kansas  City  is  not  one  who  comes 
with  a  lot  of  plans  and  programs  for 
the  church.  "I  basically  share  out  of 
my  heart,"  she  says. 

To  the  business  agenda  she  brings  a 
commitment  to  discerning  God's  will. 
She  hopes  the  church  will  be  guided 
"less  by  the  ways  of  the  world  and 
more  by  the  leading  of  God's  spirit." 
She  adds,  "I'm  not  denying  that  we 
can  learn  from  the  world.  But  I  don't 
think  we  have  to  mirror  the  world.  If 


we're  open  to  God's  leading,  we'll  be 
on  the  leading  edge,  rather  than 
bringing  up  the  tail." 

After  Annual  Conference,  this  spir- 
ited but  reluctant  leader  will  be  more 
than  happy  to  get  back  to  her  garden. 


her  husband,  and  her  congregation  in 
Pennsylvania.  But  until  then  she  can 
be  expected  to  plunge  faithfully  into 
the  work  God  has  called  her  to  do. 

"If  I'm  listening  carefully,  and 
trust  in  God,  I  think  I'll  be  okay. 


Ai. 


The  journey  from  here 

A  j5^?QrtQn  the  state  of  the  church 


,    iMessengenjintier 
5  pm,  Sunday,  July  16 
»    1    Kansas  City 


Judy  Mills  Reimer 

Executive  DiKctor,  General  Board 


j^u,  .v.^jtnyt,  .u.  a  .c.a«m,  u...r^p-.-rer.-n«,rthe  cxecutive  dlfector  of  thc 
General  Board  deliver  her  "State  of  the  Church"  address,  a  report  on  where 
we  are  and  where  we're  going  as  a  denomination  at  the  beginning  of  the      ' 
new  millennium.  Program  concludes  in  time  for  the  evening  business  session. 


Please  order  tickets  in  advance.  There  may  be  no  on-site  ticket  sales. 
Call  the  Annual  Conference  office  at  800-323-8039  to  order. 


May  2000  Messenger  13 


WHEN 

THE  BIBLE 
CRASHED 

INTO  SUDAN 


BY  Esther  Frantz  Boleyn 


When  you  cook  food,  put  it 
into  a  bowl,  carry  it  away,  and 
drop  the  bowl,  which  breaks, 
does  the  food  fall  out?" 

This  question  was  asked  by 
Rev.  Peter  Riet  Machar  at  a  spe- 
cial Jan.  9  worship  service  in 
Mading,  southern  Sudan.  The 
answers  from  the  women  were 
unanimous.  "Yes,  of  course!" 

"Yesterday,"  Rev.  Peter  con- 
tinued, "a  bowl  dropped  out  of 
the  sky,  broke  apart,  but  the 
food  didn't  fall  out." 

Rev.  Peter,  vice  moderator  for 
the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Sudan 
for  south  Sudan,  was  reminding 
them  of  the  previous  day's  events, 
when  the  airplane  bringing  the 
guests  for  the  launching  of  the 
Nuer-language  Bible  crashed 
upon  landing  in  Mading. 

He  preached  the  sermon  that 
preceded  the  launching  cere- 
mony, speaking  about  the 
miracles  that  were  happening  in 
that  place.  The  800-plus  people 
sitting  in  the  hot  sun  listened 
attentively,  although  most  of 
them  had  seen  the  first  miracle 
happen  right  in  front  of  them. 
They  never  expected  anyone  to 
crawl  out  of  the  airplane,  let 
alone  to  have  everyone  get  out 
with  no  injuries. 

The  trip  from  Nairobi, 


"(."t^  'J^Ac 


Kenya,  began  at  5:30  a.m.  on 
Jan.  8.  We  were  flying  on  Anti- 
nov  28,  a  small  Russian-made 
airplane.  From  Nairobi  to  Loki- 
chogio,  on  the  border  of 
Sudan,  all  went  well.  We 
landed,  got  off  to  sign  out  at 
Kenyan  immigration,  and 
boarded  the  same  plane  for  the 
two-hour  flight  to  Mading. 

Those  on  the  plane  included 
Rev.  Peter,  the  executive  secre- 
tary of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  Sudan,  three  Presbyterian  mis- 
sionaries, three  Church  of  the 
Brethren  representatives  (my 
husband,  Lester,  and  I,  and  video- 
grapher  David  SoUenberger),  the 
United  Bible  Societies  consultant, 
and  die  whole  family  of  our  trans- 
lator, Tut  Wan  Yoa,  although  he 


For  God  so  loved  every  part 
of  the  world:  The  Nuer 
Bible,  turned  to  John  3:16. 

was  still  in  Lokichokio,  waiting  for 
the  second  plane  to  Mading. 
We  were  now  having  the 
launching  ceremony  at  Mading 
because  only  three  davs  earlier  a 
rebel  commander  had  threat- 
ened that  his  soldiers  would 
arrest  everyone  on  the  plane  if 
he  weren't  allowed  to  travel  on 
the  plane  to  Akobo,  the  original 
site  for  the  launching  service. 
The  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Sudan  leaders  decided  that  this 
was  a  religious  event,  not  a 
political  or  war-related  one,  so 
they  changed  the  Bible-launch- 
ing site  to  Mading  instead. 


At  the  airstrip  a  limp  flag 
indicated  no  wind.  But  just  sec- 
onds before  the  wheels  touched 
the  ground,  a  strong  crosswind 
hit  the  plane  and  caused  it  to 
roll  from  side  to  side.  It  hit  the 
ground  with  a  bang  on  the 
right  wheel,  which  collapsed, 
causing  the  plane  to  careen  out 
of  control  and  veer  off  the 
airstrip  to  the  right. 

The  pilot  skillfiilly  neutralized 
the  engines  and  slowed  die  plane 
down  considerably  before,  skid- 
ding sideways,  the  left  'wing  hit  a 
high  grass  fence  surrounding  a 
compound.  The  impact  broke  off 
diat  wing  at  the  engine,  and  then 
the  whole  thing  turned  upside- 
down.  All  22  passengers  and  the 
t\\'o  pilots  were  hanging  from 
their  seatbelts  looking  down. 

The  pilot  was  able  to  kick  out 
his  door  and  went  around  the 
outside  trying  doors,  but  to  no 
avail.  He  then  jumped  up  on 
top  and,  with  Nuer  men  help- 
ing, was  able  to  rip  open  the  tail 
loading  door.  Half  the  passen- 
gers exited  out  that  opening, 
and  the  other  half  went  forward 
to  the  pilot's  door.  In  my  daze  I 
cra\\ied  through  the  other 
pilot's  window,  which  had 
broken  out,  giving  me  the  worst 
(continued  on  p.  19) 


14  Messenger  May  2000 


GOD'S  WORD  IN  NUER 

Against  all  odds,  a  decade-long  project  bears  fruit  in  Sudan. 


It  was  mid-January,  and  the 
Nuer  were  about  to  receive  a 
complete  Bible  in  their  own  lan- 
guage for  the  first  time.  The  wor- 
ship service  had  moved  outdoors 
since  the  crowd  of  nearly  900 
wouldn't  fit  in  Mading's  small 
sanctuary,  near  the  Ethiopian  bor- 

Only  three  boxes  of  Nuer  Bibles  made 
it  to  Mading,  but  they  were  quickly 
examined  by  people  eager  to  see  and 
read  the  Word  in  their  own  language. 


der.  An  hour  of  worship  moved 
into  another  two  and  a  half  hours 
of  ceremony  and  celebration  for 
the  launching  of  the  Bible. 

Then  the  moment  came. 

"They  broke  out  in  sponta- 
neous singing,  cheering,  and 
drumming,"  said  Lester  Boleyn, 
who  worked  on  the  translation 
project  for  a  decade  along  with 
his  wife,  Esther.  "It  was  a  sponta- 
neous expression  of  joy." 

May  2000  Messenger  1 5 


Photos  by  David  Sollenberger 
Text  by  Walt  Wiltschek 
Produced  bv  Howai'd  Royer 


Not  even  a 

crosswind 

could  deter  the 

long-awaited 

launch 

celebration. 


THE  MANY 
MIRACLES 
OF  MADING 


Children  and  others  in  the  village  of  Mading  joined  m  worship  j 


Everything  seemed  to  be  going 
wrong  en  route  to  the  Bible 
launching  service.  Political  ma- 
neuvering in  Sudan  forced  a 
change  of  site  from  Akobo  to  the 
village  of  Mading,  on  three  days' 
notice.  Then  the  plane  carrying 
Church  of  the  Brethren  represen- 
tatives Lester  and  Esther  Boleyn 
and  David  Sollenberger  and  21 
others  crashed  and  flipped  upon 
landing  in  a  crosswind. 

Then,  everything  went  right. 

•  Everyone  on  board  the  plane 

Sudanese  women  expressed  the  joy  of 
the  occasion  through  dancing. 


sur\'ived  with  nothing  more  than 
a  scratch  or  two. 

•Thrust  into  the  spotlight  on 
short  notice,  Mading  proved  a 
welcoming  and  energetic  place  for 
the  service.  A  large  turnout  em- 
braced the  three  boxes  of  Bibles 
able  to  be  shipped  there. 

•And  perhaps  the  greatest  mir- 
acle of  all:  A  new  translation  of 
the  Bible  that  itself  emerged  from 
a  land  plagued  by  war,  uprooted 
populations,  and  drought.  It's 
believed  to  be  the  first  complete 
Bible  to  be  printed  in  any  Sudan- 
ese ethnic  language. 


ife  and  the  power  of  God  in  protecting  the  travelers  and  delivering  the  Bibles. 


Atop  the  flipped  v^ing,  church  leaders  praise  God. 


An  unexpected  miracle  occurred  v/hen  all  24  passengers  and  crew  escaped  unhurt  from  a  plane  that  crashed  upon  landing  in  Mading. 


May  2000  Messenger  17 


Lester  Boleyn  and  Tut  Wan  Yoa,  two  of  the  key  figures  in  the  Nuer  translation  project,  came  together  again  to  officially  "launch"  the  new  Bible. 

END  OR  BEGINNING? 


A  New  Testament  in  the  Nuer 
language,  the  largest  language 
group  in  southern  Sudan,  had  ex- 
isted since  the  late  '60s.  The  Bi- 
ble launched  in  January,  however, 
presented  the  first  fiail  translation 
of  all  66  books.  The  Bibles  were 
printed  in  South  Korea  after  years 
of  painstaking  work  by  the  Sudan 
Bible  Society,  translating  the  Old 
Testament  and  revising  the  New 
Testament  materials. 

The  copies  transported  to  Ma- 


ding  were  distributed  to  evangel- 
ists, pastors,  and  other  church 
leaders.  Meanwhile,  many  more 
boxes  were  sent  to  other  locations 
for  simultaneous  celebrations. 

People  immediately  immersed 
themselves  in  the  new  text,  hun- 
grily reading  passages  in  their 
own  tongue  for  the  first  time. 
Sollenberger  shared  a  comment 
from  translator  Tut  Wan  Yoa,  who 
worked  with  the  Boleyns:  "Finally 
we  can  read  the  message  in  Nuer." 


Fbr.Nuers  growing  up.  a  Bible  in  their  own  tongue. 


lU'  > 


1 8  Messenger  May  2000 


(conliniied  from  p.  14) 
injury  of  all  the  passengers — a 
cut  on  the  foot. 

E\en  though  another  plane- 
load of  people  was  to  land  three 
hours  later,  die  Nuers  didn't  wait 
to  begin  worshiping.  The  pastor 
took  all  of  us  who  had  been  on 
the  plane  over  to  the  church 
compound,  where  the  praying 
and  praising  immediately  began. 
This  was  immediate  therapy. 

Later  in  the  day,  many  hun- 
dreds of  people  gathered 
around  the  plane,  using  its 
wing  as  a  platform  for  speakers. 
Several  people  told  stories  of 
how  they  were  each  affected  by 
the  crash.  This  type  of  sharing 
happened  again  Sunday  evening 
around  the  plane,  and  on 
Monday  in  the  church. 

The  Nuer  Christians  had  a 
simple  explanation  for  the 
crash.  The  devil  had  now  tried 
two  times  to  stop  the  launching 
of  the  Bible.  Satan  had  forced 
the  change  in  venue,  and  now 
sent  a  crosswind  to  crash  the 
plane.  But  they  said,  "God  is 
mightier  than  Satan.  God  took 
charge.  Nothing  could  prevent 
the  bringing  of  his  Word  to  the 
people."  Lester's  evaluation  to 
the  assembled  people  was,  "God 
intended  this  to  be  a  time  of 
celebration,  not  of  mourning." 

jAlter  the  celebration  of  life  on 
Saturday,  the  doubling  of  the 
miracle  began  on  Sunday  with  the 
official  launching  ceremony  for 
the  Nuer  Bible.  The  masses  of 
people  had  ail  been  assembling  at 
the  original  site,  Akobo.  The  sup- 
plies had  been  sent  there  earlier. 


The  Nuer  Christians  liad  a  simple  explanation 
for  the  crash.  The  devil  had  now  tried  two 
times  to  stop  the  launching  of  the  Bible.  But 
they  said,  "God  is  mightier  than  Satan.  God 
took  charge.  Nothing  could  prevent  the 
bringing  of  his  Word  to  the  people." 


the  choirs  had  practiced,  and 
there  were  plent)'  of  drummers. 

When  the  site  was  changed, 
there  was  no  way  those  people 
could  travel  to  Mading.  The 
people  in  attendance  at  Mading 
were  all  locals.  Our  celebration 
was  quite  spontaneous.  It  had 
no  rehearsed  singing  or  pray- 
ing. We  were  all  conscious  of 
God's  great  power  and  mercy. 

The  ceremony  took  two  hours, 
following  a  one-hour  worship 
service.  It  included  preaching, 
singing,  praying,  and  the  hand- 
ing of  the  official  Bible  to  the 
vice  moderator  by  the  United 
Bible  Societies'  representative. 
Dr.  Jan  Sterk.  Tut  Wan,  who  had 
been  the  only  consistent  transla- 
tor with  the  project  we  worked 
on  for  1 1  years,  interpreted  the 
Nuer  words  into  English  and 
English  into  Nuer. 

Because  of  the  change  of  venue, 
we  had  only  three  24-Bible  car- 
tons to  distribute.  But  those  72 
Bibles  were  sufficient  for  distribu- 
tion to  pastors,  ex'angelists,  and 
women  church  leaders. 

On  the  two  days  preceding 
the  Mading  extents,  chartered 
flights  were  taking  loads  of 
Bibles  into  other  villages 
through  Upper  Nile  Province 
where  the  Nuers  live.  Tut  Wan 


had  instructed  everyone  to  keep 
the  cartons  unopened  until 
Sunday  morning.  Every  church 
was  to  have  a  celebration  and 
then  open  the  cartons  and  dis- 
tribute the  Bibles.  This  also 
took  place  in  Khartoum  and  in 
refugee  camps  outside  Sudan. 

The  people  said  that  had 
Satan  been  successful  in  stop- 
ping the  launching,  Christianity 
among  the  Nuers  would  have 
had  a  terrible  setback.  Marginal 
followers  might  have  said,  "The 
Christians  teach  that  they  have  a 
loving  God.  Their  God  didn't 
even  save  that  planeload  of  24 
people!  And  they  were  his  faith- 
ful leaders.  Why  would  we  want 
to  follow  a  God  like  that?" 

But  now,  with  the  saving  of 
the  people  on  the  plane,  the 
church  leaders  expect  an  increase 
in  people  turning  away  from  tra- 
ditional gods  and  turning  toward 
Christ  and  the  church. 

The  leaders  of  the  Presbnerian 
Church  in  Sudan,  which  will  cele- 
brate 100  years  of  mission  there  in 
2002,  also  expect  that  many  of 
their  own  evangelists  and  pastors 
will  now  want  to  attend  the 
Mobile  Bible  School  that  has 
begun  at  Mading.  They  will  see 
Mading  as  a  place  blessed  b\'  God. 

For  the  past  100  years,  all 


preaching  has  been  done  by 
mostly  illiterate  evangelists  who 
listened  closely  to  the  preaching 
of  the  Word  by  missionaries  or  a 
\'ery  few  educated  Nuer  church 
leaders.  They,  in  turn,  went  out  to 
the  villages  and  repeated  tlie  ser- 
mons they  had  heard  preached. 

Over  the  years,  many  of  these 
leaders  have  been  taught  to  read 
the  Nuer  language;  now  they 
will  have  the  Bible  to  read.  They 
will  be  able  to  stand  before  their 
congregations  and  read  the 
Word  of  God,  no  longer  need- 
ing to  rely  on  memory  to 
proclaim  the  story  of  the  Bible. 

The  masses  of  Nuer  still  are 
illiterate,  but  now  they  will  be 
able  to  hear  the  Word  of  God 
read  to  them.  j\nd  many  are 
wanting  to  learn  to  read,  so 
now  they  will  be  able  to  have 
their  own  Bible  and  read 
it  for  themselves. 


/ti. 


Esther  Boleyn  is  a  retired  school- 
teadter  recently  moved  to  Cumberland. 
Md..  where  she  plans  to  work  as  "a 
helpmate  to  my  husband, "  Lester 
Boleyn,  who  begins  this  month  as  a 
full-time  Congregational  Life  Team 
member  From  1 9SS  to  1 99S  site  lived 
in  Nairobi.  Kenya,  where  she  was 
employed  by  the  General  Board's 
office  of  Global  Mission  Partnerships 
as  editor  and  keyboarder  for  the  Nuer 
Bible  project.  She  said  she  is  ready  to 
leave  her  African  language  skills 
behind  and  "learn  the  new  language  of 
the  mountains. " 


May  2000  Messenger  1 9 


SP  RT 


Spiritual  development  requires 
training  and  a  balanced  diet 


BY  Fletcher  Farrar 

D 

I    ^k    ichard  Foster's  vision  that 
*.      ^^  "a  great  new  gathering  of 
the  people  of  God  is  occurring  in  our 
day"  seemed  to  come  to  life  as  people 
streamed  into  Leffler  Chapel  at  Eliza- 
bethtown  College  March  10.  There 
were  800  attending  this  conference 
on  spiritual  growth — it  had  sold  out 
in  a  few  days  while  another  1  50  who 
tried  to  register  didn't  get  in.  Orga- 
nizers said  the  response  reflects  a 
new  hunger  by  serious  Christians  for 

20  Messenger  May  2000 


spiritual  development  opportunities. 

Foster,  the  Quaker  evangelist  and 
author,  told  the  gathering  it's  impor- 
tant for  Christians  who  want  to  grow 
in  discipleship  and  Christlikeness  to 
get  together  to  encourage  each  other, 
because  not  all  who  go  to  church 
share  that  agenda.  That  began  two 
days  of  instruction  on  how  to  develop 
a  balanced  spiritual  life,  rooted  and 
grounded  in  scripture,  prayer,  and 
the  traditions  of  the  church. 

Balance  also  described  the  lively 
singing,  which  included  both  new 
"praise"  songs  and  substantial  hymn 
classics.  The  conference  attracted 


both  conservative  and  liberal 
Brethren,  charismatics  and  peace 
activists.  Recognizing  that  spiritual 
growth  unites  diverse  interests,  Foster 
quoted  John  Wesley:  "If  your  heart 
beats  with  my  heart  in  love  and  loyalty 
to  lesus  Christ,  take  my  hand." 

This  was  the  Renovare  Regional 
Conference  on  Spiritual  Renewal, 
sponsored  by  Atlantic  Northeast  Dis- 
trict Church  of  the  Brethren.  The 
conference  grew  out  of  two  years  of 
prayer  and  planning  by  the  district's 
Spiritual  Renewal  Team,  led  by  David 
Young,  interim  pastor  of  the  Hatfield 
(Pa.)  Church  of  the  Brethren.  About 


half  those  attending  were  from  50 
area  Church  of  the  Brethren  congre- 
gations, and  the  other  half  were 
Mennonites  from  the  area. 

Renovare,  Latin  for  "to  renew,"  is 
the  organization  founded  by  Foster 
to  invigorate  churches  by  helping 
their  members  grow  spiritually 
through  personal  training  and  partic- 
ipation in  small  groups  known  as 
Spiritual  Formation  Groups.  The 
twin  strategy,  centered  in  church  life, 
avoids  the  problems  of  unbridled 
freedom  and  isolated  effort  at  spiri- 
tual growth.  Several  Church  of  the 
Brethren  pastors  at  the  event  said 
they  appreciated  Foster's  orthodox 
approach  to  spiritual  growth,  with  its 
emphasis  on  both  study  and  commu- 
nity as  keys  to  development. 

"Our  faith  needs  a  structure, 


a  shape  and  an  outline  to  it,"  Foster 
said.  The  structure  can  be  built 
around  the  12  disciplines  outlined  in 
his  popular  1 988  book,  Celebration 
of  Discipline,  among  them  prayer, 
solitude,  study,  simplicity,  fasting, 
service.  He  urges  Christians  to 
become,  like  Paul,  "athletes  for  God" 
by  training  for  the  spiritual  life. 

Like  a  trainer  urging  a  novice  to 
exercise,  he  offered  two  suggestions. 
The  first:  Begin  small.  "There  is  a 
progression  in  the  spiritual  life," 
Foster  said,  and  we  can't  all  start 
with  healing  miracles.  The  second 
suggestion:  Begin.  Start  in  humility 
where  you  are,  he  said.  "The  Lord  is 
never  hard  to  find." 

Foster  alternated  lectures  with 
Emilie  Griffin,  a  Roman  Catholic  and  a 
Latin  buff  whose  scholarly  reserve  pro- 
vided a  nice  counterpoint  to  Foster's 
more  boisterous  style.  She  gave  a 
moving  description  of  her  own  "expe- 
rience of  grace"  while  living  the  fast 


life  of  a  young  advertising  executive  in 
New  York  City,  which  she  thought  at 
first  was  "the  New  Jerusalem."  She 
began  to  study  the  Bible,  and  she 
found  truth  through  theater  and  films. 
"The  Lord  speaks  to  us  through  things 
we  love."  She  read  C.  S.  Lewis' 
Surprised  by  Joy.  and  there  found,  as 
Lewis  did,  that  many  admirable  people 
live  the  virtuous  life  "with  honor,  cour- 
tesy, and  gentleness." 

Eventually  she  began  to  surrender 
her  cool  pride.  "I  did  not  want  to  be 
one  who  would  not  give  in  to  the 
Lord  because  it  was  not  a  contempo- 
rary thing  to  do."  After  her 
surrender,  she  learned  that  with 
some  effort  on  her  part,  the  Holy 
Spirit  would  do  much  of  the  work  of 
spiritual  growth.  "We  will  be  carried 
along  by  the  wings  of  grace." 

Both  Foster  and  Griffin  empha- 
sized that  God  becomes  a  partner  in 
our  growth  in  godliness.  While 
growth  requires  effort,  making  that 


May  2000  Messenger  21 


effort  isn't  the  same  as  striving  to 
earn  God's  favor.  The  effort  at  spiri- 
tual growth  merely  puts  Christians  in 
a  place  to  joyfully  surrender  to  the 
Holy  Spirit,  in  which  "the  soul,  light 
as  a  feather,  fluid  as  water,  innocent 
as  a  child,  responds  to  every  move- 
ment of  grace  like  a  floating 
balloon."  The  quotation,  from  Jean- 
Pierre  de  Caussade  in  The  Sacrament 
of  the  Present  Moment,  was  used  sev- 
eral times  during  the  conference. 


nr 


I    he  core  of  the  Renovare 
i.  approach  to  spiritual  develop- 
ment is  in  the  six  traditions,  or 
streams,  of  Christian  faith  and 
witness,  which  Foster  describes  in 
detail  in  his  recent  book.  Streams  of 
Living  Water:  Celebrating  the  Great 
Traditions  of  Christian  Faith 
(HarperSanFrancisco).  By  learning 
about  and  training  in  each  of  the  tra- 
ditions. Christians  will  have  a 
balanced  approach  toward  spiritual 
development.  And,  though  he  didn't 
emphasize  it,  they  will  learn  to 
respect  traditions  which  their  church 
does  not  emphasize. 

For  example,  he  urged  those  who 
emphasize  the  "social  justice"  tradi- 
tion to  seek  balance  by  learning  more 
about  the  "charismatic"  tradition. 
"There  is  no  such  thing  as  a  non- 
charismatic  Christian,"  Foster  said. 
All  Christians  are  given  spiritual 
gifts,  or  powers,  to  do  the  work  of 
God.  "If  you  are  in  Christ  it  is  a  life 
in  the  spirit,"  he  told  the  conference. 

In  his  book,  Foster  elaborates  on 
the  gains  to  be  had  from  embracing 
the  charismatic  tradition — the 
"Spirit-empowered  life."  They 
include  providing  a  corrective  to  "our 
impulse  to  domesticate  God,"  as  well 
as  "a  rebuke  to  our  anemic  practice" 
of  business-as-usual  religion. 

Among  the  potential  perils  of  the 
charismatic  tradition,  he  adds,  is  that 
signs  and  wonders  will  be  trivialized 
into  "magic  religion."  He  writes. 


Richard  Foster: 

''Our  faith  needs 

a  structure,  a 

shape  and  an 

OUTLINE  TO   it/' 


"We  often  focus  on  the  gift  rather 
than  the  Giver."  Another  peril  is 
rejecting  the  rational  and  the  intel- 
lectual. "We  love  God  with  both 
mind  and  heart."  And  he  warns 
against  the  danger  of  falling  for 
"highly  speculative  end-time  scenar- 
ios that  lack  theological  foundation." 
Each  of  six  spiritual  traditions  was 
explained  briefly  at  the  conference. 


and  explained  more  fully  in  Renovare 
literature.  They  are: 

^   Contemplative.  The  "prayer- 
filled  life"  focuses  on  intimacy 
with  God  and  depth  of  spiritual- 
ity. This  spiritual  dimension 
addresses  the  longing  for  a 
deeper,  more  vital  Christian 
experience. 

W  Holiness.  The  "virtuous  life" 
focuses  upon  personal  moral 
transformation  and  the  power  to 
develop  "holy  habits."  This  spiri- 
tual dimension  addresses  the 
erosion  of  moral  fiber  in  per- 
sonal and  social  life. 

W    Charismatic.  The  "spirit- 
empowered  life"  focuses  on  the 
charisms  of  the  Spirit  and  wor- 
ship. This  spiritual  dimension 
addresses  the  yearning  for  the 
immediacy  of  God's  presence 
among  his  people. 

^     Social  justice.  The  "compas- 
sionate life"  focuses  on  justice 
and  shalom  in  all  human  rela- 
tionships and  social  structures. 
This  spiritual  dimension 
addresses  the  gospel  imperative 
for  equity  and  compassion 
among  all  peoples. 

^    Evangelical.  The  "word-cen- 
tered life"  focuses  on  the 
proclamation  of  the  good  news 
of  the  gospel.  This  spiritual 
dimension  addresses  the  need 
for  people  to  see  the  good  news 
lived  and  hear  the  good  news 
proclaimed. 

^  Incarnational.  The  "sacramen- 
tal life"  focuses  on  making 
present  and  visible  the  realm  of 
the  invisible  spirit.  This  spiritual 
dimension  addresses  the  crying 
need  to  experience  God  as  truly 
manifest  and  active  in  daily  life. 


22  Messenger  May  2000 


After  Foster  introduced  and 
described  all  these  traditions,  he 
asked  participants  to  each  think  of 
one  they  would  like  to  learn  more 
about  and  develop  more  in  their  spir- 
itual experience.  They  were  asked  to 
stand  as  he  named  the  tradition  they 
wanted  to  strengthen  in  themselves. 
As  more  of  the  group  got  to  its  feet 
with  the  naming  of  each  aspect,  it 
became  a  visible  demonstration  that 
the  desire  for  a  more  balanced  spiri- 
tuality was  growing  among  them. 

T 

I    he  practical  strategy  for 
IL  implementing  spiritual  devel- 
opment under  the  Renovare  model  is 
through  Spiritual  Formation  Groups 
that  gather  for  mutual  nurture  and 
encouragement.  Though  many  who 
attended  were  already  familiar  with 
small  groups,  several  said  the  groups 
that  formerly  met  in  their  churches 
had  lapsed  and  now  needed  to  be  re- 
energized. 

Foster  made  his  case  for  small 
groups  by  quoting  |ohn  Wesley,  who 
wrote  in  1763:  "I  was  more  convinced 
than  ever  that  the  preaching  like  an 
apostle,  without  the  joining  together 
those  that  are  awakened  and  training 
them  up  in  the  ways  of  God,  is  only 
begetting  children  for  the  murderer. 
How  much  preaching  has  there  been 
for  these  twenty  years  all  over  Pem- 
brokeshire! But  no  regular  societies, 
no  discipline,  no  order,  or  connec- 
tion. And  the  consequence  is  that  nine 
in  ten  of  those  once  awakened  are 
now  faster  asleep  than  ever." 


Renovare  recommends  a  simple 
meeting  structure  detailed  in  its  Spir- 
itual Formation  Workbook.  It  centers 
on  sharing  how  God  has  been  at 
work  in  each  person's  life  during  the 
week  past,  sharing  needs  and  praying 
together,  and  encouraging  each 
other  for  the  week  ahead. 

Though  the  recommended  struc- 
ture is  common  and  uncomplicated. 
Foster  insists  that  some  structure 
and  rules  of  confidentiality  are 
important  to  succeed.  "A  steady  diet 
of  superficial  conversation  can  liter- 
ally strangle  the  soul,"  says  Renovare 
literature.  "We  long  to  know  and  be 
known  at  deep  personal  levels, 
though  we  fear  that  involvement. 
Simply  sitting  with  a  small  group  of 
people  does  not  guarantee  building 
personal  relationships  at  a  level 
which  allows  us  to  affirm  each  other. 
Groups  need  a  structure  that  will 
facilitate  personal  sharing." 

Farticipants  left  the  conference 
Saturday  evening  enthusiastic, 
and  eager  to  begin  the  work  of 
developing  their  spiritual  lives.  They 
had  learned  that  growth  needs  effort, 
to  get  bodies  and  minds  ready  to 
accept  God's  grace.  It  needs  bal- 
ance; too  much  emphasis  on  one 
area  of  the  spiritual  life  and  too  little 
on  another  leads  to  imbalance.  And 
it  needs  structure,  because  people 
without  strategy  tend  to  flounder. 
Clearly,  after  the  Renovare 
weekend  in  Elizabethtown,  rTi~j 

renewal  had  begun.  r^l 


Spiritual  Formation  Group: 

Volunteers  from  the 
audience  modeled  the  small 
groups  that  undergird 
spiritual  growth. 


^ 


Resources 
for  spiritual 

GROWTH 

Listed  below  are  some  of  the 
books  Renovare  recommends. 
They  may  be  ordered  from 
Brethren  Press  at  the  prices 
listed  by  calling  800-441  -3712, 
or  by  fax  800-667-81 88.  Include 
order  number. 

Streams  of  Living  Water:  Cele- 
brating the  Great  Traditions  of 
Christian  Faith,  by  Richard 
Foster.  HarperSanFrancisco, 
1998.  Order  #0242,  $21. 

A  Spiritual  Formation  Work- 
book: Small-Group  Resources  for 
Nurturing  Christian  Growth,  by 
James  Bryan  Smith  with  Lynda 
Graybeal.  HarperSanFrancisco, 
revised  1999.  Order  #0253, 
$10. 

Celebration  of  Discipline:  The 
Path  to  Spiritual  Growth,  by 
Richard  Foster.  HarperSanFran- 
cisco, revised  1998.  Order 
#7316,  $22. 

The  Spirit  of  the  Disciplines: 
Understanding  How  God 
Changes  Lives,  by  Dallas  Willard. 
HarperSanFrancisco,  1988. 
Order  #0258,  $15. 

The  address  of  Renovare  is  8 
Inverness  Drive  East,  Suite  102, 
Enalewood,  CO  801  12-5624. 


May  2000  Messenger  23 


^INISTI^ 


FOR  40  YEARS,   INTERCHURCH   MEDICAL  ASSISTANCE   H^ 


of  MEDICfNTE 


BY  Walt  Wiltschek 

Paul  Derstine  was  working  in  Haiti  in  1991,  serving 
as  program  director  for  a  medical  operation  in  the 
impoverished  Caribbean  nation.  Recently  elected  President 
lean-Bertrand  Aristide  was  being  forced  out  in  a  military 
coup,  and  chaos  was  spreading  across  the  country. 

Derstine  found  himself  out  in  a  remote  section  of  the 
western  part  of  the  nation  when  the  government  finally 
fell.  Roads  everywhere  were  cut  and  transportation  dis- 
rupted. It  left  Derstine  alone  as  the  only  American  in  a 
small  village  for  10  days. 

As  he  walked  around  during  those  uncertain  days,  he 
would  pass  a  small  clinic  at  the  edge  of  the  town.  Though 
he  wasn't  a  doctor  himself,  he  could  tell  that  needs 
weren't  being  met. 

"People  would  go  in,  and  there  was  nothing  in  this  clinic 
to  help  them,"  Derstine  said.  "For  the  first  time,  I  asked 
myself,  'What  if  I  get  sick  or  break  a  leg?'  It  really  struck 
me  what  life  was  like  for  so  many  people  in  the  world." 

He  was  eventually  able  to  reach  the  capital  of  Port-au-Prince 
and  be  evacuated,  once  again  reaching  the  safety  and  comfort 
of  the  United  States.  The  memories  of  that  experience  didn't 
fade,  though,  staying  fresh  as  a  pressing  issue  in  his  mind. 

As  so  often  happens,  God  soon  provided  a  route  for  his 
passion.  Just  as  Derstine  found  himself  at  a  crossroads,  a 
nonprofit  agency  called  Interchurch  Medical  Assistance,  Inc. 
had  a  need  for  a  director.  Each  party  liked  what  the  other  had 

24  Messenger  May  2000 


to  offer,  and  so  in  lanuary  1992  Derstine  traveled  to  IMA's 
offices  at  the  Brethren  Service  Center  in  New  Windsor,  Md. 

"I  really  felt  that  God  had  led  me  here,"  Derstine  said. 

And  he  has  led  IMA,  which  celebrates  its  40th  anniver- 
sary this  year,  through  a  decade  of  change  and  expansion. 
Derstine  said  the  current  work  of  IMA — now  with  12 
member  organizations,  including  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren  General  Board — falls  into  five  major  categories: 

•  Placing  donations  at  sites  around  the  world  as  medicines 
become  available  from  corporations  or  other  sources. 

•  Purchasing  other  necessary  drugs  with  cash  dona- 
tions received  to  "fill  the  gaps." 

•  Providing  a  "medicine  box"  program  that  will  supply  a 
medical  office  to  serve  1,000  people  for  three  months, 
plus  a  variety  of  special  box  supply  programs.  Pharma- 
ceutical services  director  Don  Padgett  and  other  staff 
members  work  to  coordinate  and  fulfill  these  lists. 

•  Responding  to  emergencies  in  appropriate  ways,  usu- 
ally as  the  second,  long-term  phase  of  recovery  after  the; 
immediate  disaster  relief.  IMA  works  in  "places  forgot- 
ten a  long  time  ago  by  CNN,"  as  Derstine  puts  it. 

•  Organizing  disease  control  initiatives  in  developing 
countries.  These  efforts  currently  focus  on  choceri- 
asis,  or  river  blindness,  and  on  lymphatic  filariasis,  or 
elephantiasis. 


0  members  of  an  IMA  river 
idness  healthcare  team 

e  medicine  to  a 
Kiinian  girl.  The 
diciiie  stops  progression 
the  disease  that  causes 
'ling,  disfigurement,  and 
•ntual  blindness. 


Measuring  up.  A  teacher 
measures  a  student's  height 
to  determine  the  correct 
medicine  dosage  for  a 
Tanzanian  boy  with  river 
blindness. 


JPPLIED   PHARMACEUTICALS  TO  THE  WORLD'S   NEEDY 


Elephantiasis  victims  in  Recife,  Brazil,  nieet  regularly  for 
education  and  support,  often  helping  one  another  in 
washing  the  affected  leg  and  foot.  Paul  Derstine, 
standing  second  from  right,  obsenes  the  activities  of 
the  "Hope  Club, "  accompanied  by  Dr.  Gerusa  Dreyer 
(third  from  right),  coordinator  of  the  International 
Training  Center  for  Elephantiasis  Treatment  Services 
and  a  pioneer  and  internationally  renowned  expert  in 
this  work.  IMA's  elephantiasis  program  in  Haiti  models 
the  hygiene  and  treatment  practices  of  Dr.  Dreyer. 


According  to  IMA,  more  than  $  1  5  million  worth  of  medi- 
cines and  other  supplies  are  shipped  annually.  More  than 
2,000  medical  boxes  were  sent  out  in  the  1990s. 

Those  numbers  and  the  organization's  growth  were 
likely  beyond  the  dreams  of  the  group  that  came 
together  to  form  IMA  in  response  to  needs  in  1960. 

The  organization  grew  out  of  the  vision  of  a  woman  named 
Bert  Marker,  who  wanted  to  support  women's  clinical  work 
in  India  through  Methodist  medical  mission  work.  She  went 
to  the  various  pharmaceutical  companies  and  asked  for  help 
with  her  project,  and  some  of  them  responded.  Soon  drums 
of  vitamins  were  being  dropped  off  in  her  backyard. 

Others  soon  joined  her  quest,  and  six  denominations 
(not  including  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  at  the  time) 
banded  together  to  formalize  the  effort  and  create  IMA. 
They  located  the  offices  in  the  New  York  City  neighbor- 
hood bustling  with  the  ecumenical  activity  of  the  National 


Council  of  Churches,  and  handled  warehousing  needs  out 
of  the  Brethren  Service  Center  in  New  Windsor. 

The  Church  of  the  Brethren  General  Board  did  join  as  a 
partner  soon  afterwards,  and  in  April  1981  the  IMA 
offices  relocated  to  New  Windsor,  too.  Today  eight  staff 
members  work  at  the  Brethren  Service  Center,  on  the 
second  floor  of  the  venerable  Blue  Ridge  building,  and 
two  others  work  elsewhere:  medical  adviser  Dr.  Glen 
Brubaker  in  Lancaster,  Pa.,  and  IMA  resident  representa- 
tive Charles  Franzen  in  Tanzania. 

Derstine  is  himself  a  member  and  moderator  of  the  West- 
minster (Md.)  Church  of  the  Brethren,  and  he  said  he 
values  having  the  denomination  as  a  partner  in  IMA's  work. 

A  special  program  called  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  clinic 
box,  which  began  in  1998,  gathers  specific  supplies  plus  a 
cash  donation  to  aid  the  work  of  rural  clinics.  The  boxes 
have  particularly  been  used  in  the  Dominican  Republic, 
Nicaragua,  and  Honduras  so  far.  Mission  workers  Jerry  and 


May  2000  Messenger  25 


Becky  Crouse  hosted  Padgett  for  a  tour  of  several  denomi- 
nations' medical  projects  in  the  Dominican  last  year. 

And,  of  course,  the  Brethren  Service  Center  itself  has 
provided  a  continuing  context  for  IMA's  work.  Derstine 
said  the  value  of  that  partnership  can't  be  put  into  dollars, 
and  the  cooperation  and  sharing  available  there  really 
make  IMA's  operations  possible. 


The  donations  flowed  in  easily,  people  in  the  field  knew 
how  to  use  the  supplies,  and  IMA  could  simply  connect  the 
two  without  needing  to  worry  about  fundraising  or  solicit- 
ing supplies.  In  the  1990s,  however,  the  situation  changed. 
Pharmaceutical  companies  became  more  exact  in  their  pro- 
duction schedules,  and  surplus  went  down.  The  needs  for 
medications  and  other  services  overseas  became  more  spe- 


"THE   NEEDS   ARE    GREATER  THAN   EVER,   AND   WE   REALLY   HAVE   TO 

WORK   MUCH   HARDER  AT   BRINGING   RESOURCES   TO   THE   NEED." 

—  Paul   Derstine,  president  of  In  t  erchu  rch  Medical  Assistance 


The  agency  fits  well  with  the  service 
center's  focus  on  other  relief  efforts, 
such  as  disaster  response  and  refugee 
resetdement.  IMA's  only  formal  interna- 
tional programs  operate  in  Haiti  and 
Tanzania,  but,  through  outreach  and  other  partnerships,  IMA 
services  reach  about  45  to  50  countries  each  year. 

"Their  presence  on  our  campus  is  further  demonstration 
to  our  guests  of  the  international  concern  and  ministry 
focus  of  the  Center  and  its  resident  agencies,"  says  Stan 
Noffsinger,  director  of  the  Brethren  Service  Center  and 
the  Church  of  the  Brethren  General  Board's  representative 
to  the  IMA  board. 

The  work  of  IMA,  while  remaining  true  to  the  original 
mission,  has  changed  considerably  in  the  40  years  since 
its  founding.  Back  then,  and  through  the  next  three 
decades,  IMA  functioned  mainly  as  a  clearinghouse  and 
information  coordinator.  It  would  gather  surplus  prod- 
ucts and  overruns  as  companies  called  and  offered  them, 
and  it  would  gather  information  on  the  needs  of  people 
overseas  who  could  use  the  drugs  in  mission  work. 


cific.  IMA's  task  moved  well  beyond  simple  logistics. 

Derstine  said  he  finds  himself  needing  to  work  much 
harder  at  fundraising  and  promotion  now  as  many  agen- 
cies and  programs  compete  for  dollars,  and  corporate 
donations  don't  simply  flow  in  automatically.  The  scope 
of  the  organization's  activities  has  widened  considerably, 
requiring  IMA  staff  to  be  proactive  and  define  specific 
needs  for  congregations,  individuals,  and  pharmaceutical 
corporations  to  support. 

Through  all  the  growth  and  changes  in  the  eight  and  a 
half  years  since  his  arrival  in  New  Windsor,  Derstine  con- 
tinues to  feel  the  calling  he  felt  in  rural  Haiti.  The  task 
has  grown  more  difficult  in  many  ways,  but  it  has  grown 
ever  more  exciting,  too,  as  new  programs  have  begun  and 
others  are  being  explored. 

"The  needs  are  greater  than  ever,  and  we  really 
have  to  work  much  harder  at  bringing  resources  to  the 
need,"  Derstine  said.  "We  feel  the  challenge,  and 
we  feel  good  about  it." 


Ai^ 


Walt  Wiltscliek  is  manager  of  news  sen'icesfor  the  General  Board. 


^       HOW   TO    MAKE   A   BRETHREN    CLINIC    BOX 

1.  Assemble  one  or  more  complete  kits  containing  all  required  products,  in  quantities  shown  below.  I 

2.  Over-the-counter  products  must  be  new  products,  with  unbroken  seals.  . 

3.  No  substitution  of  products  is  acceptable.  1 _„.. 

4.  With  each  kit  of  medical  supplies,  please  provide  an  additional  gift  of  $1  50.  This  money  will  be  used  by  Interchurch 
Medical  Assistance  to  purchase,  at  special  wholesale  pricing,  specially  selected  over-the-counter  medications  and 
supplies  apphcable  to  the  clinics,  and  to  cover  packing,  shipping,  and  program  administration  costs. 

5.  Pack  products  carefully  in  a  carton  for  shipment  by  UPS  or  USPS.  Ship  the  clinic  box  items  only  to  Brethren  Service  Center 
Annex,  601  Main  Street,  New  Windsor,  MD  21 776-0188.  Clearly  mark  the  box(es)  Brethren  Clinic  Box  Program. 

6.  Send  a  check  for  $150  per  clinic  box  to  Interchurch  Medical  Assistance,  Inc.,  Attn:  Brethren  Clinic  Box  Program, 
P.O.  Box  429,  New  Windsor,  MD  21  776.  Include  in  this  maihng  a  note  indicating  froin  whom,  when,  and  by  what   ;s 
means,  the  box(es)  of  medical  supplies  were  shipped  to  the  BSC  Annex.  When  IMA  has  received  both  the  chec^J 
notification  that  the  box  has  arrived  at  the  Annex,  a  receipt  acknowledgment  will  be  issued  to  the  congregatio^^H 


Items  to  be  collected  for  the  box: 

.   •  6  bars  of  antibacterial  soap  (Dial) 
•  6  rolls  adhesive  tape  (1/2") 


26  Messenger  May  2000 


50  gauze  pads  (4x4) 
1  bag  of  500  cotton  balls 


'  300  assorted  size  Band-Aids 
-  1  boxof  500Q-tips 


What  does  it  take 

to  be  a  Caregiver? 


i>^ 


4  -^-'^t^. 


Being  Prepared  to  Care 
for  a  Congregation 

ABC  offers  a  wide  range 
of  training  and  recognition 
resources  to  congregations 
wishing  to  establish  or 
support  a  deacon  ministry 
program.  Deacon 
resources  include: 

Deacon  Manual  for  Caring 
Ministries  (in  handbook 
and  large  print  versions) 

Annual  Conference 
Statement  on  Deacon 
Ministries  (in  English  and 
Spanish) 

Training  Video  on  Deacon 
Ministries  (in  English  and 
Spanish) 

Deacon  and  Deacon 
Emeritus  Certificates 

Deacon  Identification  and 
Visitation  Cards 

Study  Materials  About 
Deacon  Ministry  from 
Biblical  and  Historical 
Perspectives 


Being  Sensitive  to  and 
Insightftd  with  Others 

Chalmer  Faw,  a  well- 
known  and  loved 
Brethren,  shares  from 
his  heart  and  spirit  in 
this  newly  revised  edition 
of  Now  that  I  Am  Getting 
Old:  Devotions  and 
Reflections  on  Old  Age 
and  the  Nursing  Home. 
Drawing  from  his  years  of 
service  to  the 
denomination  as  a 
missionary  and  seminary 
professor,  Chalmer  makes 
relevant  and  practical  the 
biblical  faith  in  a 
retirement  community 
setting.  His  words  and 
prayers  bring  hope  and 
inspiration  to  those  who 
feel  that  they  have 
nothing  more  to  give. 


c^ 


Being  Ready  to  Talk 
About  Difficult  Issues 

Three  study  guides  are 
part  of  a  series  of 
materials  ABC  is  creating 
on  end-of-life  decisions. 
Written  by  Graydon  F. 
Snyder,  these  study 
guides  use  biblical  texts, 
case  studies  and 
questions  to  help  study 
groups  and  families 
explore  their  ideas  and 
beliefs  about  end-of-life 
issues  from  a  Brethren 
perspective. 

Choosing  Death  with 
Dignity:  A  Study  Guide 
on  Death,  Bereavement 
and  Burial 

Choosing  Death:  A  Study 
Guide  on  Euthanasia 

Annual  Conference 
Statement  on  End-of-Life 
Decision-Making  Organ 
and  Tissue  Donation 


r/ 


u^jem/z, 


Being  Healthy  Enough 
to  Care  for  Others 

Audio  and  video  tapes  of 
keynote  presentations 
from  ABC's  biennial 
conference  for  caregivers 
can  serve  to  inspire  and 
renew  caregivers. 

Barbara  Lundblad  — 
Bible  Study  Set 

Robert  Raines  — 
"Gaining  A  Wise  Heart" 

Staccato  Powell  — 
"Resident  Aliens" 

John  Shea  —  "The  Spirit 
Blows  Where  it  Will?" 

Phillip  Stone  — 
"Transformed  to  What? 
The  Vision  and  Pursuit 
of  Transformation" 

Virginia  Thomburgh  — 
"That  All  May  Worship, 
A  Ramp  is  Not  Enough" 

Melva  Wilson  Costen  — 
"The  Healing  Freshness 
of  God's  Grace:  African 
American  Spirituals  and 
God's  Divine  Medicine" 

Philip  Yancey  —  "What's 
So  Amazing  About  Grace" 


Association  of 
Brethren  Caregivers 


The  Association  of  Brethren  Caregivers  provides 

denominational  resources  to  caregivers. 

To  order  these  resources,  call  ABC  at  (800)  323-8039. 

CAREGIVING  IS  CARING  FOR  ONE  ANOTHER. 


"if  we  suddenly  find 
ourselves  face  to  face  with 
dying,  we  come  up  against 
ultimate  questions — After  I 
received  the  diagnosis  of 
advanced  lung  cancer,  I 
needed  to  deal  with  those 
questions  more  intensely 
than  I  ever  had  before/' 


Orie  year  ago  in  July,  I  was  baptized 
into  the  Brethren  faith — hopeful 
and  prayerfully  set  on  ''living  my 
faith  all  wee\  long!" 


Hope  Beyond  Healing:  A  Cancer  Journal 

by  Dale  Aukerman  available  now  from 
Brethren  Press  for  $r4.g5  plus  shipping 
and  handling  charges. 


/^ 


Brethren  Press 


1451  Dundee  Avenue,  Elg.n,  IL  60120-1694 

piione  800-441-3712       fax  800-667-8188 

e-mail  brethrenpress_gl3@brethren.org 


For  news  about  Nigerians 

Every  time  I  hear  about  or  read  of  the 
turmoil  in  Africa,  I  wonder  how  the 
Brethren  are  faring.  Work  in  Sudan  is 
mentioned  quite  often,  but  I'm  refer- 
ring to  the  indigenous  Brethren  in 
Nigeria.  As  it  has  a  large  membership 
in  our  denomination,  I  care  for  their 
safety  whenever  there  is  a  presidential 
coup  or,  as  in  the  case  in  one  area, 
where  they  are  trying  to  make  Muslim 
law  the  law  of  the  land.  Can  you  clue 
us  in  once  in  a  while  to  how  our 
Brethren  in  Africa  are  faring? 

Mary  Mummert 
Orland  Park.  III. 

Editor's  note:  Please  see  a  news  article 
on  page  8.  of  this  issue,  for  information 
on  recent  violence  in  Nigeria. 

Also,  we  suggest  that  readers  subscribe  to 
Newsline,  tize  free  online  Church  of  the 
Brethren  news  report,  which  carries  regular 
updates  on  Nigeria.  To  subscribe  write  to 
cobnews@aol.com. 

And  here  are  two  websites  with  current 
general  news  from  Nigeria: 

•  http://odili.  net/nigeria.html 


A  Nigerian  living  in  the  US  maintains  i 
this  site,  which  includes  news  and  cul- 
tural information  about  Nigeria. 

•  http://www.  washingtonpost.  com/wp- 
srv/  inatl/  longterm/  worldref/ 
country/nigeria.htm 

This  is  the  Washington  Post's  page  list-' 
ing  news  about  Nigeria. 


Faithful  living  all  week  lone 


I  read  Wendy  McFadden's  column 
"From  the  Publisher"  in  my  March 
2000  Messenger  and  wanted  you  tc| 
know  I  shouted,  "That's  me!"  when 
got  to  the  fifth  paragraph. 

She  writes:  "Back  when  I  first 
became  acquainted  with  the 
Brethren,  what  impressed  me  most 
was  the  sense  I  had  that  these  peopb: 
live  out  on  Monday  what  they  say 
they  believe  on  Sunday." 

That  is  almost  word  for  word  the 
feeling  I  expressed  after  attending 
the  Palmyra  (Pa.)  Church  of  the 
Brethren  for  awhile — becoming 
acquainted  with  the  people  and  dis- 


Ecumenical  Luncheon 

Annual  Conference,  Kansas  City 

Tuesday,  July  18 — 12  Noon 

The  NCCC  Today:  Following  Jesus  Christy  Together 

Rev.  Robert  W.  Edgar,  General  Secretary 
National  Council  of  Churches  of  Christ 

Presentation  of  the  2000  Ecumenical  Award 

Tickets  available  through  the  Annual  Conference  Office 
1-800-323-8039  or  at  www.brethren.org 

Come  meet  and  dialog  with  Bob  Edgar  during  Tuesday  night's  Insight  Session! 
"The  NCCC:  Past,  Present,  and  Future" 

Sponsored  by  the  Committee  on  Interchnrch  Relations 


28  Messenger  May  2000 


covering  that  they  truly  lived  their 
religion  all  week  long,  i  found  that  to 
Oe  a  wonderful  thing — a  rarity  based 
Dn  my  past  affiliation  with  other 
"brands"  of  Christians. 

The  Brethren  are  so  service- 
minded,  eager,  and  ready  to  give 
*ielp  when  and  where  it's  needed. 
She  crystallized  my  experience  per- 
fectly. One  year  ago  in  |uly,  I  was 
aaptized  into  the  Brethren  faith — 
nopeful  and  prayerfully  set  on  "living 
my  faith  all  week  long!" 

As  the  mother  of  six-  and  four- 
year-old  sons,  1  also  loved  the 
reference  to  the  tooth  fairy.  She's 
only  had  to  make  an  appearance 
three  times  in  our  house  so  far,  and 
ias  been  timely  each  time — we'll  see 
if  the  track  record  continues!  I  enjoy 
reading  Messenger  and  appreciate 
:he  good  work  that  goes  into  it. 

Judi-Lynn  Hummel 
Hershev.  Pa. 


Keep  authenticity  at  core 

Wendy  McFadden's  call  to  retain 
authenticity  as  a  core  Brethren 
value  [See  "From  the  Publisher," 
March],  underlined  by  her  commit- 
ment to  such  discipleship,  was  a 
final  stimulus  to  this  letter. 

I  turn  first  in  each  month's 
issue  to  "From  the  Publisher" 
and  find  it  the  best  addition 
to  the  "new"  Messenger.  It 
offers  me  a  personal,  articulate 
message  of  inspiration  and  hope 
in  a  changing  Church  of  the 
Brethren,  which  I  experience  as 
retreating  from  ecumenical 
leadership  for  peace. 

Hopefully,  this  year's  Annual 
Conference  theme,  "Love  as  I  have 
loved  you,"  will  be  a  good  compass 
point  for  our  denomination. 

Keith  K.  Hoover 
Lombard.  III. 


Uncommon 
Woman 

Tlic  life  aiid  Times 
of  SamhRightcr  Major 


Man,  that  woman 
can  preach. 

An  Uncomnnon  Woman: 

The  Life  and  Times  of  Sarah  Rjghter  Major 

NancL)  Kettering  rrye.  Brethren  Press.  Infamous  in 
the  mid  1800s  as  a  woman  preacher  in  a  man's 
world.  Sister  Sarah  bravely  preached  the  gospel 
wherever  people  invited  her  to  speak.  Nancy 
Kettering  Frye  provides  details,  facts,  and  stories 
about  the  life  of  the  first  female  Brethren  preacher. 
Step  into  the  19th  century  and  meet  the  men  and 
women  who  influenced  Sarah  Righter  Major's  life 
and  supported  her  preaching  ministry. #8224.  $6.95 


Brethren  Press 

I45I  Dundee  .Avenue.  Elgin,  IL  60120-16'-)4 

phone  800-441-3712     Va-x  800-667-8188 

e-mail  brcthrcnpress_gli@brethren.org 


Srouu/inj  Ju/jemr  6(m 
Jhi'  yoKi'  Seace  oft  lliiul 

Everything  You  Want 

IN    A    SERENE   YET   CONVENIENT   COUNTRY   SETTING. 

RESIDENTIAL  LIVING   IN   CROSS   KEYS  VILLAGE 

•   Harmony  Ridge  Apartments  or    Cottages 

DINING  -  PLANNED  ACTIVITIES  -  TRANSPORTATION 
ON-CAMPUS   BANKING  &  MEDICAL   FACILITIES 


ASSISTED   LIVING  CENTER 

•  Sheltered  neighborhood 

•  Private  Rooms  with  Bath 


Health  Care  Center 
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Everything  You  Need 

Support  services  •  Adult  Day  Services 

Home  health  services  •  Special  care  unit 

Special  Care  (Alzheimer's)  Unit*   Nursing  care 
Cross  Keys  Subacute  Center         •  Respite  Care 


MEDICARE/MEDICAID  APPROVED 


(•i/idsiid/i  core  mice  /'y(M' 

2990  Carlisle  Pike  -  PC.  Box  12 
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-^~~^^^  1-888-624-8242 

www,  brethren  H0ME.ORG 


Vie  Brethren  Home 

Community 


May  2000  Messenger  29 


Bible  and  the  death  penalty 

It  has  been  my  understanding  since  I 
was  a  child,  as  my  godly  mother 
taught  her  children,  that  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren  believed  the  Bible 
was  the  true  word  of  God  and  was  to 
be  believed  as  it  was  written. 

When  theology  and  theologians  blot 
out  what  the  Bible  says  about  human 
sinful  behavior,  then  the  Bible  loses  its 
value  and  relevance. 

fesus  Christ  made  his  position  on 
the  death  penalty  clear  in  Matthew 
25:51-54,  and  there  are  nine  other 
scriptures  that  support  the  death 
penalty.  Here  is  one  89-year-old 
preacher  and  retired  pastor  who  has 
stayed  with  what  the  Bible  says  and 
will  continue  with  the  Bible,  for  there 
is  nothing  any  better  to  believe. 

I  sincerely  believe  the  Bible  does 
support  the  death  penalty. 

Fenton  Platter 
Roanoke,  Va. 


Classified  Ads 


AUTHOR'S  QUERY 

Seeking  name  and  stories  of  Brethren  who  moved 
into  Missouri  prior  to  Civil  War  years.  The  experiences 
of  the  Civil  War  years  are  significant  in  studying  the 
settlement  patters  of  the  Brethren  in  Missouri  and 
adjoining  states.  Persons  willing  to  share  information 
may  contact  Jane  Davis,  800  E.  Hale  Lake  Rd.,  War- 
rensburg,  MO  64093-3042;  phone  660-429-6215;  e-mail 
jneherda@iland.net. 

FOR  SALE 

Centennial  History  of  the  Nanipa  Church  of  the 

Brethren,  Idaho,  1899-1999,  was  rele;ised  last  Novem- 
ber It  contains  80  pages  of  narrative  and  220 
photographs  on  another  50  pages.  This  paperbound 
book  is  priced  at  $15.00  plus  12.00  for  shipping  and 
handling.  Checks  should  be  written  to  the  order  of  the 
Nampa  Church  of  the  Brethren.  Address:  11030  W. 
Orchard,  Nampa,  ID  83651. 

INVITATION 

The  New  Beginnings  Church  of  the  Brethren  invites 
Brethren  traveling  to  Annual  Conference  to  stay 
overnight  at  Warrensburg  and  arrive  refreshed  to  begin 
Conference.  We  are  located  50  miles  east  of  Kansas 
City,  MO  on  Highway  50  or  16  miles  south  of  1-70.  We 
have  a  gravel  parking  lot  and  grassed  area  for  tents.  We 


are  easily  accessible  at  the  southeast  edge  of  Warrens, 
burg  1  mile  east  of  Highway  13  on  East  Hale  Lake. 
(DD)  Rd.  Contact  the  church,  660-747-6216,  or  pastoi 
at  660-429-6215,  address  802  E.  Hale  Lake  Rd.,  Warj 
rensburg,  MO  64093-3042;  e-mail  jneherda(ailand.net( 

POSITION  AVAILABLE 

Christian  Family  Practice  group  is  seeking  a  famil)! 
physician  to  join  our  growing  practice.  We  are  locatec: 
in  North  Central  Indiana,  near  Goshen.  We  providtl 
obstetrics  with  many  deliveries  done^t  an  Amish  Birthinjj 
Center  near  Shipshewana.  Opportunities  for  short-  o) 
long-term  missions.  Independently  owned  (six  ph}'si 
clans  &  one  PA)  and  committed  to  remaining  sensitive 
to  the  needs  of  the  local  community  Option  to  buy  in 
Contact  Steve  Wendler,  Administrator,  at  Middlebur; 
Family  Physicians,  PO  Box  459,  Middlebury,  IN  46540i 
Day  telephone:  219-825-2900  Evening:  219-825-7506. 

Spread  the  Word!  Use  Messenger  classifieds  to  le 
people  know  what's  going  on.  155  purchases  a  singk 
issue  insertion  of  up  to  80  words.  Frequency  discount; 
are  available.  Submit  ads  via  fax  (847-742-1407),  e-mai 
(kstocking_gb@brethren.org)  or  letter  (Messengei 
Classifieds,  1451  Dundee  Ave,  Elgin,  IL  60120).  Dead 
line  is  first  of  month  prior  to  month  of  publication 
Advertise  todav! 


"We're  Here  To  Listen!  We're  Here  To  Help." 

Tell  us  what  the  church  has  meant  in  your  life. 

Share  with  us  your  hopes  for  the  church  tomorrow. 

Tell  us  about  your  family  and  your  dreams  for  them. 

Dream  with  us  about  the  future. 

LET  US  HELP  CONNECT  YOUR  DREAMS  WITH  REALITY. 


Ken  Neher 


John  Thomas 


David  HufFalcer 


R.n'  Glick 


Carol  Bowman 


The  Financial  Resource  Counselors 


A  Stewardship  Service  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  General  Board 
Call  800-323-8039  ext.  234  or  write  General  Board  Funding  1451  Dundee  Ave.  Elgin,  IL  60120 


30  Messenger  May  2000 


New  members 

Barren  Ridge,  blaunlon.  Va.:  lordan 
CulTniaii.  Daniel  Graham.  Summer 
Krool^!..  Kylene  Phillips 

Bridgewater,  Va.:  Ray  and  Miriam  Mar- 
lindale.  Paul  and  Janet  Foster,  Allen 
I'ugh.  Carl  and  Madaline  Zigler.  |ini 
and  Teresa  Crawford.  Ches  Craw- 
ford, Chris  and  Monica  Garber 

Chiqucs,  Manhcim.  Pa.:  Llovd  Eber- 
sole.  .-Ndrian  Shelly,  Stephanie 
Shelly,  Steve  Stouffler 

Cincinnati,  Ohio:  Christine  Barrett. 
Suzanne  Black.  Merle  Black.  Roger 
Cruser.  Mary  Cruser.  Bobbie  Oh. 
Dale  Swallen,  Lydia  Swallen 

Duponl.  Ohio:  Armondo  Barraza,  Ruth 
Martin.  Norma  Spears.  Amalee 
Webb.  Dawn  Workman.  Bryant 
Adkins.  Lindsay  Adkins.  Richie 
Adams.  Ashley  Adains.  Chad  Adams 

Freeburg.  Paris.  Ohio;  Ruth  Cessna, 
lohn  English.  Sara  Isgro.  Angela 
Rroache.  Ethan  Byrne 

Friendship.  Linthicum,  Md.:  lane- 
Adair  Seleski 

Good  Shepherd,  Silver  Spring,  Md.: 
Sharon  Spurrier 

Guernsev,  Monlicello.  Ind.:  Dana  and 
Deb  Hood 

Hanover,  Pa,:  Eric  Longwell,  Kristine 
Longwell 

McPherson,  Kan.:  Claron  Brown. 
Alvera  Brown.  Peter  DeWitt,  Ted 
Hammarlund.  Darren  Heitschmidt. 
lulie  Heitschmidt.  Dennis  Houghton, 
Betty  Houghton.  Dallas  Blacklock, 
Adelina  Cripe,  Paul  Liepelt,  Bryan 
Lucore,  Laina  McKellip,  Marie  Rhoades 

Maple  Spring,  Hollsopple,  Pa.:  Brianne 
Fockler.  Mitchell  Ott 

Marsh  Creek,  Gettysburg.  Pa,:  Delmar 
and  Adena  Crum 

Memorial,  Martinsburg,  Pa.:  Paula 
McCready 

Mill  Creek,  Tryon.  N.C.:  Kaila  Tarbut- 
ton,  Pat  Tarbutton.  Ray  McArthur, 
Charlie  Byrd,  Melissa  Callahan. 
Courtney  lohnston.  Nancy  Mace, 
Keelia  McCormack,  Chris  McEntire, 
lacob  Pate,  loseph  Pate,  Boyce  Skip- 
per, Donna  Skipper,  Joseph 
Greenway.  Rebecca  Greenway,  Lee 
Hines.  Mike  Lovelace.  Patti 
Lovelace.  Lindsey  Newsom 

Mountain  View,  Boise.  Idaho:  Brandon 
Durst,  Eddie  Landes,  Anitta  Landes, 
launetta  Robinson,  Hoagy  Robinson, 
lack  Quinn,  Mary  Ouinn.  Charles 
Hernandez 

New  Paris.  Ind.:  Loyal  and  Dorothy 
Rogers,  loan  Hein 

Palmyra,  Pa.:  Kristina  Conkle.  Russ 
and  Kris  Nagy.  Lucille  Reber 

Philadelphia.  Pa.:  Patricia  Derr 

Pleasant  View,  Fayetteville.  W.Va.:  Ruth 
Riner.  \  ictoria  Vandall,  Linda  Vandall 

Pleasant  View.  Lima.  Ohio:  Kim 
Kooglcr.  Kayla  Koogler,  Jessica 
Bame.  lessica  Gullette.  Nicholas 
Gullette.  Steven  Gullette.  Rick  Gul- 
lette. Mil  Gullette.  lohn  Freed,  josh 
Bassett,  Eric  Vore,  Kristy  Vore. 
lames  Marsteller 

■Prince  of  Peace,  Littleton.  Colo.:  Bob 
Bechtel 

Sugar  Valley,  Loganlon.  Pa.:  Melanie 
Duck,  Adam  Breon 

Troulville,  Va.:  David  Vassar,  Leigh 
Odenwelder 

Union  Center,  Nappanee,  Ind,:  Sara 


Kauffman,  |esse  Steffen 
University  Park,  Hyattsville,  Md.:  Miriam 

A.  Morataya,  Santiago  A,  Morataya 
West  Green  Tree,  Elizabethtown.  Pa.: 

Myron  Weber.  Helen  Weber.  Helen 

Keener 
Wcslminsler,  Md.:  Lisa  GrolT 
York  Center,  Lombard.  III.:  Jill  de 

Coursey.  Paul  Asta.  Gary  Keenan, 

Amy  Knickrehm,  Barry  Weber, 

Marty  Boninc,  Rachel  llahi,  )im  and 

Kim  ^'aussy  Albright 

Wedding 
anniversaries 

Click,  \'ictor  and  Duane,  Harrison- 
burg, Va,,  50 

Detwiler,  Willis  and  Rosa,  Beford,  Pa.,  65 

Fike,  Norman  and  Nora,  Denver,  Colo..  60 

Flickinger,  Glenn  and  Evelyn. 
Wakarusa.  Ind,,  55 

Frantz,  Byron  and  Eula,  Windsor, 
Colo.,  50 

Carl,  Harley  and  Betty,  Nappanee, 
Ind,,  50  ' 

Gilbert,  lohn  and  Martha,  Staunton. 
Va..  65 

Hatcher.  Gerland  and  Margaret. 
Troutville.  Va..  50 

Hoffer,  Victor  and  Mabel.  Palmyra.  Pa..  71 

Hosier,  Galen  and  Alta.  Manheim.  Pa.,  55 

Kissling,  Charles  and  Marian.  Lima. 
Ohio.  50 

Krehmeyer,  August  and  Earlene. 
Haxtun.  Colo..  60 

Kurtz,  Kenneth  and  Eileen.  New  Paris. 
Ind..  60 

Moneyheffer,  Harvey  and  Annamae. 
Nappanee.  Ind.,  55 

Price,  Dean  and  Elizabeth,  Nappanee, 
Ind..  65 

Shaffer,  Floyd  and  Doris,  Hooversville, 
Pa.,  50 

Shaw,  Robert  and  Pearl.  Uniontown. 
Pa..  65 

Sheffer,  Wilson  and  Treva.  Bridge- 
water.  Va..  70 

Shiffler,  Carroll  and  Anna.  Elizabeth- 
town.  Pa..  55 

Weaver,  Harold  and  Grace.  Annville. 
Pa..  55 

Whitmer,  lohn  and  Donna.  North 
Liberty,  Ind,,  55 

Woodie,  Bobbie  and  Phvllis.  Troutville, 
Va.,  50 

Deaths 

Alt,  Albert  K..  85.  Petersburg.  W.Va..  Ian.  6 
Armey.  Chester.  89.  Arrowwood. 

Alberta.  Canada.  Nov.  1  5 
Armey,  Thurza.  85.  Arrowwood. 

Alberta.  Canada,  lune  20 
Ballard,  Orxille.  89.  Mt.  Morris.  III.  Ian.  6 
Barton.  Nelson  L..  45.  Woodstock.  Va,, 

Ian.  28 
Baughman,  Wilma,  94,  Glenford, 

Ohio,  Dec.  50 
Beedle,  Pauline  R..  65.  Bayse.  Va.,  Ian,  27 
Bellows,  Alpha,  S3,  Dixon,  111..  |an.  25 
Berkey,  Harold  D..  84.  Goshen.  Ind.. 

Ian.  18 
Biegel.  William  R.  77.  Havelock.  N.C.. 

Ian.  9 
Boyd.  Grace.  74.  Campbelltown.  Pa., 


De 


29 


Brandt.  Fred.  80.  Palmyra.  Pa..  Sept.  6 
Brighlbill,  Mary.  82.  New  Freedom, 

Pa,,  Aug.  IS  ' 
Brown,  Scott  R,,  86,  Singers  Glen,  Va,, 

Ian.  6 


Boyers,  Mabel  W..  88.  Hanover.  Pa., 

Ian,  2 
Campbell.  Massie  D..  91.  Frederick. 

Md.,  Ian.  10 
Cook,  Eloise.  70.  Springfield.  Ohio. 

Dec.  6 
Cool,  Raymond.  89,  Mt,  Morris,  111.. 

Dec.  20 
Cooper,  Dean  R..  81,  Harman.  W.Va.. 

Nov.  29 
Corbetl,  Olive.  87.  Mt.  Morris,  111,,  Ian.  24 
Cotter,  Carl.  88.  Oct.  28 
Dick,  Florence.  97.  Clymer.  Pa..  |an.  6 
Diehl,  Harry  W,  89.  Luray.  Va..  Dec.  22 
Dodson,  Nola.  S6.  Fayetteville.  W.Va.. 

|an.  4 
Dove,  Hattie  E..  94.  Mathias.  W.Va.. 

Ian.  24 
Dutrow,  Sara.  92.  Union  Bridge.  Md.. 

Dec.  8 
Ensign,  C.  David.  82.  La  Verne.  Calif.. 

Ian.  25 
Eshleman,  Mae,  97,  Lebanon,  Pa,, 

Sept,  18 
Esterline,  E.  Loretta,  84.  Brookville. 

Ohio.  Ian.  27 
Fike,  Thelma.  93,  Peace  Valley,  Mo., 

Ian.  17 
Fitzwater,  Virgie  S,,  94,  Moorefield, 

W.Va..  Ian.  6 
Flory,  Basil,  88,  Sandusky,  Ohio,  Dec.  22 
Foster,  Bruce  D.,  59.  Bridgewater.  Va.. 

Ian.  I  5 
Frantz,  Barbara  Gray.  68.  Naperville. 

111..  Dec.  13 
Gearhart,  Gerald.  81.  Akron.  Ind..  |uly  3 
Gillin,  M.  Gertrude.  85.  Salem.  Ohio. 

Nov.  20 
Gobi,  Charles  W..  79.  Parker  Ford.  Pa. 
Gotlshall,  Ruth.  75.  Palmyra,  Pa.,  Oct.  10 
Griffin,  Fern,  84,  Grand  Rapids. 

Mich..  Ian.  30 
Halterman,  Lois  M..  88.  Bridgewater. 

Va..  Dec.  26 
Halterman,  Melvin  W..  79.  Mathias, 

W.Va..  Ian.  I  5 
Harman,  Evelyn  |..  91.  Petersburg.. 

W.Va..  Dec' 26 
Heisey.  |enny  Sue.  53.  Fenton.  Mich.. 

Oct.  25 
Holcombe,  Stanley.  72.  Union  Bridge. 

Md..  Ian.  27 
Holman,  Rhonda  Wise.  39.  Grand 

lunction.  Colo..  Feb.  2 
Hoover,  Dwight  P..  79.  Goshen.  Ind.. 

Ian.  17 
Hubert.  Robert.  49.  Continental.  Ohio. 

Ian.  27 
Humphreys,  Virginia  G..  84.  Front 

Royal.  Va..  Ian.  16 
Hury,  Prudence  S..  89.  Claremont. 

Calif..  Ian.  12 
Kuntz,  Naomi.  94.  Palmyra.  Pa..  Nov.  1  1 
Laniz,  W.  Earl.  94.  Syracuse.  Ind..  Feb.  8 
Longeneeker,  Beatrice.  93.  Palmyra. 

Pa..  Aug.  22 
Marion,  Mary  E..  77.  Farmersville. 

Ohio.  Ian.  10 
MeDaniel,  Arthur.  SO.  Carleton.  Neb.. 

Feb.  28 
MeDaniel,  Trella.  95.  [erome.  Pa..  |an.  13 
Miller,  Franklin  |r..  60.  Luray.  Va..  Dec.  28 
Miller,  F  Marie.  93.  Martinsburg.  Pa.. 

Sept.  26 
Miller,  Nina  Y..  92.  Bridgewater,  Va,, 

Ian,  8 
Mundy,  Leona  F,  86,  Rockville,  Md,, 

Dec.  23 
Neff,  Eva  V.  R.,  93.  Harrisonburg.  Va.. 

Ian.  1 
Pence,  lacob  C.  |r..  78.  Pineville.  Va.. 

Dec.  21 


Polterfield,  Alma.  100.  Stoughton. 

Wis..  Ian.  17 
Radford,  Annabel  L..  Fayetteville, 

W.Va..  Ian.  15 
Raish,  Richard  1.,  72,  Dayton,  Va.,  Dec.  21 
Ritlle,  Minnetta.  87.  Palmyra.  Pa.,  Nov.  30 
Rodeffer,  Laura.  90.  Palmyra.  Pa..  Ian.  8 
Rolhroek,  lean.  85.  La  Verne,  Calif,, 

Sept  5 
Royer,  Gladys,  97,  North  Manchester, 

ind,,  Aug,  27 
Runion,  Anna  M..  79.  New  Market. 

Va..  Dec.  29 
Saylor,  Mellicent  B.,  89.  La  Verne, 

Calif..  Sept.  19 
Scolt,  Charles  F..  87.  Brandywine, 

W.Va..  Ian.  12 
Settle,  Madeline  L..  85.  Fayetteville. 

W.Va..  Ian.  21 
Shewman,  Ralph  E.,  82.  Akron.  Ind.. 

Ian.  1  1 
Shock,  Helen  E.,  82,  Defiance,  Ohio. 

Ian.  7 
Smith,  Darlene  W..  56.  Wardensville, 

W.Va..  Ian.  17 
Smith,  Edna  L..  86.  Bergton.  Va..  |an.  29 
Smith,  Helen.  87,  Bridgewater,  Va,,  |an,  10 
Stoffer,  Wilma,  87,  Louisville, 

Ohio,  Nov.  20 
Symensma,  Charles,  81,  New  Paris, 

Ind..  Nov.  29 
Walborn,  Raymond.  87.  Palmyra.  Pa.. 

Dec.  31 
Walker,  Estelle.  St,  Clair  Shores.  Mich. 
Walter,  Virgie  L..  97.  Gettysburg.  Pa.. 

Feb.  5 
Wiggins,  Murphy.  97.  Springfield. 

Ohio.  Ian.  20 
Wine,  Guy  C.  Ir..  78,  New  Market.  Va.. 

Jan.  25 
Wolff,  lonella.  84.  La  Verne.  Calif.. 

Dec.  27 


Licensings 


Gibson,  Robert.  Aug.  1.  1997,  Bethel, 
Carleton,  Neb. 

Mickle,  Chad  Wayne.  Dec.  5.  New 
Enterprise.  Pa. 

Reffner,  Earla.  Nov.  28,  New  Enter- 
prise, Pa, 

Snair,  Freeman  Allen  Ir..  Dec.  26, 
Rockhill  Furnace.  Pa. 

Turner,  Ruby,  Ian.  9.  Cedar  Run. 
Broadway,  Va. 

Ordinations 

Crumrine,  Duane  E..  Dec.  5.  Martins- 
burg. Pa. 

Groth,  Harold.  Independence,  Kan..  |an.  9 

Hubble,  lames  W..  Bethel.  Carleton. 
Neb..  Feb.  15.  1998 

Mendez,  Milciades.  Puerta  del  Cielo. 
Reading.  Pa. 

Ramirez,  Tomas.  .Alpha  and  Omega. 
Lancaster.  Pa..  Ian.  9 

Smith,  Thomas.  Parsons.  Kan..  April 
30.  1999 

Pastoral  placement 

Ditmars.  Larry,  from  interim  to  perma- 
nent. Topeka.  Kan..  Ian.  I  7 

Candy,  Craig,  to  Cedar  Grove.  New  Paris, 
Ohio,  youth  pastor,  part  time.  Feb.  1 

Hood,  Dana,  to  Guernsey.  Monticello. 
Ind..  part  time.  Nov.  1 

lacobson,  Michael,  to  Big  Sky  Bap- 
tist/Brethren. Froid.  Mont..  Feb.  1 

Roudebush,  Norbert  "Pete."  to  Trinity. 
Blounnille.  Tenn..  part  time.  March  1 

May  2000  Messenger  31 


springtime  in  the  neighborhood 


It  was  one  of  the  first  warm  days  of  genuine  spring 
and  I  had  just  shown  an  apartment  to  an  attractive 
and  employed  young  single  mother  who  said  how  nice  it 
was.  Outside,  children  were  walking  home  from  school 
and  a  little  girl  told  her  friend  proudly,  "That's  my  land- 
lord." A  little  boy  said,  "Hey,  landlord,"  and  I  asked  him 
to  tell  me  his  name  again.  "Tierre."  I  promised  him  I 
wouldn't  forget  it  this  time.  Sometimes  it  just  feels  good 
to  be  involved  with  low-income  housing  in  my  own  neigh- 
borhood, helping  people,  saving  houses,  serving  the  Lord. 
Sometimes  it  doesn't.  Later,  a  neighbor  called,  saying 
he  thought  my  new  tenant  in  another  building  was  running 
a  daycare  operation  out  of  her  apartment.  I  went  over  and 
there  were  at  least  10  children,  not  only  in  her  yard,  but  in 
the  yard  next  door,  and  in  the  alley.  Adults  were  there  but 
my  tenant  wasn't.  I  talked  to  her  that  evening  and  told  her 
this  can't  happen  again.  "It  can't?"  she  said,  genuinely 
surprised.  It  wasn't  a  daycare,  she  said,  just  her  and  some 
friends  taking  care  of  the  children  of  working  moms 
whose  preschool  was  closed  that  afternoon.  She  wasn't 
sure  what  was  wrong  with  it  and  I  wasn't  either.  It  was  just 
too  many  children,  and  the  neighbors  complain. 

Next  day  another  neighbor  called  to  say  he  had  lost 
sleep  because  kids  were  in  the  yard  of  one  of  my  houses, 
acting  crazy  and  playing  loud  music  until  all  hours  of  the 
night.  On  the  street  I  saw  the  high  school  senior  who  lives 
there,  a  good  kid  I've  known  for  years,  and  asked  him  about 
the  party  last  night.  The  disturbance  couldn't  have  been 
coming  from  his  house,  he  told  me,  because  his  mom  had 
been  home.  Two  days  later  I  got  a  similar  call  from  the  same 
neighbor  about  the  same  house,  so  I'll  turn  up  the  heat. 

The  winter  had  been  a  difficult  time  for  screen  doors 
at  my  duplex  up  the  street,  where  women  in  both  the 
upstairs  unit  and  the  downstairs  unit  had  gotten  orders 
of  protection  against  abusive  boyfriends.  The  women 
both  at  different  times  asked  me  to  have  their  locks 
changed,  then  when  the  guys  couldn't  get  in  they  took 
out  their  anger  on  my  doors.  By  spring  the  problems  had 
changed.  My  upstairs  tenant,  now  pregnant,  wants  to 
move  out  because  her  kids  can't  get  along  with  the  kids 
of  the  downstairs  woman,  whose  boyfriend  has  moved  in 
with  her.  I  allowed  her  to  break  her  lease  provided  she 
would  forfeit  her  security  deposit.  Then  her  mother 
reported  me  to  city  authorities  for  keeping  her  deposit. 
Sometimes  the  poor  are  no  fun.  1  get  discouraged 
when  springtime  calls  to  mind  drunks  more  than  daf- 
fodils. When  tenants  act  like  jerks,  I  have  to  remember 
the  third  verse  of  the  hymn  "Brothers  and  sisters  of  mine 


are  the  hungry,"  which  says:  "People  are  they,  persons 
made  in  God's  image."  People,  not  animals. 

The  old  rule  applies:  I  have  at  least  80  percent  won- 
derful tenants  and  no  more  than  20  percent  sometimes 
problematic  tenants,  and  I  try  not  to  complain.  Nobody 
forced  me  into  this  kind  of  work;  the  problems  go  with 
the  territory.  Besides,  complaining  just  confirms  the 
image  most  people  have  of  the  poor  as  immoral,  lazy,  and 
worthless,  when  in  reality  most  are  struggling  valiantly 
against  terrific  odds  to  give  their  children  good  homes. 
Also,  I  keep  quiet  about  the  problems  because  they  reflect 
on  me.  "Don't  you  screen  your  tenants?"  people  ask,  as 
though  it  were  as  simple  as  having  them  fill  out  a  form. 

But  there  are  reasons  to  say  not  all  is  well  in  our 
neighborhoods.  Now  that  the  economy  is  thriving,  unem- 
ployment is  low,  and  welfare  reform  has  put  moms  in 
jobs,  many  in  this  country  think  we  have  poverty  licked. 
Yet  the  working  poor  still  are  plagued  by  drugs  and  alco- 
hol, domestic  violence,  racism,  and  crime.   Meanwhile, 
even  the  concerned  non-poor,  who  contribute  to  chari- 
ties and  urge  their  politicians  to  fund  social  service 
agencies,  move  to  all-white  or  all-rich  suburbs,  distanc 
ing  themselves  from  urban  problems. 

What  poor  neighborhoods  need  more  than  anything 
is  for  more  non-poor  to  move  in  and  start  loving 
their  new  neighbors.  Among  the  first  rules  of  evangelism  is 
to  "be  among  people  with  needs."  When  the  Bible  tells  us 
there  will  always  be  poor  among  us,  we  sometimes  forget 
the  rest:  "I  therefore  command  you,  'Open  your  hand  to 
the  poor  and  needy  neighbor  in  your  land'"  (Deut.  15:1 1). 

I  had  told  the  old  man  who  lives  in  my  one-bedroom 
that  he  and  his  friends  are  welcome  to  sit  on  the  porch  to 
enjoy  the  warm  weather,  but  there  is  no  alcohol  allowed. 
So  his  group  gathers  for  beer  on  the  porch  across  the 
street.  I  see  the  mentally  confused  beggar  lady  is  back. 
After  she  was  arrested  for  panhandling  last  fall  we  didn't 
see  her  for  awhile,  so  we  hoped  she'd  gotten  help.  Now 
she's  sitting  with  the  old  drunks,  who  are  kind  to  her.  I'm 
outside  my  house  talking  to  a  young  man  who's  grown  up 
in  one  of  my  houses,  telling  me  proudly  about  his  new  job 
as  a  guard  in  a  new  prison.  Both  sides  of  the  street  are 
being  entertained  by  watching  the  police  down  the  block 
arrest  a  couple  guys  and  have  their  car  towed.  I  get  a 
peaceful  feeling  that  I'm  part  of  this  street  scene.  Old  men, 
beggar  lady,  prison  guard,  landlord — we  are  neighbors  all. 

Ah,  it's  springtime  in  my  neighborhood. 

— Fletcher  Farraf 


32  Messenger  May  2000 


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1) 


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We  insure  members  of 
The  Church  of  the 
Brethren  and  member 
churches  exclusively. . .  and 
an  important  part  of  our 
mission  is  to  transform  the  way 
you  and  your  fellow  church 
members  think  about 
insurance.  We  want  every 
contact  you  have  with  us  to  be 
a  positive,  helpful  experience  - 
whether  you're 
asking  for  advice 
or  filing  a  claim. 
When  you  have  a 
loss,  we  pledge  that 
we  will  always  be 
ready  to  help  you 
both  materially  and 
emotionally.  We're  different 
from  other  insurance 
companies.  We  genuinely 
believe  in  the  ideal  of  Brethren 
joining  together  for  mutual  aid, 
and  we  do  everything  possible 
to  find  creative  ways  to  meet 
your  needs  -  even  if  we  have  to 
go  beyond  policy  limitations. 
Here's  one  story  out  of  many 
that  illustrates  the  difference 
our  faith-centered  approach  to 
insurance  can  make. 


Faith  Batavia  Church  is  located  in  Batavia, 
Illinois,  a  town  of  about  20,000  residents 
some  40  miles  west  of  Chicago.  In  the 
middle  of  the  night  on  March  2,  1998,  long 

1  after  the  Sunday  service  had  ended, 
a  small  fire  broke  out  near  the  altar. 
Sometime  later,  when  an  exploding 
stained-glass  window  shattered  the 
early  morning  stillness,  a  neighbor 
looked  out  to  see  smoke  billowing 
from  the  church  and  called  for 
help.  The  fire  destroyed  the  whole 
front  of  the  church,  melted  the 
Baptistry,  blew  out  windows, 
burned  the  sanctuary  ceiling,  melted  lighting 
fixtures,  and  damaged  the  pastor's  office. 

By  the  time  the  fire  had  been  put  out,  there 
was  soot  and  the  acrid  smell  of  wet,  burned 
wood  everywhere.  And  before  the  day  was 


Get  Security  You  Can  Depend  On 
In  over  a  century  of  insuring  churches 
and  the  property  of  Church  members,  no 
legitimate  claim  has  ever  gone  unpaid.  We 
offer  free  property  appraisals  and  provide 
supplemental  wellness  and  life  insurance 
policies  to  protect  your  financial  security 
and  peace  of  mind. 


fe  Copyright  2000C  Mutual  Aid  Association  MAA-2012 


over,  people  from  Mutual  Aid  were  on  the 
scene.  They  scrubbed  floors  and  prayed  and 
helped  church  members  sort  through  the  debris 
-  and  through  the  details  of  what  had  to  be 
done  to  bring  their  damaged  church  back  to 
life.  Within  days  they  had  contacted  a 
specialist  in  fire  restorations  who  was  willing 
to  let  church  volunteers  work  with  his  crew. 
During  the  summer,  MAA  staff  from 
headquarters  in  Abilene,  Kansas,  drove  up  to 
Batavia  to  spend  two  days  painting  the  church 
interior,  side-by-side  with  church  volunteers. 

As  it  turned  out,  the  church  was  underinsured. 
Even  though  the  loss  was  not  total,  the  policy 
limits  were  below  restoration  costs.  But  through 
it  all,  MAA  supplied  funds  to  keep  the  work 
going  -  exceeding  policy  limits.  Thanks  to  the 
efforts  of  volunteers,  MAA's  generosity,  and 
help  fi"om  the  local  community,  the  Batavia 
congregation  held  the  first  service  in  its  freshly 
restored  church  Christmas  Eve  1998. 


Call  1-800-255-1243  Day  or  Night 
You  can  also  reach  us  by  e-mail  at 
maa@maabrethren.com  or  over  our  toll- 
free,  24-hour  fax  line  at  1-800-238-7535. 
Our  Web  address  is  w^vw.maabrethren.com 

/tW^  Mutual  Aid  Association 

CHURCH    OF   THE    BRETHREN 


A  ministiy  of  sharing  to  secure  peace  of  mind. 


i^  KANSAS  CIT^^■■  J:,*v  :i^ 


Uf    THE    BtiiHREri  ^ 


u|^^lyl|,2000 


■\ 


MODERATOR 

Emily  Mumma 


SPEAKER; 

e 
elita  Mitchell 
Emanuel  Cleaver 
Thomas  Troeger 


V 


Visit  us  on  our  Web  page  at 

www.brethren.org 


Wm-s.';-^ 


9KiraKVK¥nt11i;Ui9 1 


Church  of  the  Brethren  www.brethren.org  June  2000 


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^able  of  the  Boar( 

'  into  the 

Table  of  the  Lord 


are  the 
experiences 

of  a  Lifetime! 

The  Brethren  Homes  of  the  Atlantic  Northeast  District  invite  you 
to  explore  the  care  and  refreshing  lifestyles  at  your  doorstep... 


"Life  as  good  as  it 

"We  enjoy  living  at 

"Living  at  Peter  Becker 

can  get!  -  in  a  relaxed, 

Brethren  Village  because 

Community  offers  us 

care  -  free,  attractive 

it  provides  choices  for  us 

the  opportunity  to  meet 

environment  among 

to  live  in  an  upbeat  well- 

new  Christian  friends 

congenial  contempo- 

managed, caring,  Christ- 

with  similar  interests. 

raries,  supported  by 

centered  community  of 

We  have  peace  of  mind 

Ctiristian  love  and 

persons  from  diverse 

knowing  all  our  needs 

service.  Praise  God! " 

backgrounds." 

will  be  met." 

-  FRANK  &  DOROTHY  HORST 

-  CURTIS  &  ANNA  MARY  DUBBLE 

-  WILMER  &  RUTH  HARTLEY 

Lebanon  Valley 
Brethren  Home 

1200  Grubb  street       J  LL 
Palmyra.  PA  17078  F^  n^ 
(717)  838-5406      >  C  ^^ 

.^SmSi^^V^^i^e 

Fm^    Peter 

M^»  Becker 

1  ^^  Conuniinity 

800  Maple  Avenue 

Harleysville.  PA  19438 

(215)  256-9501 

1 

i 
1 

3001  Lititz  Pike 

PO  Box  5093 

Lancaster,  PA  17606 

(717)  569-2657 

1 

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Bwiwfa 


wvwv.brethren.org 


Editor:  Fletcher  Farrar 
News:  Walt  Wiltschek 
Subscriptions:  Peggy  Reinacher 
Publisher:  Wendy  McFadden 
Designer:  Paul  Stocksdale 
Advertising:  Russ  Matteson 


On  the  cover:  We  live  in  a  time  when  people  are  seeking  to 
reconnect  with  something  and  Someone  greater  than 
themselves.  The  catalyst  for  this  spiritual  reformation  has 
various  sources.  It  may  be  prompted  by  a  crisis  of  faith  or  the  loss  of 
meaning  or  purpose.  It  can  be  the  urge  to  discover,  perhaps  recover,  a 
balance  between  the  outer  and  the  inner  journey. 

A  rapidly  changing  culture  calls  for  the  continued  grounding  of  life  in 
scripture  and  spiritual  practices.  Listening  to  God's  call,  being  captured  by 
the  vision  God  has  for  the  church,  being  formed  and  shaped  by  the  biblical 
images  of  mission  and  ministry  found  in  scripture,  seeking  the  mind  of  Christ 
and  careful  discernment,  are  a  few  key  elements  that  provide  an  anchor  for  us 
when  responding  to  an  ever-changing  world. 

Worshipful-Work  is  an  opportunity  to 
deepen  our  spirituality  even  in  church  board 
and  council  meetings.  It  takes  some  faith  to 
leave  behind  the  rules  and  politics  we  asso- 
ciate with  traditional  agendas.  It  takes 
adventurous,  trusting  people  to  see  practices 
traditionally  associated  with  worship  as  steps 
to  discernment  that  will  lead  both  to  a  deeper 
faith  and  to  a  decision.  These  practices 
include  stories  of  where  we  have  been  and  faith 
statements  about  the  future,  as  well  as  scrip- 
ture, music,  silence,  and  prayer. 
Worshipful-Work  can  close  the  gap  between  our  worship  and  our 
work.  When  our  spirituality  and  our  service  come  together,  God  is  glori- 
fied and  our  neighbor's  good  is  honored.  When  our  spirituality  and  our 
service  come  together  we  find  our  anchor  in  a  deepened  faith;  our  wor- 
ship and  our  work  become  one. — Glenn  Timmons 

Glenn  Timmons.  of  Elgin.  III.,  is  director  of  Congregational  Life  Ministries  for  the 
General  Board.  The  cover  painting  is  tilled  The  Institution  of  the  Eucharist,  by  Ercole 
de  Roberti.  c.  1490  (tempera  on  panel).  Used  by  permission. 


Departments 


2 

From  the  Publisher 

3 

In  Touch 

6 

News 

27 

Letters 

30 

Turning  Points 

32 

Editorial 

10     What  is  Worshipful-Work? 

During  the  past  year,  many  Church  of  the  Brethren 
leaders  have  been  trained  in  W-W  principles,  and 
the  General  Board  uses  it.  Now  Annual  Conference 
is  bringing  spirituality  to  business  meetings,  with  a 
goal  of  better  discerning  the  mind  of  Christ. 

14     Houses  of  hope  in  the  DR 

Thirty-two  families  left  homeless  by  Hurricane  Georges 
received  new  houses  through  a  combination  of  their 
own  sweat  equity.  Church  of  the  Brethren  money  and 
volunteers,  and  government  help.  Sally  lo  Caracheo, 
who  as  a  BVSer  was  project  manager,  describes  in 
words  and  pictures  the  personalities  and  progress. 

18     Germantown  project 

The  first  Brethren  meetinghouse  in  America  is  not 
only  a  historic  site  but  an  active  congregation  in 
Philadelphia's  Germantown.  Some  needed  improve- 
ments are  planned  for  the  place  where  it  all  began. 

20     Being  Alexander  Mack 

Casey  Drudge  got  started  playing  Alexander  Mack 
innocently  enough  in  his  own  church  in  Fort 
Wayne,  Ind.  But  now  he  has  taken  his  Living  Her- 
itage show  on  the  road,  not  only  acting,  but 
preaching  and  teaching  through  Mack's  persona. 


23     Youth  "Hunger  for  Justice" 

The  100  Church  of  the  Brethren  youth  and  advi- 
sors who  attended  this  year's  Christian  Citizenship 
Seminar  in  Washington,  D.C.,  and  New  York  City 
learned  some  stark  lessons  about  poverty — and 
they  came  home  vowing  to  do  something  about  it. 

June  2000  Messenger  1 


tk  fill 


My  four-year-old  had  been  running  around  outside  in  her  bare  feet. 
Before  she  put  her  sandals  back  on  as  we  prepared  to  go  out  in  the 
evening,  I  told  her  we  needed  to  wash  her  feet.  I  got  the  washcloth 
ready  and  she  sat  down  on  a  stool.  "This  is  just  like  at  church, 
Mommy!"  she  exclaimed. 

It  took  a  second  for  me  to  realize  that  she  was  remembering  the  feetwashing 
experience  at  love  feast,  some  weeks  before.  While  there  is  childcare  during  love 
feast,  this  year  she  had  insisted  on  spending  the  entire  evening  with  the  family. 
During  feetwashing,  she  and  several  other  girls  sat  on  the  floor  watching.  Her  eyes 
grew  big  as  she  observed  this  unusual  activity  for  the  first  time. 

To  present  each  part  of  the  full  communion  service  that  evening,  two  girls 
asked  their  grandfather  a  series  of  questions  about  the  Brethren  love  feast,  in  much 
the  same  way  lewish  children  ask  ritual  questions  during  the  Passover  Seder  meal. 
This  framework  enhanced  the  service  for  both  the  children  and  the  adults.  Also 
adding  meaning  was  the  fact  that  the  Middler  Sunday  school  class — children  too 
young  to  partake  in  the  bread  and  cup — had  made  the  communion  bread.  It  was  a 
service  to  remember. 

For  Brethren,  love  feast  is  one  of  the  defining  experiences  of  our  faith  com- 
munity. It  is  cherished  by  born-and-bred  Brethren,  who  can  describe  their  childhood 
memories  of  this  unique  ordinance.  It  is  also  embraced  by  "convinced"  Brethren, 
who  discover  in  it  the  heart  and  soul  of  the  people  they  have  come  to  love. 

Some  years  ago,  before  I  was  connected  with  Brethren  Press,  I  dreamed 
about  the  publishing  house  producing  a  "coffee  table  book"  that  would  present  the 
Brethren  ordinances  lovingly  and  artistically.  I  had  grown  to  appreciate  these  experi- 
ences, and  thought  they  deserved  this  sort  of  attention.  The  closest  we  came  to  that 
wish  then  was  a  photo  spread  in  Messenger  (April  1992).  But  recently  writer  Frank 
Ramirez,  one  of  those  "convinced"  Brethren,  suggested  a  book  on  the  love  feast.  The 
Brethren  Press  book  team  eagerly  accepted  the  idea,  quickly  envisioning  a  "trea- 
sury" that  would  bring  together  photos,  graphics,  scripture,  worship  resources, 
anecdotes — even  recipes.  In  addition  to  Frank's  writing  skills,  the  book  (to  be 
released  next  month)  has  been  shaped  by  the  editorial  skills  of  Julie  Garber  and  the 
graphic  design  of  Gwen  Stamm,  who  designed  Hymnal:  A  Worship  Book. 

Simply  called  The  Love  Feast,  the  book  celebrates  this  distinctly  Brethren 
ordinance  in  a  way  that  will  warm  the  hearts  of  church  members  and  catch  the  inter- 
est of  those  who  observe  us  from  outside  the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  It  is  a  gift  to 
ourselves,  and  it  also  is  a  gift  to  the  rest  of  the  world. 


How  to  reach  us 

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Messenger  is  the  official  publication  of  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren.  Entered  as  periodical  postage  matter 
Aug.  20.  1 9 1 8,  under  Act  of  Congress  of  Oct.  1 7, 
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quotations,  unless  otherwise  indicated,  are  from 
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published  1 1  times  a  year  by  Brethren  Press.  Church 
of  the  Brethren  General  Board.  Periodical  postage 
paid  at  Elgin.  III.,  and  at  additional  mailing  office, 
lune  2000.  Copyright  2000,  Church  of  the  Brethren 
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® 


Printed  on  recycled  [ 


2  Messenger  June  2000 


i 


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BRF  holds  Brethren 
Alive  2000  July  28-30 

The  Brethren  Revival  Fel- 
lowship has  scheduled  a 
conference  called  Brethren 
Alive  2000,  to  be  held  |uly 
28-30  on  the  campus  of 
Elizabethtown  College, 
Elizabethown,  Pa. 
The  weekend  conference. 


with  sessions  continuing 
from  Friday  evening 
through  Sunday  morning, 
will  include  biblical  instruc- 
tion and  inspiration,  as  well 
as  fellowship  and  recre- 
ation. All  ages  are  welcome. 
Cost  for  adults  staying  in 
dormitories  is  $50. 

Workshop  topics  include 
"Renewal  through  prayer 


and  spiritual  life,"  "How 
seniors  can  help  revitalize 
the  church,"  and  "What 
are  the  big  roadblocks  to 
revival  and  hot  issues  in  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren?" 

For  information  write 
to  Brethren  Alive  2000, 
155  Denver  Road,  Denver, 
PA  17517,  or  call  Ken 
Leininger  at  7 17-336- 1 287. 


/  *m 


S 


4. 


The  Elizabethtown  College  centennial  was  commemorated  in  a  quilt  which,  now  completed, 
hangs  in  the  lobby  of  Leffler  Chapel  and  Performance  Center  The  volunteer  effort  to  make 
the  quilt  involved  many  members  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren,  including,  from  left.  Ruth 
Bushong.  Anna  Ruth  Enders.  Eva  Myers.  Betty  Bowers.  Julia  Gladfelter  and  Debrah 
Ciambalvo.  Ruth  Bushong  is  a  member  of  the  Mountville,  Pa.,  congregation,  and  the 
others  are  members  of  the  Hempfield  congregation,  East  Petersburg.  Pa. 


June  2000  Messenger  3 


In 


Schwarzenau  Heritage 
Society  visits  Brethren 

Twenty-four  members  of  the 
Schwarzenau  Heritage  Soci- 
ety visited  Brethren  families, 
congregations,  and  historical 
sites  April  15-29. 

The  society  worked  closely 
with  Brethren  in  establishing 
the  Alexander  Mack  Museum 
at  Schwarzenau,  Germany. 
Members  of  the  all-volunteer 
group  regularly  host  Brethren 
visitors  from  the  US  and 
arrange  overnight  stays  in  the 
area.  The  US  tour  was 
arranged  in  gratitude  for  the 


and  historical  objects  at  the 
Muddy  Creek  Farm 
Library,  Denver,  Pa.. 

The  busload  of  German 
visitors  traveled  through  the 
Shenandoah  Valley  to  reach 
Bridgewater,  Va.  They  saw 
the  objects  in  the  Reuel 
Pritchett  Museum  at  Bridge- 
water  College  and  the 
Brethren  Collection  at  the 
Alexander  Mack  Library. 

In  Broadway,  Va.,  the 
hosts  were  members  of  the 
Linville  Creek  Church  of  the 
Brethren.  After  learning 
about  the  lives  of  Civil  War 
martyr  John  Kline  and 


jSrcthrcn  l^crim 


selfless  work  of  the  society  for 
Brethren  over  the  years. 

The  German  visitors  par- 
ticipated in  the  worship 
service  at  Ephrata  (Pa.) 
Church  of  the  Brethren, 
where  the  group  sang  the 
German  hymn  "Nun 
Danket  Alle  Gott"  (Now 
Thank  We  All  Our  God). 

The  guests  were  shown 
through  the  Ephrata  Cloister, 
the  Lancaster  County  coun- 
tryside with  emphasis  upon 
the  church  houses  of  Brethren 
and  Mennonites,  the  Peoples' 
Place  Information  Center, 
and  the  Hans  Herr  House,  an 
early  Mennonite  residence 
and  meeting-place. 

A  highlight  of  these  days 
was  a  meeting  with  members 
of  two  groups  of  Old  Order 
Mennonites,  in  the  church 
house  at  Springville,  Pa. 
Leaders  of  the  Weaverland 
Conference  (the  so-called 
"Black  Bumper  Mennon- 
ites") and  the  Groffdale 
Conference  ("Team  Men- 
nonites") took  part  in  the 
session,  which  featured 
singing  of  hymns  in  German. 

The  guests  saw  rare  books 


churchman  M.  R.  Zigler,  the 
group  toured  the  Tunker 
House,  birthplace  of 
M.R.  Zigler  and  home  of 
19th-century  theologian  Peter 
Nead.  The  historical  part  of 
their  trip  was  coordinated  by 
Don  Durnbaugh  of  (uniata 
College,  who  has  led  many 
study  tours  through  Europe. 


Oregon  spreads  the 
word  on  nonviolence 

The  pastor  and  executive 
board  of  Peace  Church  of 
the  Brethren,  Portland, 
Ore.,  has  written  a  letter 
to  George  Ryan,  the 
governor  of  Illinois,  com- 
mending him  for  his 
declaration  of  a  morato- 
rium on  carrying  out  the 
death  penalty  in  Illinois. 

The  letter  says  in  part: 
"As  members  of  one  of 
the  historic  peace 
churches  in  the  United 
States,  and  with  our  own 
denominational  history  of 
opposition  to  violence,  we 
applaud  your  decision  to 
halt,  even  temporarily, 
executions  in  the  State 
of  Illinois. 

"Ending  violence  in  our 
society  may  be  an  unreach- 
able goal,  but  we  are 
determined  to  try.  Your 
moratorium  on  executions 
is  a  step  in  the  right  direc- 
tion, and  we  hope  that  our 
own  governor.  Dr.  John 
Kitzhaber,  will  follow  your 
courageous  lead." 


Earl  Ziegler  marks  50  years 

Some  1  75  persons  gathered  March  18  at  the  Lititz 
(Pa.)  Church  of  the  Brethren  to  honor  Earl  K. 
Ziegler  for  50  years  of  ministry.  Highlight  of  the  evening 
was  the  surprise  presentation  to  Earl  of  a  $4,000  check  fori 
ministries  in  the  Dominican  Republic. 

Those  who  attended  had  been  invited  to  contribute  in 
honor  of  Earl's  ministry  to  a  scholarship  fund  for  university 
students  and  others  in  the  Dominican  Republic.  As  Earl 
received  the  check,  he  expressed 
gratitude  for  the  response. 

Earl  has  served  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren  as  moderator,  district 
executive  for  Atlantic  Northeast, 
and  as  pastor  in  several  congrega- 
tions. Ziegler,  of  Lancaster,  Pa., 
retired  last  year  as  pastor  of  Lam- 
peter (Pa.)  Church  of  the  Brethren 
and  is  currently  serving  as  interim 
pastor  of  the  Florin  congregation. 
Mount  Joy,  Pa. — S.  Joan  Hershey 


4  Messenger  June  2000 


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Judy  Mills  Reimer,  executive  director  of  the  General  Board, 

takes  a  turn  with  the  shovel.  She  is  flanked  by  Southern 
Pennsylvania  District  executive  Joe  Detrick.  Elizabethtown 
College  president  Theodore  Long,  and  Children 's  Aid  Soci- 
ety executive  director  Lori  Hoffmaster 

New  Fainiew  breaks  ground 

A  large  crowd  came  together  at  the  New  Fairview 
Church  of  the  Brethren,  York,  Pa.,  March  19  for  the 

j  dedication  and  groundbreaking  service  for  a  planned  new 
fellowship  hall  and  classrooms. 

I        Guest  speakers  at  the  dedication  service  that  morning 
included  General  Board  executive  director  |udy  Mills 
Reimer,  Southern  Pennsylvania  District  executive  Joe  Det- 
rick, and  Elizabethtown  College  president  Theodore  Long. 

[That  service  ended,  appropriately,  with  the  hymn  "The 
Church's  One  Foundation." 

The  congregation  then  moved  outdoors  for  the 
groundbreaking,  where  a  stream  of  people  took  turns 
turning  over  shovelfuls  of  dirt  in  an  area  that  had  been 
marked  off  in  the  shape  of  a  cross. 

New  Fairview  moderator  Donald  Myers  started  the 
groundbreaking  by  saying,  "Today  we  break  ground  and 
turn  over  the  sod.  May  the  ministry  that  comes  from  the 
breaking  of  this  ground  for  the  construction  to  follow  be  a 
testimony  of  our  commitment  to  the  Lord  [esus  Christ  and 
to  the  honor  of  God." 

New  Fairview  is  one  of  the  largest  congregations  in 
Southern  Pennsylvania  District,  located  just  off  a  major 
interstate.  The  total  cost  of  the  project  is  expected  to  be 
about  S 1 .5  million.  More  than  half  of  that  has  already  been 
received  in  contributions  coming  from  a  capital  campaign. 


Remembered 

Brethren  mourned  the  loss  of 
another  longtime  leader 
recently  with  the  passing  on 
April  9  of  Eldon  "Gene" 
Fahs,  vice  president  emeritus 
of  Manchester  College 
(North  Manchester,  Ind.)  and 


a  member  of  the  Manchester 
Church  of  the  Brethren. 

Fahs  retired  from  Manches- 
ter in  December  1995  after 
holding  a  variety  of  positions, 
from  registrar  to  assistant 
professor  to  treasurer,  in  a  3 1 
year  career  with  the  school. 

Among  many  service 


roles,  Fahs  served  as  chair 
of  the  board  of  Timbercrest 
Church  of  the  Brethren 
Home  and  was  a  member  of 
the  Bethany  Theological 
Seminary  board  and  chair 
of  its  Institutional  Advance- 
ment Committee.  He  was 
also  a  volunteer  for  Heifer 
Project  International. 

Mary  Elizabeth  Pratt,  85, 
died  March  3  in  Fresno, 
Calif.  She  is  survived  by  her 
husband  of  62  years,  pastor 
Ward  E.  Pratt,  four  daugh- 
ters, twelve  grandchildren, 
and  nine  great  grandchil- 
dren. She  worked  as  a 
devoted  pastor's  wife, 
teacher,  music  director,  and 
homemaker  for  many  years. 

Melvin  W.  Halterman,  79, 
of  Mathias,  W.Va.,  died  |an. 
1 5  in  Harrisonburg,  Va.  He 
was  the  pastor  at  New  Dale 
Church  of  the  Brethren,  Lost 
River,  W.Va.,  for  30  years.  He 
was  also  pastor  at  Mountain 
View  Church  of  the  Brethren 
and  served  as  interim  pastor 
for  the  Mathias,  Crab  Run, 
Damascus,  and  Mount  Grove 
congregations. 


Partners  oppose 
domestic  violence 

A  year  ago  the  Live  Oak, 
(Calif.)  Church  of  the 
Brethren  became  partners 
with  Casa  de  Esperanza,  an 
agency  that  provides  shelter 
and  services  to  women  and 
children  who  have  been  vic- 
tims of  domestic  violence, 
sexual  assault,  and  child 
abuse.  The  idea  was  to  pro- 
vide education  and  awareness 
of  domestic  violence  and  to 
assist  those  in  need. 

The  program  was  kicked 
off  by  a  special  worship  ser- 


vice in  which  pastor  Barbara 
Ober  and  the  executive 
director  of  Casa  de  Esper- 
anza, Marsha  Krouse-Taylor, 
spoke  about  domestic  vio- 


lence in  the  community. 

Over  the  last  year  a  number 
of  educational  meetings  have 
been  facilitated  by  the  Live 
Oak  congregation,  including 
presentations  to  the  Chamber 
of  Commerce,  a  childcare 
center,  high  school  students, 
and  the  community  at  large. 
During  Vacation  Bible  School 
children  went  through  the 
Child  Assault  Prevention  Pro- 
gram to  learn  how  to  deal 
with  bullies  and  protect  them- 
selves from  sexual  assault. 

A  children's  fair  was 
hosted  in  the  church  park- 
ing lot  with  games,  food, 
and  face  painting.  Casa 
employees  videotaped  and 
fingerprinted  area  children. 
Funds  raised  went  to  buy 
clothing  and  craft  items  for 
children  residing  at  the 
shelter. — Anne  E.  Palmer 


Sharpsburg  honors 
75  years  of  service 

The  Sharpsburg  (Md.) 
Church  of  the  Brethren 
honored  Martha  L.  Miller 
in  February  for  75  years  of 
service  to  the  church.  She 
served  as  Sunday  school 
teacher  and  treasurer,  bake 
sales  helper,  volunteer  at 
the  Fahrney-Keedy  Memor- 
ial Home,  and  volunteer  at 
the  local  food  bank. 


"In  Touch"  features  news  of  congregations,  districts,  and  individ- 
uals. Send  story  ideas  and  photos  to  "In  Touch. "  Messenger, 
1451  Dundee  Ave..  Elgin.  IL  60120. 


June  2000  Messenger  5 


N 


Brethren  take  part  in  rally 
for  international  debt  relief 

More  than  50  members  of  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren,  including 
groups  from  Brethren  Volunteer  Ser- 
vice and  Bridgewater  College  and 


before  the  afternoon  events.  The 
rally/public  witness  event,  held  in 
cold,  windy  conditions,  featured  an 
assortment  of  speakers  and  musi- 
cians and  was  followed  by  the 
creation  of  a  human  chain  around 
the  US  Capitol. 


Carrying  the  banner  for  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren 

at  the  April  Jubilee  2000 

demonstration  in 

Washington,  D.C.. 

is  a  group  from 

Bridgewater  College. 


people  from  as  far  away  as  Illinois, 
joined  a  large  lubilee  2000  rally  on 
the  National  iVIall  in  Washington, 
D.C.,  on  April  9. 

The  event  called  for  the  US  to 
cancel  debts  owed  by  many  of  the 
world's  poorest  nations. 

The  Washington  City  Church  of 
the  Brethren  featured  guest  speaker 
Sue  Wagner  Fields,  working  on 
globalization  issues  with  the 
Brethren  Witness  office  of  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  General 
Board,  in  a  special  morning  service 


Some  participants  stayed  the 
following  day  to  lobby  their  repre- 
sentatives, urging  debt  relief.  Other 
members  who  couldn't  join  in  the 
events,  meanwhile,  sent  in  paper 
chains  and  hundreds  of  petitions. 

The  rally,  which  drew  more  than 
6,000  people,  was  sponsored  by  a       | 
national  coalition  including  the  I 

National  Council  of  Churches  | 

and  Church  World  Service.  For  j 

more  on  the  event,  see  photos  at  | 
www.brethren.org/pjournal/index.htrri 
or  visit  the  www.j2000usa.org  website.' 


6  Messenger  June  2000 


General  Board  giving  tops 
$1M  but  still  behind  1999 

Gifts  to  the  General  Ministries  Fund 
of  the  General  Board  for  2000 
topped  the  $1  million  mark  during 
the  second  week  of  April.  The  mile- 
stone came  more  than  a  week  later 
than  in  1999,  however,  and  drew 
attention  to  somewhat  lower  overall 
giving  levels  for  the  General  Min- 
istries Fund,  Emergency  Disaster 
Fund,  and  Global  Food  Crisis  Fund. 

The  one  notable  exception  to  the 
trend  was  in  the  "Special  Gifts"  cate- 
gory, which  was  up  nearly  60  percent  to 
$1 15,585  on  April  18,  but  not  up  enough 
to  offset  the  lag  in  total  gifts  for  2000 — 
amounting  to  $73,000  at  the  time. 

Ken  Neher  of  the  General  Board's 
Funding  office  expressed  gratitude 
for  the  gifts  that  congregations  and 
individuals  are  sending  to  support 
the  various  ministries,  while 
encouraging  others  to  help  with  the 
many  programs  supported  by  the 
funds.  Neher  said  he  expects  gifts  to 
eventually  outpace  those  of  1999. 

'When  presented  with  the  needs 
and  opportunities  of  the  world," 
Neher  said,  "we  Brethren  consis- 
tently rise  to  the  occasion." 


US  Navy  presence  on  Vieques 
continues  to  garner  attention 

Hundreds  gathered  in  front  of  the 
White  House  April  19  to  demand  that 
President  Clinton  and  Congress  drop 
"not  one  more  bomb  in  Vieques, 
Puerto  Rico."  and  bring  a  permanent 
halt  to  US  Navy  practice  bombing  of 
the  island  of  9,000  residents.  The  gath- 
ering marked  the  one-year  anniversary 
of  the  death  of  David  Sanes  Rodriguez, 
who  was  killed  when  a  Navy  F- 1 8  air- 
craft dropped  an  incorrectly  targeted 
500-pound  bomb  on  the  island. 

Bombing  has  ceased  at  least  tem- 
porarily due  to  the  encampment  of 


At  the  Roundtable  Regional  Youth  Conference  at  Bridgeimter,Va., 
Edith  Burger.  Jodi  Eller,  Katie  Kirk,  Jonathan  Emmons,  and 
Jan  Walker  work  at  getting  acquainted. 


Two  regional  conferences 
bring  youth  to  campuses 

More  than  500  youth  took  part  in  a 
pair  of  regional  youth  conferences 
held  the  first  two  weekends  of  April. 
Youth  and  adults  from  Atlantic 
Southeast,  Mid-Atlantic,  Shenan- 
doah, Southeastern,  Virlina,  and 
West  Marva  districts  participated  in 
Roundtable  at  Bridgewater  (Va.) 
College  April  8-9,  while  their  coun- 
terparts in  Pennsylvania  gathered  at 
Elizabethtown  (Pa.)  College  April 
1-2  for  Eastern  Regional  Youth 
Conference. 

Shawn  Replogle,  a  Bridgewater 
and  Bethany  Theological  Seminary 
graduate,  now  pastor  of  the  South 
Waterloo  (Iowa)  Church  of  the 


hundreds  of  civil  disobedience 
activists  on  the  military  range, 
including  members  of  Christian 
Peacemaker  Teams.  Brethren  mem- 
bers Cliff  Kindy,  David  Jehnsen,  Phil 
Borkholder,  Ambrosia  Brown,  Eric 
Christiansen,  and  Kurt  Ritchie  were 
among  members  of  a  CPT  delegation 
that  visited  the  island  in  mid-March, 
and  many  Puerto  Rican  Brethren 
have  been  active  in  protests  there. 


Brethren,  led  Roundtable  partici- 
pants in  four  sessions  based  on  the 
theme  "Looking  Back  to  Look 
Ahead  "  Gilbert  Romero,  pastor  of 
the  Bella  Vista  Church  of  the 
Brethren  in  Los  Angeles,  Calif., 
served  as  keynote  speaker  for 
ERYC,  on  the  theme  "No  Fear  - 
Know  God!"  and  also  performed  in 
a  Bittersweet  Gospel  Band  concert 
during  the  weekend. 

Both  events  included  worship, 
Bible  study,  recreation,  enter- 
tainment, and  fellowship. 
Midwestern  youth  met  at  Man- 
chester College  (North 
Manchester,  Ind.)  later  in  April, 
and  western  youth  will  come 
together  at  the  University  of  La 
Verne  (Calif.)  in  July. 


Jehnsen,  from  Galena,  Ohio, 
described  the  resistance  encamp- 
ments as  a  source  of  hope  for  those 
who  believe  in  nonviolence  as  God's 
way  for  people  to  struggle  and 
change  the  course  of  history. 

Church  of  the  Brethren  Washington 
Office  coordinator  Greg  Laszakovits 
traveled  to  Puerto  Rico  in  late  April 
to  meet  with  religious  leaders  seeking 
a  halt  to  the  bombing. 


June  2000  Messenger  7 


The  Cross-Cultural  Ministries  Team  gathering  in  Dayton.  Ohio,  included 
Brethren  from  Haitian.  Korean.  Puerto  Rican,  Hispanic,  African-American, 
and  Anglo  congregations. 


Consultation  addresses  needs 
of  ethnic  church  leadership 

The  third  Consultation  of  Ethnic 
and  Urban  Churches  was  held 
March  23-26  at  Mack  Memorial 
Church  of  the  Brethren  in  Dayton, 
Ohio.  The  gathering  this  time 
focused  on  developing  leadership 
training  models  to  better  serve  the 
needs  of  ethnic  churches  and  their 
leaders.  Participants  in  the  gath- 
ering included  Brethren  from 
Haitian,  Korean,  Puerto  Rican, 


Youth  leaders  and  pastors 
explore  "God-Centered  Life" 

The  first  event  of  a  new  youth  spiri- 
tuality program  emphasis,  "The 
God-Centered  Life,"  took  place 
March  24-26  at  Shepherd's  Spring 
Outdoor  Ministry  Center  in  Sharps- 
burg,  Md.  The  project  is  being 
sponsored  by  Shepherd's  Spring  and 
the  General  Board's  Youth/Young 

8  Messenger  June  2000 


Hispanic,  African-American,  and 
Anglo  congregations. 

Representatives  from  numerous 
Brethren  and  other  agencies  led  the 
discussions  around  leadership 
development. 

A  report  on  the  recent  General 
Board  resolution  on  ethnic  represen- 
tation for  leadership  positions  within 
the  church  was  also  heard.  The  reso- 
lution was  planned  by  the  Cross- 
Cultural  Ministries  Team,  who  also 
planned  the  consultation.  A  similar 
gathering  is  being  planned  for  2001 . 


Adult  Ministry  Office. 

The  initial  weekend  was  designed 
to  help  youth  leaders  and  pastors 
find  ways  to  fill  and  maintain  their 
"spiritual  cups"  in  order  to  be  more 
effective  in  assisting  the  youth  with 
whom  they  work.  The  long-term  goal 
for  all  participants  is  to  develop  a  life 
that  is  centered  on  God  and  follows 
Jesus'  example.  The  opening  worship 
ended  symbolically,  with  a  cup  of 


strained  and  purified  "living  water" 
from  the  center's  spring  served  to 
each  participant. 

Paul  Grout,  pastor  of  the  Genesis 
Church  of  the  Brethren  (Putney,  Vt.) 
joined  Chris  Douglas  of  the 
Youth/Young  Adult  office  and  Shep- 
herd's Spring  administrator  Rex  Miller 
to  provide  leadership  for  the  event. 
Worship  services,  workshops  on  spiri- 
tual disciplines,  discussion,  sharing  of 
resources,  a  special  prayer  room,  and 
communion  filled  the  weekend. 

"Every  aspect  of  the  event  was  care- 
fully planned  to  enable  each  participan; 
to  experience  God,  encounter  [esus, 
and  be  empowered  by  the  Holy  Spirit 
in  a  complete  way  of  living,"  wrote 
participant  joy  Zepp.  "We  were  chal- 
lenged to  help  to  prepare  ground  for  a  - 
new  paradigm,  that  of  living  life  totallyi 
in  the  way  of  lesus." 

The  second  event  in  the  project,  a 
week-long  camp  for  senior  high 
youth,  will  be  held  at  Shepherd's 
Spring  July  2-8.  Grout  will  again  proj 
vide  the  main  leadership.  For  more      ; 
details,  call  the  Youth/Young  Adult 
Office  at  800-323-8039  (e-mail 
cdouglas_gb@brethren.org)  or 
Shepherd's  Spring  at  301-223-8193 
(e-mail  shepherds.spring@juno.com) 


Bethany  and  ABC  boards  fill 
positions  and  plan  for  future 

The  Bethany  Theological  Seminary 
and  Association  of  Brethren  Care- 
givers boards  each  held  meetings 
this  spring,  with  the  Bethany  board 
meeting  in  Richmond,  Ind.,  and  the 
ABC  board  in  Elgin,  III. 

Bethany  board  highlights  included: 

•  Approving  the  appointment  of  Tim 
Van  Meter  as  director  of  the  Semi- 
nary's Institute  for  Ministry  with  Youth 
and  Young  Adults,  beginning  Aug.  1 . 

•  Receiving  and  discussing  the  first 
draft  of  the  next  five-year  Strategic 

j  Plan  (2001-2006),  with  the  final  draft 
to  be  approved  at  the  October  meeting. 

•  Naming  Earle  and  (ean  Fike  of 
!  Bridgewater,  Va.,  as  chairs  of  the 

seminary's  Centennial  Celebration 
j  Committee.  Bethany  will  celebrate  its 
centennial  in  2004-05. 

•  The  election  of  Guy  Wampler,  Jr., 
Lancaster,  Pa.,  as  chair;  [ohn  Gingrich, 
Claremont,  Calif.,  as  vice  chair;  and 
Anne  Reid,  Roanoke,  Va.,  as  secretary. 

ABC  board  highlights  included: 

•  Becoming  a  co-owner  of  the  High 
Performance  Board  Series,  a  board 
development  tool,  with  Mennonite 
Health  Services  of  Goshen,  Ind., 
which  initially  developed  the  program. 
Members  of  the  Fellowship  of  Brethren 
Homes  may  be  able  to  schedule  train- 
ing modules  for  their  boards  soon. 

•  Approval  of  a  process  for  the 
steering  committees  of  its  nine  min- 
istry areas  to  collectively  elect  two 
members  to  the  board.  The  ABC 
bylaws,  which  were  approved  by 
Annual  Conference,  empower  ministry 
groups  to  elect  members  to  the  board. 

•  Approval  of  giving  caregiving 
awards  to  four  individuals  at  ABC's 
recognition  dinner  at  Annual  Confer- 
ence. They  will  go  to  Laura  Abernathy 
of  Lacey,  Wash.;  Ernest  Barr  of  Carmel, 
Ind.;  Shawn  Decker  of  Waynesboro, 
Va.;  and  Tana  Durnbaugh  of  Elgin,  III. 


•  Beginning  discussion  of  a 
process  of  long-range  planning  for 
the  organization.  Sessions  of  long- 
range  planning  will  be  incorporated 
into  the  next  several  board  meetings. 


Hurst  honored,  Lipton  speaks 
at  peace  fellowship  dinner 

More  than  100  people  met  at 
Brethren  Village  in  Neffsville,  Pa.,  in 
April  for  the  annual  spring  banquet 
of  the  Brethren  Peace  Fellowship  in 
Atlantic  Northeast  District. 

In  addition  to  the  meal,  two  major 
events  were  on  the  evening  program. 
Tom  Hurst,  who  resigned  last  month 
after  1 0  years  as  executive  director  of 
On  Earth  Peace  Assembly,  received  the 
group's  2000  Brethren  Peacemaker  of 
the  Year  award.  OF  PA  board  member 
Walt  Moyer  presented  the  award,  with 
a  citation  for  Hurst's  "vision,  creativ- 
ity, passion,  and  perseverance  in  the 
cause  of  peace,"  highlighting  the  many 
programs  Hurst  began  at  OEPA. 

Dr.  Dennis  Lipton  then  delivered 
the  evening's  keynote  address,  about 
his  pilgrimage  as  a  doctor  in  the  US 
Air  Force  and  his  decision  to  become 
a  conscientious  objector,  resulting  in 
a  court-martial  and  jail  time  last  fall. 


Grants  from  two  funds  send 
relief  around  the  world 

Grants  were  recently  sent  from  two 
of  the  General  Board's  special  funds 
to  support  global  needs: 

•  The  Emergency  Disaster  Fund 
sent  $10,000  to  support  an  Inter- 
church  Medical  Assistance  shipment 
of  50  medicine  boxes  to  Venezuela. 
The  boxes  will  provide  essential 
medicines  and  medical  products  for 
50,000  people  who  continue  to 
suffer  from  last  December's  devas- 


tating floods  in  Venezuela.  This 
grant  will  cover  handling,  packing, 
and  shipping  of  the  boxes. 

•  The  Global  Food  Crisis  Fund 
sent  $21,000  toward  food  relief 
efforts  in  famine-plagued  North 
Korea.  The  funds  will  be  used  to 
purchase  35  metric  tons  of  seed  corn 
to  grow  grain  for  livestock  as  well  as 
for  human  consumption.  Work  is 
also  under  way  for  a  shipment  of 
dairy  goats  to  that  nation  this 
summer,  using  a  $50,000  grant 
approved  last  year  plus  additional 
donations  being  sought. 

Another  $50,000  from  the  fund  has 
been  approved  for  the  unfolding 
drought  crisis  in  the  Horn  of  Africa, 
especially  Ethiopia.  The  funds  will  be 
a  part  of  a  $1  million  Church  World 
Service  appeal;  the  Brethren  grant  will 
provide  3 1 0  metric  tons  of  grain,  pro- 
viding more  than  25,000  daily  rations. 

In  addition,  a  $15,000  grant  will 
go  to  the  Western  Service  Workers 
Association  of  Orange  County,  Calif. 
The  association  provides  emergency 
food  relief,  legal  advice,  dental  care, 
and  a  variety  of  other  services  to  its 
mostly  Hispanic  constituency. 


Personnel  announcement 

Lowell  Flory,  who  served  as  moder- 
ator of  the  1 999  Annual  Conference, 
will  begin  as  director  of  planned 
giving  for  Bethany  Theological  Semi- 
nary )uly  1 .  Flory  will  be  part  of  the 
institutional  advancement  staff, 
designing  and  carrying  out  an 
expanded  strategy  for  planned  gift 
development.  He  will  also  be  avail- 
able for  teaching  roles  in  the  fields  of 
stewardship,  organizational  leader- 
ship, and  business  and  finance. 

Flory  is  currently  professor  and 
chair  of  the  Department  of  Business 
and  Economics  at  McPherson  Col- 
lege, McPherson,  Kan.,  where  he  has 
served  on  the  faculty  since  1983. 


June  2000  Messenger  9 


X? 


/ 


-^ 


ITS 


A  better  way  to  do  church  business 

Worshipful-Worl^  invites  God's  spirit  to  preside 


History  giving/storytelling. 

Biblical/theological  reflection. 

I  Prayerful  discernment. 

Visioning  the  future. 

What  is  this  new  language  being 
heard  around  the  church? 
A  new  fad ...  or  a  fresh  wind  from 
the  Spirit? 

As  a  pastor  of  30  years  working  to 
build  up  congregations  as  the  body 
of  Christ,  I  find  Worshipful -Work  a 
valuable  way  of  recognizing  God's 
presence  in  our  midst.  Worshipful- 
Work,  with  its  spiritual  practices,  is  a 
way  of  doing  ordinary  church  busi- 
ness as  a  sacred  trust  and  an 
opportunity  for  worship,  forming 
congregations  through  their  deci- 
sion-making processes  into  vibrant 
Spirit-led  faith  communities  much  as 
we  see  in  the  New  Testament. 

10  Messenger  June  2000 


Worshipful-Work  as  a  spiritual 
practice  assumes  that 

—  the  risen  Christ  is  present  and 
active  in  the  local  congregation 
(Matt.  18:20;  Rev.l:9-22). 

—  the  voice  of  God  is  still  speaking 
and  can  be  heard  in  the  church. 

—  it  is  possible  to  discern  and  know 
the  mind  of  Christ  (Rom.  12: 1  -2;  I 
Cor.  2:14-16). 

Worshipful-Work,  through  these 
basic  practices,  creates  an  environ- 
ment for  boards  and  committees  to 
1)  listen  for  God's  voice,  2)  discern 
the  mind  of  Christ,  and  3)  celebrate 
Christ's  presence. 

These  ideas  and  practices  grow  out 
of  a  five-year-old  ecumenical  min- 
istry, headquartered  in  Kansas  City, 
Mo.,  called  Worshipful-Work:  Center 
for  Transforming  Religious  Leader- 
ship. The  group  conducts  retreats 
and  seminars,  circulates  a  newsletter, 
and  publishes  books  on  ways  to  inte- 
grate spirituality  and  church 
leadership.  Its  website  is  at 


www.worshipfulwork.org. 

A  primary  text  for  Worshipful- 
Work  is  Romans  12:1-2,  which  reads 
as  paraphrased: 

"I  urge  you  my  brothers  and  sisters 
who  serve  on  church  boards,  because 
of  the  mercies  of  God,  to  offer  the 
stuff  of  your  life — the  agendas  of 
your  meetings — as  a  living  sacrifice, 
for  this  is  your  'worshipful  work.'  Do 
not  allow  your  meetings  to  be  con- 
formed to  the  board  cultures  of  the 
latest  management  theory,  but  allow 
your  meetings  to  be  shaped  and 
transformed  by  God's  Spirit.  Then 
you  will  be  able  to  discern  the  good 
and  complete  will  of  God." 

Four  Worshipful -Work  practices 
help  create  space  for  the  Spirit  to  move 
and  transform  decision-making  meet- 
ings into  life -affirming  experiences. 

/.  History  giriiiii/.storyfelling. 

Storytelling  creates  identity  and  a 
sense  of  community  as  persons  share 
experiences  from  both  their  personal 


Worshipful-WorJ^  provides  hope  that  the  table  of  the  Board  can 
be  transformed  into  the  table  of  the  Lord,  and  everyone  around 
it  might  sense  again  God's  presence  and  God's  call. 


and  congregational  lives  since  the 
last  meeting.  This  creates  a  meaning- 
ful environment  for  listening  to  the 
"minutes"  of  the  last  meeting. 

2.  liiltlifdl/tlicolojiiviil  reflection. 

This  practice  invites  a  group  to  clarify 
their  values,  beliefs,  and  purpose  by  a 
careful  meditative  listening  to  relevant 
scripture  passages,  punctuated  by  peri- 
ods of  silence  in  which  people  can 
wonder  and  meditate  on  the  messages 
they  are  hearing.  This  practice  creates 
a  common  foundation  for  discerning 
the  mind  of  Christ. 

S.  Prayerful  discernment. 

As  a  spiritual  practice,  this  style  of 


decision-making  invites  members  of 
the  group  to  share  information  and 
listen  to  each  other  until  they  reach 
agreement  about  the  best  option  for 
action  at  the  present  time.  Prayerful 
discernment  combines  discussion  and 
periods  of  prayer  (silent,  individual, 
and  corporate),  forming  a  process 
that  allows  a  group  to  move  beyond 
often  divisive  voting  to  an  open, 
respectful  listening  for  God's  voice. 

4 .  \  is  ion  in<>  I h  e  fu  lure. 

This  practice  recognizes  that  envi- 
sioning is  an  ongoing  process  of 
lifting  up  the  church's  future  before 
God  in  prayer.  Proverbs  29:18 
states,  "Where  there  is  no  vision,  the 


people  get  out  of  hand"  (NJB) .  This 
text  invites  us  to  see  vision  as  God's 
gift  that  comes  as  we  create  prayerful 
space  within  our  decision-making  to 
listen  for  and  to  see  what  God  is 
working  through  us. 

The  current  interest  within  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  to  incorpo- 
rate the  spiritual  practices  of 
Worshipful -Work  reflects  a  deepen- 
ing desire  for  a  prayerful  integration 
of  spirituality  in  decision-making. 
Worshipful -Work  promises  to  bring 
new  vitality  to  our  work  and  our 
worship. — Larry  Fourman 

Larry  D.  Fourman  is  pastor  of  Crest  Manor 
Church  of  the  Brethren.  South  Bend.  Ind. 


Worshipful-Work  at  the  Seminary 


The  Ministry  Formation  area  of 
study  at  Bethany  Theological 
Seminary  is  an  ideal  setting  to  explore 
the  implementation  of  Worshipful- 
Work  in  the  training  of  persons  for 
ministry.  We  work  with  the  practical 
aspects  of  the  work  of  ministry 
through  field  education,  spiritual  for- 
mation, and  theological  reflection. 

In  1996,  1  was  introduced  to 
Chuck  Olsen  and  began  to  imple- 
ment some  of  the  concepts  of 
Worshipful-Work  in  meetings  with 
the  Pleasant  Hill  Church  of  the 
Brethren  in  Pleasant  Hill,  Ohio. 

After  accepting  an  appointment  to 
the  seminary.  I  began  to  envision 
Worshipful-Work  as  a  way  to  help 
our  students  live  into  an  understand- 
ing that  our  work  and  our  worship 
are  one.  Each  year,  second-year 
master  of  divinity  students  visit  the 
spring  General  Board  meeting.  In 


preparation  for  last  year's  visit,  the 
students  read  an  introductory  text 
for  discernment  in  community  and 
discussed  the  implementation  of 
Worshipful -Work  they  observed 
during  the  meeting. 

These  same  students  and  several 
from  this  year's  class  received  training 
in  Worshipful -Work  in  Elgin  and 
again  later  at  Bethany.  Several  stu- 
dents are  now  pursuing  additional 
training  through  an  independent 
study  focused  on  Worshipful -Work 
and  planning  events  in  the  area. 

Students  are  using  the  Worshipful- 
Work  methods  with  their  teaching 
committees,  in  their  ministry  set- 
tings, in  the  construction  and 
reflection  on  case  studies,  and  in 
other  areas  of  ministry  formation. 

Linda  Lewis,  a  senior  at  Bethany, 
has  used  Worshipful-Work  with  the 
church  board  at  Beavercreek  (Ohio) 


Church  of  the  Brethren,  where  she 
serves  as  a  student  pastor.  She 
remembers  her  first  church  board 
meeting  to  discuss  the  budget  as 
being  a  rather  difficult  meeting. 
People  spoke  in  loud  voices  and 
across  each  other  and  it  was  a  tense 
and  unproductive  time.  By  the  final 
budget  session,  the  board  was  meet- 
ing in  the  sanctuary,  sitting  in  a 
circle,  with  hymnals  and  Bibles  avail- 
able. They  spoke  to  each  other. 
There  were  periods  of  silence,  scrip- 
tures read  and  hymns  sung.  People 
were  attentive  to  God's  presence  in 
their  midst. 

"It  was  a  moving  experience,"  Lewis 
said.  "That  simple  change  in  location 
is  one  I  hope  to  try  again  during  my 
ministry." — Tara  Hornbacker 

Tara  Hornbacker  is  professor  at  Bethany 
Theological  Seminary,  Richmond.  Ind. 


June  2000  Messenger  11 


WA  solution  for  the  church  bored 


At  the  first  Worshipful-Work 
workshop  I  attended  I  was  a  part 
of  a  conversation  about  board  meetings 
and  their  ability  to  be  "life  depleting"  or 
"life  giving."  There  were  plenty  of 
people  present  who  had  come  out  of 
meetings  with  a  yawn,  or  frustrated  by 
the  lack  of  depth  in  the  discussion. 
Sometimes  we  think  things  like:  Why 
are  we  here?  What  is  the  point?  What  a 
boring  way  to  pass  2  or  3  hours!  And 
we  feel  at  a  loss  to  change. 

Worshipful -Work  calls 
leaders  to  recognize  that 
the  church  should  do 
things  differently  when 
coming  together  to  do 
business.  Through  the  use 
of  worship  centers,  prayer, 
music,  silence,  scripture, 
storytelling,  litany,  and 
more,  Worshipful-Work 
provides  a  process  of  dis- 
cernment, rather  than 
"parliamentary  procedure." 

Worshipful  -Work 
encourages  relationship- 
building  around  the  table 
as  individuals  share  pieces 
of  their  own  life  stories,  as 
well  as  share  about  the  life 
story  of  the  congregation. 
Board  members  respect 
and  listen  to  one  another 
as  together  they  seek  to 
explore  who  we  are  as 
God's  people,  and  what 
God  is  calling  us  to  do. 

The  Church  of  the 
Brethren  has  always  valued  building 
relationships  among  its  people  and  has 
valued  discerning  work  to  be  done 
within  a  firm  sense  of  spiritual  ground- 
ing. Worshipful -Work  uses  elements  of 
worship  and  storytelling  to  continually 
remind  us  who  we  serve,  and  to  listen 
for  God's  yearnings  for  us. 


As  we  practice  Worshipful-Work  in 
our  congregation,  we  are  making  a 
huge  shift.  Before,  we  were  enduring 
a  meeting.  Now,  we  are  gathering  in 
God's  presence  to  share  about  the 
ministry  of  our  congregation. 

We  often  have  a  worship  center  in 
the  middle  of  our  table,  sometimes 
with  candles,  sometimes  with  things 
that  depict  a  theme  we  are  discussing 
or  working  on.  We  have  hymnals  and 


might  take  a  walk  around  the  church 
or  eat  ice  cream  together  as  we  think 
about  an  issue  before  us. 

Worshipful-Work  is  not  a  program; 
it  is  a  way  of  being  about  the  work  of 
the  church.  It  is  not  a  prescribed  way 
of  doing  things;  rather  it  is  a  bag  of 
tools.  The  tools  can  be  used  to  build 
relationships,  to  worship,  study 
scripture,  tell  stories,  and  more. 

Worshipful -Work  provides  hope 


Using  Worshipful -Work  practices  at  General  Board  meetings  often  calls  for  hymns 
at  key  points  during  business.  Here  Stafford  Frederick,  veteran  board  member 
and  pastor  of  the  Olathe,  Kan.,  congregation,  leads  the  singing. 


Bibles  present,  should  we  choose  to 
share  a  story  that  depicts  what  we 
are  dealing  with,  or  sing  a  hymn  that 
will  help  us  to  celebrate  something  or 
bring  us  into  some  reflection  time. 
We  don't  always  just  talk  about  our 
business.  We  sing,  pray,  tell  stories 
or  experience  silence  together.  We 


that  the  table  of  the  Board  can  be 
transformed  into  the  table  of  the 
Lord,  and  everyone  around  it  might 
sense  again  God's  presence  and 
God's  call. — Erin  Matteson 

Erin  Matteson  is  pastor  of  Faith  Church 
of  the  Brethren.  Batavia.  IL 


12  Messenger  June  2000 


Introducing  a  spiritual  presence  to  Annual  Conference 


When  the  Church  of  the  Brethren 
General  Board  met  in  October 
1998,  Mary  ]o  Flory-Steury,  chair- 
person, introduced  a  new  model  for 
doing  the  business.  Rather  than  con- 
tinue meeting  as  corporate  managers 
of  the  larger  church,  she  envisioned 
engaging  the  faith  experiences  of  the 
General  Board  members  to  inform 
the  way  they  conduct  the  work  of  the 
denomination.  She  proposed  doing 
Worshipful-Work,  based  on  Charles 
M.  Olsen's  Transforming  Church 
Boards  into  Communities  of  Spiritual 
Leaders  (The  Alban  Institute,  1995). 

Moderator  Emily  Mumma  attended 
that  board  meeting.  She  left  yearning 
for  Annual  Conference  to  experience  a 
similar  worshipful  atmosphere  when  we 
gather  in  luly  at  Kansas  City,  Mo., 
(which  happens  to  be  the  home  base 
for  the  Worshipful -Work  organization). 
She  remembered  too  well  the  many  sto- 
ries of  people  who  felt  marginalized  by 
denominational  programming  and  the 
win/lose  atmosphere  of  Annual  Con- 
ference debate.  Could  we  find  a  better 
way  to  conduct  business? 

At  the  August  1999  Annual  Confer- 
ence Program  and  Arrangements 
Committee,  Sister  Mumma  suggested 
that  we  try  the  Worshipful-Work 
model.  When  the  committee  met 
again  in  November,  her  proposal  for 
Worshipful-Work  was  met  with  sev- 
eral questions:  How  will  the  business 
meeting  be  shaped?  Won't  this 
model  take  up  too  much  time?  What 
do  we  do  when  controversy  arises? 
Will  people  be  given  enough  time  to 
speak  so  that  all  views  will  be  heard? 
Who  controls  the  flow  of  the  busi- 
ness session,  the  moderator  or  the 
guest  spiritual  consultant?  Do  we 
dismiss  Roberts'  Rules  of  Order? 

At  Moderator  Mumma's  request. 
Sister  Ellen  Morseth.  staff  mentor  with 
the  Worshipful -Work  organization, 
met  with  Program  and  Arrangements. 
Moderator  Mumma  recommended 
Sister  Ellen  serve  as  spiritual  director 


for  the  business  sessions  during  the 
Kansas  City  2000  Annual  Conference. 
Sister  Ellen  explained  her  purpose 
would  be  to  work  alongside  the  Annual 
Conference  moderator,  suggesting 
interjections  of  spiritual  practices  as 
they  are  deemed  important  and  suit- 
able to  the  gathering.  She  would  serve 
at  the  invitation  of  the  moderator  and 
bring  spiritually  vital,  relevant,  engag- 
ing, and  enriching  additions  from  our 
faith  heritage  to  the  ordinary  business. 
Sister  Ellen  also  explained  that  her 
role  would  be  that  of  a  spiritual 
director  who  tends  to  the  heart  of  the 
business  meeting.  She  would 
respond  to  the  dynamics  of  the  meet- 
ing, inviting  the  naming  of  God's 
presence  at  various  times.  These 
invitations  to  God's  active  presence 
could  come  in  a  variety  of  ways: 

•  scripture  passages  or  stories  that  are 
related  to  the  current  conversation; 

•  denominational  stories  relevant  to 
the  matter  at  hand; 

•  liturgical  and  theological  responses 
to  poignant  moments,  suggested 
from  the  chair  or  from  the  floor; 

•  spoken  prayers — intercessions, 
thanksgivings,  blessings,  etc.; 

•  silence  and  prayers  that  surface 
out  of  silent  reflection; 

•  singing  of  hymns,  i.e.,  a  refrain, 
particular  verses  in  response  to 
reports,  etc.; 

•  focused  conversation:  a  word/phrase/ 
sentence  that  comes  to  mind  during 
particular  segrpents  of  the  meeting; 

•  prayerful  or  reflective  activities 
during  break  times; 

•  creating  and  tending  a  simple 
environment,  e.g.,  a  candle,  the 
Scriptures,  a  growing  plant,  a  banner, 
a  projected  image  on  a  screen; 

•  encouraging  the  group  to  rejoice, 
lament,  etc.,  using  simple  and 
prayerful  rituals; 

•  connecting  the  opening  and  closing 
worship  services  (its  themes,  segments, 
rituals)  with  aspects  of  the  meeting. 


With  this  explanation,  the  Program 
and  Arrangements  Committee  agreed 
to  introduce  Worshipful-Work  at 
Annual  Conference  this  year.  The 
Annual  Conference  officers  will  work 
with  Sister  Ellen  to  shape  the  business 
sessions  in  a  worshipful  manner.  Plans 
are  being  made  to  inform  Standing 
Committee  members  and  first-time 
Annual  Conference  delegates  prior  to 
Conference,  so  they  may  have  a  sense 
how  the  business  sessions  will  flow. 

Annual  Conference  in  Kansas  City 
this  summer  already  offers  a  new 
format,  which  leads  nicely  into  Wor- 
shipful-Work. Saturday  evening  opens 
conference  with  worship.  Sunday 
morning  follows  with  another  worship 
service.  The  worshipful  setting 
extends  into  Sunday  afternoon,  when 
guest  worship  resource  leader  David 
Haas  will  lead  a  musical  celebration  to 
open  the  first  business  session. 

With  the  addition  of  a  spiritual 
director  for  the  business  sessions  of 
Sunday  evening,  Monday,  and  Tues- 
day, and  Wednesday  morning,  perhaps 
we  can  experience  Annual  Conference 
as  a  revitalized  gathering  in  faith.  And, 
we  anticipate  a  common  ground  in 
which  we  discover  God  speaking  to 
and  moving  among  us  as  Brethren. 

The  visionary  of  Worshipful -Work, 
Charles  Olsen,  says  in  the  introduc- 
tion of  his  book.  Transforming  Church 
Boards,  that  "this  enterprise  is  ...  an 
intention  to  recover  a  broad-based 
biblical  familiarity  and  seriousness,  an 
effort  to  imprint  in  our  minds,  hearts, 
and  lips  the  metaphors  of  Scripture" 
so  that  our  church  structures  can 
"function  out  of  the  heritage  of  a  rich 
faith  tradition."  This  gathering  of 
church  members  and  leaders  is  "the 
most  opportune  place  to  e.xert  influ- 
ence for  transformation  [which]  is  at 
the  heart  of  the  life  of  the  church." 
— Paul  Roth 


Paul  Roth  is  pastor  of  LinvUle  Creek  Church 
of  the  Brethren.  Broadway.  Va. 


June  2000  Messenger  13 


Letters  from 
the  Dominican 

While  she  was  a  BVS  vol- 
unteer working  on  the 
Azua  housing  construc- 
tion project,  Sally  Jo 
Caracheo  wrote  detailed 
letters  home  to  family 
and  friends.  Here  are 
some  excerpts: 

July  26, 1999 

(my  62nd  birthday) 

My  day  starts  around  5:30 
or  6  when  I  get  up,  dress, 
have  some  time  for  devo- 
tions, and  go  across  the 
street  to  the  restaurant  for 
breakfast.  As  driving  in  the 
DR  is  taking  your  life  and 
everyone  else's  in  your 
hands,  1  decided  not  to 
drive.  Luis  Cespedes,  the 
pastor  of  a  local  Church  of 
the  Brethren  congregation 
who  also  is  the  construc- 
tion boss,  picks  me  up 
around  7:30  to  go  to 
work.  It  takes  about  15 
minutes  to  get  to  the  site, 
which  is  on  a  hill  about  10 
miles  out  of  Azua.  During 
this  time  we  discuss  the 
progress  of  the  work,  any 
problems  which  have 
arisen,  anything  we  need 
to  deal  with,  etc. 

At  the  site  Luis  gathers 
all  the  workers,  describes 
the  work  to  be  completed 
that  day,  and  assigns  the 
paid  workers  and  the  vol- 
unteers their  various  jobs. 
There  is  always  some 
lighter  work  assigned  to 
the  women.  Several  days 
we  have  carried  the  boards 
used  in  framing  the  houses 
from  one  location  to 
another.  One  day  we  car- 
ried buckets  of  water  for 
mixing  cement.  Often  I 
spend  periods  of  time 
picking  up  used  nails  from 
the  ground.  These  are  later 

14  Messenger  June  2000 


Houses 


FOR  HURRICANE  REFUGEES 


The  Church  of  the  Brethren  helps  32  Dominican 

families  find  hope  and  a  home 


Article  and  photos 
BY  Sally  Jo  Caracheo 

Nov.  16,  1999,  was  a  memorable  day 
for  32  families  in  the  Dominican 
Republic.  This  was  the  day  they  learned 
which  of  the  32  houses  they  had  been  helping 
to  build  since  the  middle  of  May  would 
belong  to  them.  Finally  they  could  say,  "This 
is  my  new  home  and  1  helped  to  build  it." 


The  Church  of  the  Brethren  also  helped  to 
build  these  new  houses  for  "refugees'"  whose 
houses  had  been  destroyed  by  Hurricane 
Georges  in  1998.  The  General  Board's  Emer- 
gency Response/ Service  Ministries  office 
provided  construction  materials  and  sent  project 
managers  to  supervise  the  project.  Also,  ER/SM 
paid  skilled  workers  to  build  concrete  floors,  do 
carpentry  work,  and  build  roofs  on  the  houses. 

The  project  was  done  in  cooperation  with 
the  Catholic  church,  which  provided  the  prop- 


^y^- 


erty  tor  the  houses,  and  the  Dominican  govern- 
ment, which  provided  construction  supplies  and 
kicilitated  the  delivery  of  water,  sand,  and  gravel 
to  the  construction  site.  Oxfam  International  and 
the  International  Red  Cross  also  contributed. 

From  Aug.  1  until  the  completion  of  the 
project,  I  was  a  BVS  volunteer,  serving  as  the 
project  manager.  I  worked  closely  with  Luis 
Ccspedes,  who  is  the  Dominican  Church  of  the 
Brethren  pastor  of  the  Azua  congregation  and  a 
construction  contractor.  Cespedes  was  in 
charge  of  the  construction.  Other  Brethren  who 
w  orked  on  the  project  include  Ken  and  LouElla 
Imhoff,  Donald  Suavely,  Becky  Crouse,  Jim  and 
W  ilma  Baile,  and  Charles  Stevens. 

These  52  houses  are  part  of  a  project  of 


Workers  mix  and 
pour  concrete  in 

the  forms  to 
make  the  six- 
inch- thick  walls. 


400  houses  the  government  plans  for  hurri- 
cane victims  on  the  hillside  outside  Azua. 

During  the  initial  planning  stage,  the 
refugees  agreed  that  their  contribution  to  the 
project  would  be  the  labor  of  digging  two-foot 
footers  for  the  foundations,  mixing  concrete 
and  pouring  the  walls,  plus  any  other  manual 
labor  that  needed  to  be  done.  The  agreement 
was  that  someone  from  each  family  would  work 
four  of  the  six  working  days  in  each  week. 

At  first,  progress  was  slow  and  the 
refugees  didn't  believe  that  the  project  would 
ever  be  completed  or  that  they  would  ever 
receive  a  home.  Consequently,  few  workers 
showed  up  each  day  to  work.  As  the  work  pro- 
gressed, however,  more  and  more  persons 
came  to  help.  During  the  last  few  months 
there  was  someone  from  nearly  every  house- 
hold who  worked  four  or  five  days  a  week. 
Two  of  the  husbands  who  had  jobs  in  Santo 
Domingo  stopped  working  there  and  came  to 
Azua  to  work  at  the  project  in  order  to  ensure 
that  their  families  would  receive  a  house. 

Each  of  the  refugees  has  a  story.  Magali 
was  clearly  the  acknowledged  leader  of  the 
refugees.  She  went  to  meetings  with  the  plan- 
ning groups  and  acted  as  advocate  during  the 
entire  project,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  in  July 
she  suffered  a  coronary  thrombosis,  which 
caused  paralysis  of  an  arm  and  a  leg.  Through 
sheer  will  and  constant  exercise,  she  worked 
her  way  back  to  health.  By  November  she  was 
once  again  at  the  work  site,  carrying  buckets 
of  water  and  big  boards  on  her  head. 

Pilito  worked  on  the  houses  nearly  every 
day  there  was  work  to  be  done.  He  said  that  if 
he  was  to  receive  a  house,  then  he  had  the 
responsibility  to  help  build.  More  than  60 
years  old,  he  worked  all  day  in  the  hot  sun 
with  pick  and  shovel  helping  to  dig  founda- 


straightened  and  reused. 
I  am  very  happy  to  be 
here  and  feel  that  this  is 
where  God  has  called  me 
to  be  to  do  His  work. 

In  His  service. 
Sally  Jo 

Aug. 13, 1999 

I'm  writing  from  the  home 
of  the  Crouse  family  in 
Santo  Domingo  to  share  a 
few  details  of  my  life  living 
in  a  hotel  in  Azua 

To  bed  by  9  o'clock  with 
a  fan  blowing  on  me  all 
night,  partly  because  of 
the  heat  and  partly  to  dis- 
courage mosquitos  which 
have  free  access,  as  the 
cantilevered  windows  have 
no  screens. 

. .  .Two  of  the  things  I 
miss  most,  besides  family 
and  friends,  are  classical 
music  and  beautiful 
flowers.  However,  the 
mountains  all  around  are 
beautiful  and  up  on  the 
third  floor  of  the  hotel 
I've  seen  some  gorgeous 
sunsets.  There  is  a  big 
tree  across  the  street 
which  is  covered  with 
orange  flowers.  The  tree 
is  called  "flamboyan"  or 
flamboyant 

The  pace  of  my  life  here 
is  very  different  than  in 
the  States.  Much  of  my 
time  is  filled  with  no  phys- 
ical activity  whatsoever. 
For  the  first  time  in  my  life 
I  can  BE  instead  of  DO. . . . 

Luis  (Cespedes),  the 
pastor  and  the  one  in 
charge  of  this  project,  is 
the  hardest  working,  most 
conscientious  person  I've 
ever  seen.  He  has  a  wife 
and  three  young  sons.  His 
wife  is  expecting  another 
child  in  October.  He  has  a 
small  congregation  in 
Azua  made  up  of  a  few 
families  and  some  young 
boys.  He  is  the  treasurer 
for  the  Church  of  the 


June  2000  Messenger  1 5 


Brethren  here  in  the 
Dominican  Republic.  He  is 
also  the  builder  for 
churches.  He  appears  to 
be  able  to  do  anything 
connected  with  construc- 
tion. His  ability  to  find  the 
most  economical  solutions 
to  problems  of  material 
seems  unlimited.  He  has 
many  connections  which 
help  to  get  much  material 
donated  for  free  or  for  the 

cost  of  transporting  it 

I  feel  that  I  am  exactly 
where  I  should  be  and 
that  this  project  will  come 
to  successful  completion 
before  the  middle  of 
November  when  my  BVS 
term  is  completed.  I  feel 
my  prayer  that  God  would 
send  me  for  my  BVS  pro- 
ject where  I  was  most 
needed  and  where  all  that 
I  am  and  have  experi- 
enced could  be  used  has 
truly  been  answered. 

In  His  service, 
Sally  Jo 

Sept.  7, 1999 

Personally  I  am  experienc- 
ing a  peace  and  joy  which 
has  been  absent  from  my 
life  for  a  long  time.  The 
companionship  of  the 
paid  workers  and  the 
refugee  community  are  a 
constant  source  of  learn- 
ing and  discovery,  I  now 
know  the  names  of  all  the 
refugees  who  come  regu- 
larly to  work. 

it's  very  hard  to  describe 
the  kind  of  poverty  that 
they  live  in.  They  are  sus- 
tained by  rice  and  beans 
provided  by  the  Red  Cross. 
Some  families  of  five  or  six 
have  only  one  or  two  plates 
and  one  or  two  spoons.  I've 
seen  workers  on  the  site 
eating  their  food  with  their 
fingers  because  there  are 
no  spoons.  In  spite  of  this 
they  come  to  work  nearly 
every  day  to  help  build 
their  houses 

There  is  a  tremendous 


Building  a  future  for  their  four  children.  Miguel, 
his  wife,  and  children  in  the  doorway  of  their 
newly  built  home. 

tions.  Toward  the  end  of  the  project  he  was 
not  well,  but  he  continued  to  come  every  day, 
even  though  he  had  only  enough  strength  to 
carry  buckets  of  water.  One  day  when  he  was 
asked  about  his  family,  he  said  he  married  his 
wife  when  they  were  1  3  years  old,  and  they 
had  raised  18  sons  and  daughters.  He  said  his 
wife  was  the  love  of  his  life. 

Ingrid  cooked  the  noon  meal  for  the 
refugees.  The  meal  consisted  of  rice  and  beans 
every  day.  For  some  of  the  workers,  this  was 
the  only  substantial  meal  they  received  all  day. 
Ingrid  was  "allowed"  to  do  the  "easy"  work  of 
cooking  because  she  was  expecting  a  child. 


The  work  included  using  a  machete  to  cut 
branches  of  a  tree  for  firewood. 

Miguel  or  his  wife  worked  nearly  every 
day  building  the  houses  so  that  their  four  chil- 
dren would  have  a  home.  His  children  have 
never  been  to  school.  The  oldest  daughter 
spends  most  of  her  time  helping  her  mother  or 
taking  care  of  the  younger  children. 

Felix  is  fortunate  enough  to  have  a  motor- 
cycle, which  he  uses  to  take  his  oldest 
daughter  to  school.  She  is  one  of  only  five 
children  among  the  refugees  who  actually 
attends  school.  One  day  when  Felix  was  using 
his  motorcycle  to  earn  a  little  money  for  the 
family  he  was  involved  in  an  accident  which 
bruised  his  ribs  and  resulted  in  a  big  scar 
across  his  chest.  Nevertheless  he  was  back  at 
the  work  site  the  next  day. 


1 6  Messenger  June  2000 


Hf' 


Ingrid,  the  cook,  provided 
the  noon  meal  for  the 
workers. 


November  16  was  the  lottery  when  the  workers 
pulled  numbers  out  of  a  hat  to  determine 
which  of  the  houses  would  belong  to  them. 

Before  Christmas  all  of  the  32  homes  were 
finished  with  concrete  floors  and  wooden 
doors  and  windows.  The  refugees  who 
received  the  homes  in  Azua  are  grateful  to  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  and  all  who  helped  to 
make  it  possible  for  them  to  have  good, 
sturdy  homes  to  live  in  with  their  families. 
The  street  that  is  located  between  the  houses 
will  be  named  "Calle  de  los  Hermanos," 
or  Street  of  the  Brethren. 

Sally  jo  Caracbeo.  of  Elgin.  III.,  is  a  retired  school- 
u\iclier  and  a  bilingual  educator,  fluent  in  Spanish. 
She  is  a  member  of  Highland  Avenue  Church  of  the 
Brethren  in  Elgin. 


amount  of  manual  labor 
to  be  done  on  the  houses 
In  the  space  of  less  than 
two  months  or  so,  espe- 
cially when  you  realize 
that  many  of  these  per- 
sons are  malnourished 
and  subject  to  a  lot  of 
medical  problems. 

I  still  feel  that  I  am  in 
the  right  place  at  the 
right  time.  God  is  good.  I 
am  even  happier  now 
having  received  from  my 
sister  the  welcome  gift  of 
a  tape  recorder  and  tapes 
of  classical  music. 

In  Chirist's  name, 
Sally  Jo 

Oct.  10,  1999 

Things  are  going  very 
well  for  me  here  in  Azua. 
We  are  making  great 
progress  on  the  homes. 
There  are  just  a  few 
houses  to  finish  pouring 
the  walls.  The  govern- 
ment officials  have  said 
they  would  send  the 
wood  and  zinc  for  the 
roofs,  doors,  and  win- 
dows this  week.  If  that 
happens,  we  will  be  able 
to  finish  all  the  houses  by 
the  time  I  leave  in  the 
middle  of  November 

I  started  teaching  an 
English  class  at  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren  here  in 
Azua  three  nights  a  week. 
We  have  had  a  steady 
attendance  of  around  1 0 
students  for  the  English 
class  almost  every  night. 
They  are  very  interested  in 
learning  English.... 

My  relationships  with 
the  refugees  who  come  to 
work  every  day  has 
deepened  and  we  have 
become  like  a  large 
extended  family.  Each  of 
the  refugees  has  a  story  of 
their  own,  as  does  each  of 
us.  I  feel  that  I  have  been 
privileged  that  they  share 
so  openly  with  me. 

In  His  love, 
Sally  Jo 


What  is  your 
church  learning? 


Choose  resources  that  apply 
biblical  truths  to  everydaij  life. 


1 

BWBl 

BBl 

1 

1 

1 

For  Adults 

Guide  for  Biblical 
Studies 

Good  Ground 

Covenant  Bible  Studies 


For  Youth 

Generation  Why 


fHEBOLO  & 
THE  DUTIFUL 


i 


For  Children 

Jubilee:  God's 
Good  News 


Choose 
Brethren  Pressl 

Curriculum 
by  Brethren, 
for  Brethren 


i 


h 

Brethren  Press 

1451  Dundee  .-Xvenue,  Elgin.  IL  60120-1694 

phone  800-441-3712     "fax  800-667-8188 

c-mail  lircthrcnprcss_gh@brethren.org 


June  2000  Messenger  17 


Caring  for  our  "mother"  churcl 


Richard  Kyerematen, 

pastor  of  the 

Germantown  (Pa.) 

congregation, 

stands  in  front  of  the 

historic  building 

with  a  group  of  his 

young  parishioners. 

Photo  was  taken  in 

the  earlv  1 990s. 


BY  Ken  Shaffer 

Today  the  Germantown  Church  of  the 
Brethren,  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  is  both  an 
active  inner-city  congregation  and  a  Brethren 
historic  site.  The  congregation  has  a  program 
that  includes  worship  services,  Sunday  school, 
a  food  pantry,  daycare  for  preschool  children, 
family  counseling  and  education,  extensive 
youth  outreach,  and  transitional  housing  for 
recovering  substance  abusers.  Leading  the  pre- 
dominantly black  congregation  of  over  80 
members  is  pastor  Richard  Kyerematen. 

As  a  Brethren  historic  site,  the  Germantown 
church  is  visited  each  year  by  tour  groups  from 
across  the  country.  These  groups  come  to  see 
the  stone  meetinghouse  and  the  cemetery.  The 
meetinghouse,  built  in  1  770,  had  both  a  loft  and 
a  basement.  The  loft  was  used  for  sleeping  by 
people  who  traveled  a  distance  to  attend  love 
feast,  which  lasted  for  two  days.  The  basement 
was  used  to  prepare  food  during  love  feast. 
Today  the  loft  is  gone,  but  there  is  in  the  meet- 


Germantown  Trust 

plans  a  new  project  for 

230-y ear-old  historic  site 


inghouse  a  series  of  panels  depicting  events  in 
Brethren  history  plus  some  artifacts. 

The  cemetery  was  established  in  1 793.  There 
are  over  1 ,000  people  buried  in  the  cemetery, 
including  Brethren  leaders  such  as  Alexander 
Mack,  Sr.;  Alexander  Mack,  Jr.;  Elizabeth  Mack; 
and  Peter  Keyser.  Hannah  Langstroth  Drexel, 
the  Brethren  mother  of  Katharine  Drexel,  was 
originally  buried  in  the  cemetery,  but  Hannah's 
body  was  moved  in  1946.  Katharine  Drexel  was 
a  Catholic  nun  noted  for  work  with  minorities. 
Procedures  are  currently  underway  in  the 
Catholic  church  to  raise  her  to  sainthood. 

Germantown  played  a  major  role  during 
the  early  years  of  Brethren  life  in  America. 
The  congregation  was  organized  on  Christmas 
Day  in  1  723  and  is  therefore  the  first  Brethren 
congregation  in  the  New  World.  On  that  day 
the  first  baptism  was  performed  and  the  first 
love  feast  was  held.  When  the  meetinghouse 
was  built  in  1  770,  it  was  the  first  Brethren 
meetinghouse  in  America. 

The  congregation  flourished  in  the  1  700s 
but  declined  during  much  of  the  1 800s.  With  the 
leadership  of  Wilbur  Stover,  who  later  became  a 
pioneer  missionary  in  India,  and  the  leadership 
of  Milton  C.  Swigart,  the  congregation  experi- 
enced renewal  in  the  1890s  and  early  decades  of 
the  1900s.  The  size  of  the  congregation  peaked 
in  1934  with  over  450  members.  Membership 
declined  in  the  1940s  and  1950s,  and  the  con- 
gregation was  disorganized  in  1964.  Because  of 
an  intentional  effort  in  the  1980s  to  reestablish  a 
worshiping  community,  a  fully  functioning  con- 
gregation now  exists  at  Germantown. 

In  1982  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  Gen- 
eral Board  established  the  Germantown  Trust  to 
care  for  the  site.  The  congregation  and  the  trust 
are  separate  entities.  The  trust  maintains  the 
building  and  grounds  and  provides  for  historical 
interpretation  of  the  site,  while  the  congregation 
has  its  own  budget  used  to  support  its  programs 
and  services.  Funds  for  the  trust  come  from  a 
yearly  grant  provided  by  the  General  Board,  a 


18  Messenger  June  2000 


cemetery  legacy,  and  occasional  donations 
given  by  Brethren  groups  and  individuals. 

In  addition  to  the  day-to-day  maintenance, 
the  trust  is  responsible  for  special  maintenance 
projects.  Over  the  years  these  have  included  a 
new  heating  system,  a  new  kitchen,  and  new 
concrete  paving.  Soon  to  begin  is  a  project  to 
install  a  new  toilet  facility  for  people  with  dis- 
abilities, a  new  exterior  wheelchair-accessible 
entrance,  a  new  water  service,  and  a  new  200- 
amp  electric  service.  Bids  indicate  that  this 
project  will  cost  $90,000  to  $95,000.  While 
the  trust  has  $55,000  on  hand  for  the  project, 
additional  funding  is  needed.  Information 
about  the  project  is  available  from  the  trust  by 
contacting  Joseph  H.  Hackman,  chair  of  the 
trust,  at  1613  Brent  Road,  Oreland,  PA  19075. 

Contributions  may  be  sent  to  Church  of 
the  Brethren  General  Board,  Restricted  for 
Germantown  Trust  Project,  1451 
Dundee  Avenue,  Elgin,  IL  60120. 


M. 


Ken  Shaffer  is  librarian/archivist  for  the  General  Board 
at  the  Brethren  Historical  Library  and  Archives.  He  is  an 
ex-officio  member  of  the  Germantown  Trust. 


Germantown 
played  a  major 
role  during  the 
early  years  of 
Brethren  life 
in  America. 
Organized  on 
Christinas  Day 
in  1 723,  it  was 
the  first  Brethren 
congregation  in 
the  New  World. 


Position  Available 


On  Earth  Peace  Assembly,  Inc.,  a  25-year- 
old  Church  of  the  Brethren  peace  educa- 
tion movement,  seeks  Executive  Director 
applicants. 

Responsibilities  include  envisioning, 
designing,  and  implementing  peace  educa- 
tion strategy  and  program. 

Experience  preferred  with  management, 
fund-raising,  and  nonviolence  education. 

Seeking  person  with  strong  commitment 
to  the  centrality  of  peace  and  reconcilia- 
tion in  the  mission  of  the  church,  and 
management  skills  consistent  with  the  val- 
ues of  nonviolence. 

For  more  information  contact  us:  OEPA, 
PO  Box  188,  New  Windsor,  MD  21776; 
oepa@oepa.org;  410-635-8704;  or 
www.brethren.org/oepa. 


'ew  \oo\s 


rs\ 


choosing  Death  with  Dignity 

Church  school  classes,  small  groups  and  families  will  find 
many  discussion  points  within  Choosing  Death,  with  Dignity: 
A  Study  Guide  on  Death, 
Bereavement  and  Burial. 
Written  by  Graydon  Snyder, 
this  12-page  booklet  provides 
a  biblical  and  Brethren  con- 
text for  considering  end-ot-litc 
issues.  The  case  studies  and 
questions  following  each 
section  are  useful  tools  for 
classes  and  families  to  begin 
talking  about  and  planning 
tor  the  future. 

Available  through  ABC  - 

$2.50  plu.";  shipping  and  handlini.'. 


This  24-page  book  is  the  Carroll  Counry  Times'  account 

of  Dale  Aukerman's  life  with  and  death  from  cancer. 

The  stories  and  photos  from  this  daily  newspaper 

provide  an 

indepth  view  of 

the  way  this  loved 

and  respected 

advocate  for  peace 

and  simple  living 

approached 

his  death. 

Living  With 
Dying:  The  Carroll 
County  Times'  Account  of  Dale  Aukerman's  journey 
will  he  available  at  Annual  Conference  and  through 

.nBC  —  $9  plus  shipping  and  handling. 


Association  of 
Brethren  Caregivers 


To  order  these  Lafiya  resources,  call  the  Association 
of  Brethren  Caregivers  at  (800)  323-8039. 


Alexan 


Casey 

Drudge 

makes 

history 

and  faith 

come 

alive 


BY  Jeanne  Jacoby  Smith 

Four  years  ago  Casey  Drudge  of  Lin- 
colnshire Church  of  the  Brethren,  Fort 
Wayne,  Ind.,  never  expected  to  metamorphose 
as  Alexander  Mack,  the  elder  churchman 
known  as  first  minister  and  leader  of  the 
German  Baptist  Brethren  in  1708. 

Yet  circumstance  and  Casey's  willingness  to 
serve  have  resulted  in  60  performances  of  the 
elder  Mack.  The  electronic  technician-turned- 
actor  in  his  spare  time  has  traversed  1 1 ,000  miles 
to  share  Mack's  story  with  more  than  4,500 
people  in  churches  throughout  the  denomination. 
What  drew  Casey  to  the  Mack  role?  Was  it 
the  message?  Or  his  love  of  drama?  Neither, 
he  admits.  Even  writing  the  centennial  history 
of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  in  Fort  Wayne, 


Ind.,  did  not  heighten  his  desire  to  know  more 
about  Alexander  Mack.  He  claims  little  theatri- 
cal experience  except  for  playing  the  role  of 
Professor  Willard  in  Thornton  Wilder's  Our 
Town  in  his  teens.  (Later,  he  was  devastated  to 
learn  that  Professor  Willard  was  probably 
added  to  the  script  to  increase  the  number  of 
actors  in  the  high  school  version  of  the  play.) 
Casey's  involvement  with  Brother  Mack 
happened  quite  by  accident,  he  says.  In  the  fall 
of  1996,  Phyllis  Carter,  former  moderator  of 
Annual  Conference,  served  as  interim  pastor 
of  the  Lincolnshire  church.  Near  Halloween 
that  year  Pastor  Carter  decided  to  stage  an  "All 
Saint's  Day  Special."  Because  the  Brethren  are 
a  bit  short  on  saints,  Casey  relates,  the  pastor 
highlighted  various  heritage  heavyweights  such 
as  Dan  West,  Anna  Mow,  and  Alexander 
Mack.  Casey  agreed  to  dress  the  part  of  Mack 
and  stand  in  the  front  of  the  sanctuary  while 
Carter  read  a  description  of  his  character  to 
the  congregation. 

After  that  brief  enactment,  an  invitation 
came  to  share  Mack's  biography  with  a 
church  school  class,  followed  by  an  appear- 
ance at  a  church  board  retreat.  Months 
later,  when  asked  to  repeat  the  perfor- 
mance, Casey  researched  his  intriguing 
subject  more  thoroughly.  Reflecting  on  the 
role,  he  says,  "I  had  been  a  member  of  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  for  nearly  50  years 
and  barely  knew  who  Alexander  Mack  was, 
let  alone  how  or  why  he  did  whatever  he  did. 
I  viewed  it  as  a  historical  challenge." 

Rather  than  writing  and  memorizing  a 
script,  however,  Casey  immersed  himself  in 
The  Brethren  Encyclopedia  with  intentions  of 
becoming  so  fluent  with  the  facts  that  he  could 
speak  spontaneously,  as  though  he  were  the 
church  elder  coming  back  to  the  future. 
To  his  surprise,  among  the  guests 
on  the  scheduled  performance  day  were 
Blair  and  Pat  Hehnan,  former  Man- 
chester College  president  and 
Brethren  author.  Though  concerned 
that  he  could  not  live  up  to  his 
esteemed  audience's  expectations, 
he  recomposed  himself  and  pro- 
ceeded as  planned,  moving 
comfortably  into  the  persona  of 


Alexander  Mack.  In  the  hour  that  followed,  he 
poured  out  his  innermost  thoughts  about 
Mack's  life  as  a  prosperous  community  leader 
who,  because  of  his  faith,  relinquished  his 
wealth  to  help  others.  Because  Mack  and  his 


followers  rejected  the  ties  between  established 
churches  and  the  German  state,  they  were 
pursued  in  earnest  by  the  authorities. 

No  one  was  more  surprised  than  Casey  at 
his  fluency  that  morning.  He  admits  to  hear- 


Arts  group  finds  a  home  for  Mack  Haus  painting 


A  highlight  of  Casey  Drudge's  por- 
trayal of  Alexander  Mack  occurred  last 
summer  when  he  served  as  a  delegate 
at  Annual  Conference  in  Milwaukee. 

Enamored  with  Mack,  Casey  was 
delighted  to  discover  at  the  Associa- 
tion for  the  Arts  silent  auction  an 
acrylic  on  wood  painting  of  Mack's 
home,  today  known  as  the  Alexander 
Mack  Museum  in  Schwarzenau, 
Germany.  The  wood,  he  discovered, 
was  retrieved  from  the  home  where 
historians  believe  Mack  lived  in  the 
early  1700s  in  Wittgenstein. 

In  1993  a  group  from  McPherson 
College  in  Kansas  traveled  to 
Schwarzenau,  Germany,  to  explore 
the  Brethren  heritage.  One  of  the  fac- 
ulty sponsors,  Jeanne  Smith,  asked 
their  German  host  whether  it  was 
possible  to  retrieve  a  small  piece  of 
wood  from  the  museum.  Depending 
on  the  size  of  the  wood,  she  hoped  to 
create  a  family  memento,  possibly  a 
painting  of  the  Mack  home. 

Explaining  her  quest.  Smith  says, 
"Alexander  Mack  was  my  great  grand- 
father, eight  greats  to  be  exact.  When 
visiting  Schwarzenau,  I  experienced  a 
transcendence  of  history  and  time.  My 
great-grandfather  had  walked  those 
streets;  he  affirmed  his  faith  boldly  in 
that  special  place.  Against  the  powers 
of  his  day,  he  took  the  vows  of  bap- 
tism in  the  Eder  River.  The  ambiance 
about  the  town  had  such  a  powerful 
effect  on  me  that  before  we  left,  I 
,  requested  our  host  to  escort  us  to  the 
museum  one  last  time." 

The  next  morning  the  host  drove  his 


guests  to  the  top  of  the  hill  towering 
over  the  hamlet  of  Schwarzenau  and 
the  Eder  River  meandering  through 
the  valley  below.  Approaching  the 
museum,  they  discovered  a  farmer 
tending  animals  in  the  barn  attached 
to  the  house.  In  German,  the  host 
translated  the  unusual  request. 

The  farmer  disappeared  into  the  barn, 
then  emerged  with  a  board  discarded, 
he  said,  when  the  home  was  remodeled 
as  a  museum  in  1992.  Discovering  that 
it  was  too  long  for  Smith's  luggage,  he 
again  withdrew  into  the  barn  and 
returned  with  the  slab  cut  in  half. 

In  the  summer  of  1 998,  with  half  a 
dozen  photos  of  the  house  in  hand. 
Smith  shared  her  idea  with  her  artist 
sister,  Mary  Shank  of  Gettysburg,  Pa. 
Shank  agreed  to  create  a  composite 
drawing  of  the  home,  then  to  paint  it 
onto  both  slabs  of  wood.  Together, 
they  decided  to  donate  one  painting 
to  the  Association  for  the  Arts  at 
Annual  Conference  and  to  keep  the 
second  as  a  family  memento. 

When  Casey  Drudge,  Alexander 
Mack  impersonator,  discovered  the 
painting  available  at  the  silent  auction 
at  Annual  Conference  in  Milwaukee 
last  year,  he  resolved  to  purchase  it. 
Keeping  tabs  on  the  bids,  he  planned 
to  return  just  before  the  auction  closed 
Saturday  to  bid  one-up  on  the  previ- 
ous aspirant.  When  Casey  entered  the 
exhibit  hall  that  morning,  he  was  dis- 
mayed to  learn  bids  had  closed  Friday 
night.  Greatly  disappointed,  he  told 
his  wife  that  someone  else  purchased 
his  Alexander  Mack  memorabilia. 


Sisters  Mary  Jacoby  Shank  and  Jeanne 
Jacoby  Smith  pose  with  their  family's 
picture  of  the  Alexander  Mack  Haus. 
The  sisters  are  great  granddaughters 
of  the  elder  Mack. 

Several  weeks  later,  Casey  pre- 
sented the  conference  report  to  the 
Lincolnshire  congregation,  at  his 
pastor's  request,  in  costume.  Just 
before  he  began,  another  conference 
attendee  interrupted  the  service  to 
present  him  with  the  painting.  In  his 
words,  "I  was  totally  speechless — an 
uncommon  situation  for  me." 

Unknown  to  him,  his  wife  had  con- 
spired with  church  members  to 
purchase  the  work  of  art  using  an  alias 
name,  then  plotted  a  way  to  surprise 
him.  Had  he  actually  made  an  offer,  he 
would  have  bid  against  his  own  wife. 

The  Alexander  Mack  Haus  finally 
found  its  home. 

The  author  ivishes  to  thank  Dr.  David  Eller 
of  the  Young  Center  at  Elizabethtown  College. 
Pa.,  for  editing.  Eller  reports  that  he  also 
placed  a  bid  on  the  piece  —  but  lost. 

June  2000  Messenger  21 


/  try  to 

capture  my 

understanding 

of  Alexander 

Mac\  in 

my  meager, 

humble 

way.  That's 

enough 

for  771  e. 


ing  himself  speak  thoughts  he  had  never 
entertained  before.  The  elder  Mack's  testi- 
mony, when  shared  in  its  totahty,  expanded 
his  understanding. 

"I  didn't  know  where  the  words  were 
coming  from. . .  .Then  I  reaHzed,"  he  says, 
"that  God  was  in  controk"  Casey  began,  in 
the  midst  of  the  presentation,  to  plan  for  a 
future  with  Brother  Mack.  He  was  further 
encouraged  when  the  Helmans  reported  that 
he  had  done  "just  fine." 

Demand  for  performances  since  then  have 
exposed  him  to  larger  numbers  of  Brethren  so 
that  in  some  circles  his  name  has  become  syn- 
onymous with  the  church  leader.  Casey  takes 
special  pleasure  when  people  call  him  "Alexan- 
der" at  church,  at  Annual  Conference,  and  at 
his  favorite  locale — Camp  Alexander  Mack  in 
Indiana.  More  recently,  requests  have  come  to 
play  the  role  from  other  Brethren  groups  that 
also  claim  Mack  as  forebear. 

Today  Casey  inspires  audiences  through- 
out the  denomination  with  his  Alexander 


Persons  interested  in  the  Alexander  Mack  Living  Heritage  Program  may 
inquire  about  fees  and  availability  by  contacting  Casey  Drudge  at  6405 
Londonderry  Lane,  Fort  Wayne,  IN  46835.  Phone:  219-485-4906.  E-mail: 
cdrudge@concentric.net  OR  casey.drudge@carrier.utc.com. 


Mack  Living  Heritage  Program.  He  does  not 
attribute  success  to  his  acting  abilities,  but 
rather  to  the  power  of  Mack's  story  and  to  his 
audiences'  interest  in  learning  about  Brethren 
roots.  In  the  meantime,  he  is  committed  to 
immersing  himself  in  Brethren  history 
between  Mack  and  the  present  time,  to  further 
enrich  presentations. 

Yet  it  is  not  so  much  Mack  whom  he  rep- 
resents, Casey  says,  "but  the  elegant,  useful 
message  in  the  New  Testament  Church  so 
sought  after  by  Mack  and  his  followers  back 
in  1713.  I  don't  pretend  to  be  a  preacher,  but 
I  do  greatly  enjoy  telling  people  how  our 
denomination  began  and  . . .  explaining  our 
faith  to  them.  Do  I  think  that  I  am  a  close 
copy  of  Alexander  Mack?  Perhaps,  but  only  in 
appearance,  and  even  then  I  can't  be  sure.  Do 
I  believe  that  I  think  like  Mack?  No,  I'm  not 
that  presumptuous,  but  I  try  to  capture  my 
understanding  of  him  in  my  meager,  humble 
way.  That's  enough  for  me."  And  judging  from 
the  response  of  the  audiences,  it  must  be 
enough  for  other  Brethren,  as  well. 


^ 


Jeanne  Jacoby  Smith  is  associate  professor  of 
Curriculum  &  Instruction/English  at  McPherson 
College,  Kan.,  and  a  member  of  the  McPherson 
First  Church  of  the  Brethren. 


Brethrening 

How  a  bike  averted  disaster 

This  was  my  first  assignment  with  the  Cooperative  Disaster 
Childcare  program,  which  provides  therapeutic  play  for  chil- 
dren who  have  gone  through  disasters,  while  their  parents  do 
what  they  need  to  do  to  start  recovery.  I  spent  two  weeks  in 
New  Bern,  N.C.,  up  to  my  elbows  in  playdough,  taking  care 
of  the  children  of  Hurricane  Floyd  flood  victims  while  their 
parents  talked  to  the  Red  Cross  about  future  needs. 

Playdough,  painting,  stuffed  Elmo  and  Big  Bird,  and  cars 
were  all  played  with,  but  our  biggest  draw  was  the  simplest: 
a  dishpan  filled  with  five  pounds  of  rice  and  two  sets  of 
measuring  cups  for  pouring  the  rice  back  and  forth.  I'm 
sure  psychologists  could  have  found  significance  in  the  chil- 
dren being  able  to  create  order  out  of  chaos — the  truth  was, 
the  rice  just  felt  good.  Some  sat  there  for  over  an  hour,  hap- 
pily pouring  and  wiggling  their  fingers  in  the  rice.  (Me  too!) 

Many  of  the  children's  conversations  were  touching,  and 
it  was  sobering  for  me  to  consider  what  life  is  like  when 
you  have  lost  absolutely  everything  and  don't  have  many 

22  Messenger  June  2000 


resources  to  start  over.  One  mother  said,  "We  just  got  our 
trailer  and  lot  paid  off  and  added  a  front  room,  and  it  was 
under  water  to  the  roof."  When  another  woman  was  told 
she  would  have  to  discard  her  grandmother's  quilt  and  her 
kids'  baby  clothes  because  of  the  water  damage,  she  wept. 

The  child  who  made  me  weep  was  the  little  boy  who 
talked  about  losing  all  his  clothes  and  his  stuffed  toy;  then 
he  said,  "But  at  least  I  can  be  glad  my  bike  didn't  get 
ruined."  "Was  it  inside?"  I  asked.  "No,"  he  said,  "it  was 
in  the  pawnshop." — Patti  Sprinkle 

This  is  taken  from  an  article  that  appeared  in  the  newsletter  of 
First  Church  of  the  Brethren.  St.  Petersburg.  Fla.  Phil  Lersch, 
pastor  of  the  St.  Petersburg  congregation,  and  his  wife,  Jean,  are 
longtime  friends  of  Patti  Sprinkle,  a  Presbyterian,  an  author,  and 
an  anti-hunger  advocate,  who  lives  in  Miami.  Fla. 


Messenger  wouU  like  to  publish  other  short,  eolorful,  humorous  or  poignant  stories  of  real-life 
ineidents  involving  Brethren.  Please  send  your  submission  to  Messenger,  1451  Dundee  Ave., 
Elgin,  IL  60 120- 1694  or  e-mail  to  the  editor  at  ffarrar_gb<^brethren.org 


HiJNCi;ii 


Christian  Citizenship 

Seminar  takes 

youth  to  power 


'0 


I  mi 


BY  Walt  Wiltschek 

large  group  of  people  sat  clustered 

L_in  a  small  area  of  floor  space,  a 
scoop  of  rice  balanced  on  the  flimsy  plates 
before  them.  Kneeling  or  sitting,  they  could 
gaze  out  at  their  rich  neighbors  enjoying  a 
sumptuous  dinner  at  a  cloth-covered  table  set 
with  flowers.  Some  looked  longingly  at  the 
plentiful  food  denied  them,  while  others  took 
more  active  measures  to  get  some  themselves. 
In  this  case,  the  inequity  was  planned — a 
simulated  "hunger  banquet"  near  the  end  of  a 
Church  of  the  Brethren  Christian  Citizenship 


Youth  of  Today:  These  Brethren  youth  rose  early  to  get 
in  position  outside  the  "Today  Show"  in  New  York. 
Their  enterprise  paid  off  when  they  got  a  brief  chance  to 
tell  the  tiation  that  they  were  learning  ways  to  fight 
hunger  at  the  Christian  Citizenship  Seminar.  Pictured 
from  left  are  Nick  Siegrist.  Corinne  Lipscomb.  .Martha 
Piichs,  Nicole  Oetma,  Heather  Nace,  and  Phil  Mackey. 


June  2000  Messenger  23 


JoAnne  Foreman  of 
Pitsburg,  Ohio,  along 
with  more  than  half  of  the 
Christian  Citizenship 
Seminar  participants, 
found  themselves  in  the 
low-income  group  during 
a  hunger  banquet 
designed  to  illlustrate  the 
world's  unequal 
distribution  of  resources. 
The  group  received  only 
rice  on  a  paper  plate  and 
no  table  or  seat. 


Seminar  week.  For  millions  of  people  around 
the  world,  however,  the  inequities  are  real, 
and  that's  why  the  100  Brethren  youth  and 
advisors  from  across  the  country  came — not 
just  to  sightsee,  but  to  learn  and  to  respond. 
The  six-day  event,  which  begins  in  New 
York  City  and  ends  in  Washington,  D.C.,  is 
sponsored  by  the  General  Board's 
Youth/Young  Adult  and  Washington  offices 
and  is  held  annually  except  for  National  Youth 
Conference  years.  It  seeks  to  relate  current 
events  and  issues  with  one's  faith,  particularly 
from  a  Brethren  perspective.  This  year's 
theme  was  "Hungering  for  Justice,"  looking  at 
local  and  global  hunger  issues. 

"The  hungry  people  of  the  world  aren't 
just  victims,"  said  David  Radcliff  of  the 
Brethren  Witness  office,  who  spoke  at  two 
sessions  during  the  seminar.  "They're  people 
like  you  and  me  with  hopes  and  dreams.  They 
often  just  need  a  tiny  step  up,  and  that's  often 
beyond  their  reach." 

Radcliff  showed  slides  from  trips  to  Cen- 
tral America,  Sudan,  and  North  Korea  as  he 
sought  to  help  the  group  "look  hunger  in  the 
face,"  as  Brethren  have  done 
throughout  the  years.  A  new 
drama  written  by  Radcliff  and 
based  on  the  story  of  the  rich 
man  and  Lazarus  helped  to 
illustrate  the  issue  from  a  bibli- 
cal perspective. 

Other  speakers  took  up  the 
topic  during  the  six-day  semi- 
nar, too.  David  Wildman  of  the 
United  Methodist  Church 
spoke  about  the  work  of  the 
United  Nations,  its  headquar- 
ters visible  through  a  window 
behind  him  as  he  addressed  the 
group  in  New  York. 

He  asked  participants  to 
look  at  the  clothes  they  were 
wearing  to  see  what  countries 
produced  them,  then  did  a 
visual  representation  of  the 
world's  unequal  resources.  Two 
youth  in  the  demonstration  had 
ample  room  to  spread  out — 
representing  the  20  percent  of 
the  world's  people  who  hold  85  percent  of  the 
resources — while  eight  others  sat  stacked  in  an 
uncomfortable  pile. 

"We  don't  choose  our  parents  or  the  com- 
munities we're  born  into,"  Wildman  said,  "but 
we  do  have  choices  about  how  we  live  our 
lives  and  use  our  resources." 

Another  powerful  session  came  on  the 


Ron  Shriver  and  advisor  Ed  Palsgrove,  of  the 

Union  Bridge  (Md.)  Church  of  the  Brethren,  peel 
potatoes  at  the  Food  &  Friends  service  project  in 
Washington,  D.C.,  which  delivers  meals  to 
AIDS  patients  in  a  wide  radius  around  the  city. 


final  evening  of  the  seminar,  following  the 
hunger  banquet.  Church  of  the  Brethren 
member  Steve  Brady,  who  works  with  the 
National  Coalition  for  the  Homeless,  showed 
a  touching  audiovisual  presentation  and  then 
facilitated  a  panel  of  three  people  who  talked 
about  life  on  the  streets  of  Washington,  D.C. 

One  of  them,  Larry,  managed  to  inter- 
sperse humor  and  lively  stories  while 
describing  the  loneliness,  low  self-esteem,  and 
depression  he'd  endured.  He  signed  a  lease 
for  an  apartment  for  the  first  time  in  January 
but  said,  "Some  of  the  best  people  in  the 
world  are  on  the  streets  right  now." 

Another  of  the  panel  members,  named 
Don,  urged  participants  not  to  become  callous 


24  Messenger  June  2000 


and  to  respond  to  the  homeless  they  see, 
quoting  the  Bible  passage  of  "entertaining 
angels  unawares."  Often  even  better  than 
gi\  ing  money,  he  said,  is  to  respond  as  if  that 
person  were  a  fellow  human  being,  talking  to 
them  and  saying,  "God  loves  you." 

Youth  worked  at  responding  during  the 
seminar,  too,  taking  what  they  had  learned  and 
seeing  it  put  into  practice.  One  morning  in 
W  ashington  was  dedicated  to  service  projects, 
w  ith  youth  and  advisors  traveling  to  six  sites 
around  the  city.  Five  of  those  were  soup 
kitchens  or  food  delivery  agencies,  and  the 
sixth,  called  Community  Harvest/Urban  Oasis, 
grew  food  for  a  farmers'  market  in  a  low- 
income  neighborhood  that  has  no  supermarket. 

In  the  afternoon  of  that  same  day,  youth 
and  advisors  split  into  groups  from  their 
respective  states  and  districts  to  visit  senators 
and  representatives  on  Capitol  Hill,  sharing 
the  information  they  had  learned  during  the 
week  and  urging  support  for  hunger  causes  in 
Congress — particularly  for  a  current  bill 
called  the  Hunger  Relief  Act. 

Some  of  the  groups  met  with  aides,  but 
several  of  the  representatives  and  senators  met 
with  the  CCS  visitors  personally,  despite  a 
busy  week  in  Washington. 

Youth  were  also  urged  to  act  within  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren,  especially  through  the 
General  Board's  Global  Food  Crisis  Fund. 
Radcliff,  who  manages  the  fund  through 
Brethren  Witness,  unveiled  plans  to  fly  200 
dairy  goats  to  famine-wracked  North  Korea 
this  summer,  and  challenged  all  the  youth  pre- 
SLMit  to  each  raise  $100  toward  that  effort. 


"The  problem  is  a  lot  bigger  than  1  ever 
thought  it  was,"  said  Corinne  Lipscomb  of 
Springfield,  111.,  who  planned  to  speak  on  the 
issue  at  church  and  raise  the  $100  when  she 
returned  home.  "It  seemed  absolutely  huge. 
Hopefully  1  can  do  something  about  it." 

An  initial  $200  also  came  from  CCS 
advisors  after  youth  demonstrated  their 
knowledge  of  hunger  issues  in  a  game  called 
"Who  Wants  to  Feed  the  Hungry?,"  earning 
$20  per  correctly  answered  question. 

"You've  come  because  you  want  to  learn 
something  about  this,  and  to  me  that's  very 
hopeful,"  Radcliff  said  to  the  group.  "It  takes 
bravery — call  it  Christian  commitment — to 
step  into  that  other  world  not  so  far  away  and 
let  it  trouble  you,  and  then  trust  God  to  show 
you  what  to  do  next." 

By  the  way,  the  youth  and  advisors  all 
received  a  plentiful  spread  of  pizza  and  soda  a 
few  hours  following  that  hunger  banquet,  fill- 
ing up  all  those  who  had  subsisted  on  meager 
meals  earlier.  For  the  world's  truly  hungry 
people,  however,  the  feasts  don't  come  so 
easily,  and  youth  were  forced  to  wrestle  with 
their  place  in  the  issue. 

"You're  not  sure  what  you  can  do  about 
the  problem  because  you're  part  of  the 
majority  that's  causing  the  problem,"  said 
Chris  Palsgrove,  a  youth  participant  from 
the  Union  Bridge  (Md.)  church.  "You  have 
to  step  away  from  things  and  look  at 
how  you  can  change." 


^ 


Walt  Wiltschek  is  manager  of  news  services  for 
the  General  Board. 


Joe  Fennel  and  Justine 
Martinez,  of  the  Live  Oak 
(Calif)  Church  of  the 
Brethren,  wash  used  trays  at 
the  Washington  City  Church 
of  the  Brethren  soup  kitchen, 
one  of  six  service  projects 
where  Christian  Citizenship 
Seminar  participants 
worked  this  year. 


June  2000  Messenger  25 


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ultimate  questions.. .  .After  I 
received  the  diagnosis  of 
advanced  lung  cancer,  I 
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questions  more  intensely 
than  I  ever  had  befor  e." 

■gf  —Dale  Aukermai 

Hope 
Beyond 
Healing 


Hope  Beyond  Healing;  A  Cancer  Journal 
by  Dale  Aukerman  available  now  from 
Brethren  Press  for  $14.95  plus  shipping 
and  handling  charges. 


Brethren  Press 

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phono  800-441-3712       fax  800-667-8188 

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Mm 


I  have  learned  from  such  personal 
experiences  and  I  try  to  teach  others 
that  there  is  hope  for  depression, 
before  it  becomes  so  bad  you  ca7inot 
control  it,  it  controls  you. 


A  family  and  mental  illness 

I  am  writing  in  response  to  "What 
churches  can  do  for  the  depressed" 
(April).  That  was  one  of  the  best 
articles  1  have  ever  read,  and  I  was  so 
pleased  to  see  mental  illness  looked 
at  for  the  disease  that  it  really  is. 

I  have  suffered  from  mental  illness 
now  for  30  some  years,  since  I  was  in 
my  20s.  I  have  been  hospitalized 
many  times.  In  the  1970s  when  I  went 
into  depression,  I  first  thought  I  was 
a  freak  of  nature,  and  was  very 
embarrassed  when  I  returned  from 
my  very  first  hospital  stay  in  a  mental 
health  facility.  Now,  I  am  a 
spokesperson  on  the  illness  of  depres- 
sion and  its  sometimes  deadly  effects. 

On  Nov.  15,  1989,  my  life  and  that 
of  my  husband  and  our  daughter 
changed  forever.  Our  very  precious 
son  took  his  own  life  after  a  bout  with 
depression  from  a  couple  months 


before  graduation  from  high  school 
up  until  the  fall,  when  life  became  too 
much  to  deal  with.  No  one  told  me 
years  earlier,  when  I  had  my  first  bout 
with  depression,  that  it  could  show  up 
in  my  children  also.  Well,  it  sure  did, 
because  our  precious  daughter,  now 
3  1  years  old,  also  was  diagnosed  in 
her  20s  with  bipolar  depression. 

I  have  never  been  ashamed  of  my 
mental  illness,  my  daughter's,  or  the 
way  our  son  died.  Instead  I  take  what 
I  have  learned  from  such  personal 
experiences  and  try  to  teach  others 
that  there  is  hope  for  depression, 
before  it  becomes  so  bad  you  cannot 
control  it,  it  controls  you.  I  don't 
want  to  have  to  see  another  parent 
lose  their  child  to  this  awful  disease. 

I  speak  up  to  all  young  folks 
everywhere  to  get  to  someone  you 
can  talk  to  and  let  them  know  you 
are  getting  depressed. 

Now  there  are  so  many  excellent 


Monday,  July  17-5  P.M. 

Praising  God  with  a  New  Rhythm 

Becky  and  Jerry  Crouse-speakers 


Church-As'Mission  Dinner  Series 
The  Church  is  to  missions  as  fire  is  to  burning 

Tuesday,  July  18-5  P.M. 

The  Missional  Congregation 
Lois  Barrett-speaker 


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Buy  both  tickets  before  luly  5  and  save  $4. 

Sponsored  by  Global  Mission  Partnerships  and  Congregational  Life  Ministries 


June  2000  Messenger  27 


It's  you. 


It's  us. 


It's  up  and  running. 


\%^%iv.  bi*ollit*oiibiiNiiiosNiiel\v4>i*k.iiet 


medications  that  can  help.  My 
daughter  and  I  are  both  functioning 
much  better  with  today's  newer  med 
ications  for  bipolar  illness.  One  can 
fight  the  battle  of  depression  with  the| 
help  of  good  counseling  also. 

In  the  article  where  depression  is 
referred  to  as  "lethal,"  I  can  tell 
you  for  a  fact  it  can  be.  If  you  are 
reading  this  today,  though  young 
or  old,  don't  let  the  stigma  from 
depression  stop  you  from  seeking 
help.  It  is  well  worth  the  effort,  for 
life  and  God  are  both  beautiful 
things  in  this  world. 

If  I  reach  just  one  person  out 
there,  I  thank  God  for  that.  This  is 
written  in  loving  memory  of  our  son, 
Donald  R.  Trimmer,  and  for  our  pre- 
cious daughter,  Lisa. 

Linda  M.  Trimmer, 

West  York  Church  of  the  Brethren 

York,  Pa. 


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Tlie  Bretlvai  Home 

Community 


28  Messenger  June  2000 


Classified  Ads 


Clearing  up 
Shepherd's  Spring 

Like  Wiilt  Wiltschek  comments  in  his 
article  in  the  |an./Feb.  Messenger 
article  "A  different  kind  of  church 
camp,"  of  the  quiet  water  of  the 
small  spring  trickling  through  the 
camp  surrounding  it,  there  trickle 
through  the  article  some  errors 
which  need  to  be  clarified. 

The  article  states  that  the  camp  bears 
the  name  of  the  spring.  After  the  land 
was  purchased  for  the  new  camp  there 
was  a  competition  for  naming  the  camp. 
The  one  who  submitted  Shepherd's 
Spring  apparently  was  inspired  with  the 
idea  of  the  Good  Shepherd  and  the 
refreshment  of  the  spring.  After  that 
entry  was  selected  and  given  to  the  new 
camp  it  was  natural  for  the  spring  to  get 
the  name  as  well.  We  did  not  know  of 
the  spring  having  a  name  before. 

The  article  says  the  Potomac  River 
marks  the  camp  property's  bound- 
ary. Actually  the  camp  land  is 
bounded  by  National  Park  Service 
land  over  which  the  tow  path  of  the 
old  C&O  Canal  runs. 

The  article  states,  "The  camp's 
owner.  Mid-Atlantic  District,  closed 
beloved  facilities  at  Camp  Woodbrook, 
slated  to  be  a  reservoir  in  Maryland, 
and  Camp  Shiloh  in  northern  Vir- 
ginia." It  should  have  said  "...  closed 
beloved  camps  Woodbrook,  then 
slated  to  become  a  reservoir  in  Mary- 
land, and  Shiloh  in  Virginia,  which 
was  located  outside  the  boundaries  of 
the  district  as  it  had  been  realigned." 

The  article  should  have  included 
mention  of  the  long  hours  con- 
tributed by  the  development 
committee  in  planning  for  the  camp, 
then  the  construction  committee, 
which  worked  with  Rex  Miller  until 
the  original  facilities  were  completed, 
and  a  tribute  to  the  large  number  of 
volunteers  who  gave  time  and  skills 
in  carrying  out  various  aspects  of 
building  and  program.  There  are  also 
better  pictures  of  the  spring. 

Wayne  F.  Buckle 
Falls  Church.  Va. 


INVITATION 

The  New  Beginnings  Church  of  the  Brethren, 

located  SO  miles  ea.st  of  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  invites 
Brethren  traveling  to  Annual  Conference  to  stay 
overnight.  Facilities  available  for  camping,  16  miles 
south  of  1-70  on  Highway  13{S)  at  southeast  edge 
of  Warrensburg.  Contact  pastor.Jane  Davis,  800  E. 
Hale  Lake  Road,  Warrensburg,  MO  64093-3042,  phone 
660-429-6215,  e-mail  <jeneherda(«:  iland.net. 

Visiting  Washington,  D.C.?  Come  worship  with 
us  at  the  Arlington  Church  of  the  Brethren,  300  N. 
Montague  St,  Arlington,  Virginia.  Phone  703-524- 
4100.  Services;  Sunday  School  9:45  - 10:45  a.m. 
Worship:  11:00  a.m.  Summer  Hours:  June  4  thru 
September  3.  Worship  10:00  a.m.  No  Sunday  School. 
Nursery  Services  Provided.  Roseann  B.  Cook,  Pastor 

The  York  Center  congregation  in  Lombard,  IL 
will  celebrate  50  years  of  ministry  in  2001.  To 
kick-off  our  anniversary  we  will  have  a  celebration 
weekend  August  12  and  13,  2000,  If  you  have  been 
a  part  of  the  York  Center  family  we  hope  you  will  join 
us  for  this  celebration.  For  more  information  call  the 
church  office  at  630-627-741 1  or  e-mail  Pastor  Christy 
Waltersdorff  (cwaltersdorff@mindspring.com). 

POSITION  AVAILABLE 

Executive  Director  for  a  new  alliance  of  five 
Brethren  and  Mennonite-related  retirement  com- 
munities in  southeast  Pennsylvania.  .Must  have  a 


Bachelor's  degree  (Master's  preferred)  and  at  least 
five  years  of  executive  leadership,  preferable  in  health- 
care. Must  be  able  to  take  initiative  and  work 
collaboratively  with  five  other  CEO's.  Must  have  abil- 
ity to  bring  diverse  resources  and  systems  together 
and  think  "outside  the  box."  Good  administrative 
and  financial  skills  also  important.  Brethren  or  Men- 
nonite  church  affiliation  preferred,  but  not  essential. 
Must  possess  good  moral  character.  Send  resume  to 
Mennonite  Health  Services,  234  South  Main  St.,  Suite 
1,  Goshen  IN  46526,  or  fax  to  (219)  534-3254,  or  e- 
mail:  timstair(Scompuserve.com  byjune  15,  2000. 

Christian  Family  Practice  group  is  seeking  a 
family  physician  to  join  our  growing  practice.  We 
are  located  in  North  Central  Indiana,  near  Goshen. 
We  provide  obstetrics  with  many  deliveries  done  at 
an  Amish  Birthing  Center  near  Shipshewana.  Oppor- 
tunities for  short-  or  long-term  missions.  Independently 
owned  (six  physicians  &  one  PA)  and  committed  to 
remaining  sensitive  to  the  needs  of  the  local  com- 
munity. Option  to  buy  in.  Contact  Steve  Wendler, 
Administrator,  at  Middlebury  Family  Physicians,  PO 
Box  459,  Middlebury,  IN  46540.  Day  telephone:  219- 
825-2900  Evening:  219-825-7506. 

Director  of  Food  Services.  Camp  Bethel  is  looking 
for  a  Director  of  Food  Services,  FT  with  benefits. 
Contact  Camp  Manager,  328  Bethel  Rd,  Fincastle, 
VA  24090  or  e-mail:  camp. bethel(a'juno. com  or  visit 
us  at  www.campbethelvirginia.org. 


The  journey  from  here 

A  report  on  the  state  of  the  church 

Messenger  Dinner 
5  pm,  Sunday,  July  16 


Judy  Mills  Reimer 

Executive  Director,  General  Board 


Kansas  Oty 


Join  Messenger  for  a  relaxing  dinner,  then  hear  the  executive  director  of  the 
General  Board  deliver  her  "State  of  the  Church"  address,  a  report  on  where 
we  are  and  where  we're  going  as  a  denomination  at  the  beginning  of  the 
new  millennium.  Program  concludes  in  time  for  the  evening  business  session. 


Please  order  tickets  in  advance.  There  may  be  no  on-site  ticket  sales. 
Call  the  Annual  Conference  office  at  800-323-8039  to  order 


June  2000  Messenger  29 


TiiFninf  Points 


This  month 's  Turning  Points  includes  all 
listings  received  prior  to  4/4/00  not  pre- 
viously published. 

New  members 

Ambler,  Pa.:  Amber  Shaw.  Lea 
Kononchuk 

Brandts,  St.  Thomas.  Pa.:  Dennis  and 
Marian  Mills.  Karl  Frey,  Robin  and 
Megan  Unger,  Lindsey  Hollenshead, 
Tracy  Clevenger,  John  Hunt,  lames 
Snider.  Kayla  Snyder,  Mandy  Ferree, 
Pauline  Harmon,  Linda  Heckman 

Brook  Park,  Ohio:  Samantha  Bova, 
Patrick  Cronan,  Linda  Cronan. 
Robert  Ryan  Cronan,  Brittany 
Hornyak,  Christopher  Schmid 

Champaign,  111.:  Shirley  Webber,  Dawn 
Blackman 

Dixon,  111.:  Alan  Mackey,  Kathy  Mackey, 
|ohn  Munson,  loel  Wiseman,  Amy 
Wiseman,  Steven  Magnafici,  Laurie 
Blackburn,  Gary  Lee,  Cody  Winters, 
Shayla  Brooks.  Aaron  Brooks,  Tiffany 
Mekeel,  lacob  Mekeel 

Dupont.  Ohio:  Cher  Stoker,  Paul  Gar- 
rison, Loyce  Garrison,  Kelly  Sarka, 
Sis  Hacker,  Dalton  Hacker,  leff 
Messer 

Elizabethtown,  Pa.:  Becky  Tann 

Eversole.  New  Lebanon,  Ohio:  Erin 
Curliss,  Megan  Howard,  Rhonda 
and  Don  Fugate 

First,  Ligonier,  Pa.:Noel  McLeary 

First  Central,  Kansas  City,  Kan.:  Benson 
Mwihaki.  ludy  Burr,  lane  Smith 

Friendship.  Linthicum,  Md.:  lane- 
Adair  Seleski 

Geiger,  Friedens,  Pa.;  Wayne  and 
Marie  Erbe 

Greensburg,  Pa.:  Michael  Hamley, 
Steven  Perry,  Amanda  Waugh 

Independence,  Kan.:  Arthur  D.  Arnwine. 
Darryl  L.  Deering,  Winona  K.  Deering 

Lansing,  Mich.:  Marybeth  Braddock, 
Carol  Baker,  CaroL^nn  BrunDelRe 

Linville  Creek,  Broadway,  Va.:  Mark 
Rothnathon,  Velda  Keller,  Maxine 
Strawderman,  Gina  Ritchie 

Logansporl,  Ind.:  Bill  Fickle,  Tiffany 
Close,  Bill  Kite,  Heather  Close, 
Chris  Good,  Eddie  Hannah 

Lower  Deer  Creek.  Camden.  Ind.:  High 
McKinley,  loe  Slate,  Alan  and  Brenda 
McLearn-Montz,  Barberie  Edging 

Maitland,  Lewistown.  Pa.:  Linda  Wallick 

Maple  Grove.  .Ashland,  Ohio:  Randy 
Keener,  Kay  Keener,  lO^issy  Keener 

Markle,  Ind.:  lacob  Chambers,  Mossy 
Crispin,  Candy  Marshall,  Loyal  and 
Betty  Pursifull,  lustin  O'Reilly 

Mechanicsburg,  Pa.:  Earl  Goodwin, 
lacob  Kumler.  Audrea  Rof- 
fensperger.  Matthew  Rider,  lohn 
Seigle,  Scott  and  Cheryl  Spicer, 
Lavinia  Stough,  Barbara  Cisney,  |ef- 
frey  and  Rebecca  Bailey,  Heidi 
Graci,  Reta  Mundwiler,  Traci 
Rabenstein,  William  Replogle 

Middlebury,  Ind.:  Betsy  Garber,  Don 
Mockler,  Don  and  Tanya  Paulus, 
Robin  Paulus,  Ann  Troyer 
Schmucker.  Penny  Lantzer,  Meri- 
beth  Miller,  Melissa  Adams,  Travis 
Kauffman,  Roman  Anderson 

Mohican.  West  Salem.  Ohio:  David, 
Lisa,  lordan,  and  Michaela  Hohider, 
Richard  and  Susie  Gortner 

New  Paris,  Ind.:  Re.x  Eisenhour,  Burton 
Clemens,  Joan  Hein,  Mark  Miller 

Nokesville,  Va.:  Franklin  D.  Sanford, 
Nelson  D,  Sager,  James  R. 

30  Messenger  June  2000 


Funkhouser,  Cynthia  L.  Yohn, 
Andrew  T.  Yohn,  Kelsey  N.  Nelson, 
Pamela  |.  Evans,  Lindsey  E.  Hay- 
wood. Michelle  L.  Iverson,  Kristie  A. 
Hall,  Melanie  Pittman 

North  Liberty,  Ind.:  Alan  Holderread, 
Ashley  Houser 

Peters  Creek,  Roanoke,  Va,:  Mabel 
Naff,  Geraldine  Plunkett.  Anna  Mae 
Plunkett.  lohn  Showalter,  Ted  and 
Ruby  Spradling,  Kathleen  Crum, 
Willard  Flora,  Cory  Lowe,  lack 
Lowe,  lohn  Lowe,  Carl  Stump 

Pleasant  View,  Fayetteville,  W.Va.: 
Ruth  Riner,  Victoria  Vandall,  Linda 
Vandall,  leff  and  Patricia  Ashwell 

Pyrmont,  Rossville,  Ind.:  Doris  Lane 
Patrick 

Sebring.  Fla.:  Harold  Banwart,  Lois 
Banwart,  Paul  Kemble,  Miriam 
Kemble,  Don  Kepler,  Ruth  Kepler, 
Donna  Redifer,  |ohn  Slotter,  Mary 
Slotter,  lillian  Snoke 

South  Waterloo,  Waterloo,  Iowa:  Ron 
and  Denise  Flory,  Paul  and  Mildred 
Holliday.  Paula  Sturtz 

Springfield,  Coopersburg,  Pa.:  Brian 
and  Donna  Grube,  Amanda  Grube, 
Kent  Holschwander,  Gary  Ki-amer, 
Meredith  Kramer,  Samantha 
Kramer.  Harold  Romig,  Marilyn 
Rule,  Keith  Wolf,  |r. 

Tucson.  Ariz.:  Clifford  Eicher,  Dorcus 
Eicher.  Gordon  Adkins,  Linda  Adkins, 
Veronica  Velazquez,  Robin  Palmisano, 
Virginia  Fisher,  Gary  Fisher 

Waynesboro,  Pa,:  Lisa  Hall.  Larry  and 
lean  Mellott 

Welty,  Smithsburg.  Md.:  Nicole 
Shockey 

Wenatchee  (Wash.)  Brethren-Baptist: 
lorge  Vargas,  Dayle  Rushing,  Robin 
Rushing 

Waterford,  Calif,:  Esther  Davis,  Frank 
Kumar 

West  Goshen,  Goshen,  Ind.:  Karmen  Frey 

West  Richmond.  Richmond,  Va.: 
William  lenkins 

Wedding 
anniversaries 

Anderson,  Harry  and  LaVonne.  Mt, 

Morris,  III.,  55 
Bergy,  Keith  and  Barbara  lean, 

Caledonia,  Mich.,  55 
Budd,  Lois  and  Raymond,  Ashland, 

Ohio,  50 
Chase,  Ted  and  Dorothy,  Defiance. 

Ohio,  60 
Deaven,  Thomas  and  Ruth,  Harrisburg, 

Pa.,  55 
Dixon.  Fred  and  Martha,  Akron,  Ohio,  50 
Engel,  Raynard  and  Donna,  Waterloo, 

Iowa,  50 
Funk,  Charles  and  Ruth,  New  Oxford, 

Pa.,  55 
Garrison.  Howard  and  Mary  Elizabeth, 

Mt,  Morris,  111.,  55 
Geesaman,  Paul  and  Blanche, 

Grantville,  Pa.,  55 
Gilbert,  lohn  and  Martha,  Staunton, 

Va.,  65 
Heckman,  Galen  and  Laura,  Mercers- 
burg,  Pa.,  50 
Haworth,  Paul  and  Virginia,  Pem- 

bertville,  Ohio,  60 
Heister,  Allen  and  Daisy.  Annville,  Pa,,  50 
Heusinkveld,  Leland  and  Patricia  Ann, 

Preston,  Minn,,  50 
Hinson,  Carl  and  Verla,  Erie,  Pa,,  55 
Hoffman,  Robert  and  Ann,  Waynes- 
boro, Pa.,  50 


Hoover,  Charles  and  Reges,  Martins- 
burg,  Pa.,  60 
Hurst,  Earl  and  Martha,  Palmyra,  Pa.,  55 
Keyser,  Gerald  and  Margaret,  Lowell, 

Mich.,  60 
Kintner,  George  and  Virginia,  Adrian, 

Mich.,  55 
Kulp.  Robert  and  Anna  Mae,  Manheim, 

Pa.,  50 
McCaman,  Sam  and  Donna,  Lorida, 

Fla.,  55 
Malone,  Max  and  Betty,  Goshen,  Ind.,  50 
Metcalf,  Wallace  and  Mary,  Brunswick, 

Md.,  50 
Mock,  Clair  and  Ruth,  Alum  Bank, 

Pa.,  70 
Montel,  Enid  and  Ernie,  Tipp  City, 

Ohio,  55 
Nicodemus,  Allen  and  Kate,  Boons- 

boro,  Md.,  50 
Pritts,  Russell  and  Thelma,  Fort  Hill, 

Pa,,  55 
Reynolds.  Fred  and  Dee,  Madrid. 

Iowa,  50 
Rigney,  Doyle  and  Mildred,  Bridgewa- 

ter.'Va.,  50 
Rowe.  Ray  and  Ruth,  Frostproof,  Fla., 

55 
Russell,  Albert  and  Viola,  lacksonville, 

Fla.,  60 
Sexton,  Cliff  and  Eileen,  Lorida  Fla.,  50 
Shelly,  Harlan  and  Betty,  Manheim, 

Pa.,  50 
Stauffer,  Guv  and  Ruth,  Bradenton, 

Fla.,  55 
Switzer,  Walter  and  Marilyn,  Water- 
ford,  Calif.,  50 
Talbot,  Richard  and  Kathleen,  Sebring, 

Fla,.  50 
Thomas,  Bernard  and  ieanc,  Sebring, 

Fla.,  50 
Trinks,  Ervin  and  Alice,  Abbottstown, 

Pa..  55 
Weaver,  Frank  and  Enid,  Lorida,  Fla.,  50 
Wine.  Gerald  and  Arlene,  Enders, 

Neb.,  50 
Wine,  Ralph  and  Margaret,  Mt.  Sidney, 

Va.,  55 

Deaths 

Aldinger.  Herman,  81,  Lancaster,  Pa.. 

Sept.  10 
Alley,  Helen,  Bridgewater,  Va.,  April  1 
Alwine,  Ivy,  99,  Annville,  Pa,,  April  2 
Andes,  1.  Gilbert,  87,  Remington,  Va.. 

March  18 
Barrett,  Steve,  104,  Miami,  Fla.,  Sept.  3 
Baumgartner,  Pauline,  86,  Decatur, 

Ind..  April  2 
Beard,  Clifford,  83,  Enders,  Neb.,  Feb.  I 
Bixler,  Russell,  72.  Pittsburgh.  Pa., 

Ian.  30 
Bonney,  Willard  Donald,  OIlie,  Iowa, 

Feb.  18 
Boone,  Robert,  76,  Greenville,  Ohio, 

March  2 
Brandeberry,  Floyd,  83,  Goshen,  Ind.. 

April  1  3 
Brooks,  Beulah.  86,  Dexter,  Mo.. 

Dec.  17 
Brown,  Sandra  L..  54.  Loysburg,  Pa., 

Dec.  24 
Brumbaugh,  William  R.,  66,  Duncans- 

ville,  Pa„  Oct.  7 
Callahan,  Mary  E..  84,  Linville,  Va., 

Feb.  9 
Caplinger,  Fred  A.,  Sr.,  59,  Martin, 

W.Va.,  Feb.  1 
Caricofe,  Allen  H„  73,  Stuarts  Draft, 

Va.,  March  27 
Carr,  Bernice  Marie,  97,  Bloomfield, 

Iowa,  |an.  1  I 


Carr,  lane,  Sebring,  Fla.,  Nov.  7 
Cave.  Wilmer,  82,  Grantville,  Pa., 

Feb.  20 
Church,  Doctor  Grant,  Winston- 
Salem,  N.C.,  Nov.  27 
Clark.  Robert  R.,  83,  Easton,  Md.. 

March  16 
Click,  Rilla,  86,  New  Lebanon,  Ohio, 

April  1  7 
Cline,  Nellie  E,,  86.  Harrisonburg,  Va., 

Feb.  15 
Conn.  Mae,  89,  Somerset,  Pa.,  Oct.  26 
Cox.  Mary  c.  84,  Mount  Solon,  Va.. 

Feb.  10 
Crumley.  William  C,  Knoxville,  Tenn., 

March  28 
Crumrine,  Mabel,  83,  Greenville,  Ohio, 

March  14 
Cupp,  Russell  T.  92.  Dayton.  Va., 

March  9 
Dearth,  lanet,  83,  Dayton,  Ohio,  Feb.  17 
Deuel,  Clarence  "Art,"  42,  Latrobe,  Pa., 

April  13 
Dibert,  Thomas  S.,  74,  Bedford,  Pa., 

Feb.  28 
Diehl,  Robert,  86,  West  Alexandria, 

Ohio.  March  31 
Dodson,  Nola,  86,  Fayetteville,  W,Va., 

Ian.  4 
Dove,  Clifford,  88,  Nokesville,  Va., 

Feb.  22 
Dupras.  Edmund,  59,  Live  Oak,  CaliL, 

Feb.  10 
Eberly,  Goldie,  Toledo,  Ohio 
Ebersole,  I.  Lynn,  88,  La  Verne,  Calif., 

Dec.  22 
Eisenbise.  Bernetta,  80,  Elizabethtown, 

Pa.,  Oct.  24 
Ensign.  C.  David.  La  Verne,  Calif.. 

Ian.  25 
Fishburn.  Aubrey  F.,  97.  Lawrence. 

Kan..  Feb.  12 
Foltz,  Helen.  79,  Annville,  Pa..  March  27 
Fruth,  Glenn,  84.  Quinter.  Kan.,  Ian.  20 
Funkhouser,  Margaret,  74,  Moorefield, 

W.Va.,  March  19 
Gingrich,  Ada,  85,  Lebanon,  Pa..  Feb.  5 
Glick,  Anna  V.  H.,  91.  Timberville,  Va„ 

Feb.  22 
Gochenour,  Bessie,  89.  Woodstock, 

Va..  Feb.  19 
Godfrey.  Mar\in  R..  69,  Glen  Rock, 

Pa..  Feb.  28 
Graham,  lames,  65,  San  Dimas,  Calif., 

Feb.  4 
Green,  lohn  D..  Sr..  86,  lohnsville, 

Md.,  March  8 
Gregg.  Odessa,  98,  Tecumseh,  Mich., 

March  8 
Grimm,  William  E..  100,  Altoona,  Pa„ 

Feb.  25 
Grossnickle,  Maurice,  81, 

Burkittsville,  Md.,  March  5 
Hanson,  Mary  Katherine,  79,  Boone, 

Iowa,  Feb,  10 
Harman,  David  M..  76.  Kansas  City, 

Kan..  March  18 
Harmon.  Garland  B..  86.  Petersburg. 

W.Va.,  March  24 
Heatwole,  Betty  j.,  67,  Mt.  Crawford, 

Va.,  Feb.  5 
Heatwole,  Merle  Eugene,  92,  Prescott, 

.'\riz..  March  1 
Hedge.  Kathleen  Fink.  83.  Roanoke. 

Va..  Ian.  14 
Henderson.  Lovita.  Mt.  Morris,  111.. 

March  1 9 
Herbold,  Vera  M.,  83.  Kingsley.  Iowa, 

March  7 
Hess,  Ethel.  91,  Hanover,  Pa.,  Feb.  17 
Hockman.  loan,  56,  Charles  Town, 

W.Va.,  Feb.  1  7 
Hoffer.  Paul.  80.  Lebanon.  Pa.,  Feb.  1  7 


Holdiman.  Floyd.  82.  Hudson.  Iowa. 

Ian,  2 
Hoover,  William.  Sebring.  Fla..  October 
Horlon.  Truman  Lee.  92.  Sebring.  Fla.. 

Aug.  14 
Hosteller.  Chub.  74.  Palmyra.  Pa..  Feb.  4 
Houston.  David.  44.  Ashland.  Ohio, 

I  ch.  I 
Howes.  Geraldine.  82.  Kaleva.  Mich.. 

Feb.  25 
Hufrman.  Mary  L..  75.  New  Carlisle. 

Ohio.  Ian.  26 
Hurst.  Florrie.  Sebring.  Fla..  Sept.  1  1 
larrclt.  Edgar  M..  Sr..  79.  New 

Fnlerprise,  Pa..  Nov.  20 
lessen.  Otto.  94,  Cedar  Falls,  Iowa. 

.April  5 
Keener.  Steven  M.,  39.  New  London. 

Ohio.  Ian.  12 
Keenev.  George  C.  58.  New  Freedom. 

Pa..' March  22 
Kcppcn.  Harold.  Spring  Cilv.  Pa.. 

Dec.  2b 
Kibler.  ScotI  A..  2 1 .  Altoona.  Pa.. 

Sept.  25 
Kigcr.  Fdward  Clark.  Lynchburg.  Va.. 

Feb.  b 
Kimmcl.  Homer.  Olvmpia.  Va.. 

April  10.  1999 
King.  Ruth.  77.  Lorida,  Fla..  |an.  24 
King.  William  A..  48.  New  Enterprise. 

Pa..  Sept.  26 
Kinsey.  ludv  K..  50.  Ligonier.  Pa.. 

Ian.  21 
Kiscr.  I.  Lloyd.  95.  Dayton.  Va..  Feb.  28 
Kluchcr.  Robert  H..  75.  York.  Pa.. 

March  lb 
Knapp.  Lenna.  96.  Greensburg.  Pa.. 

Aug.  5  1 
Knighting.  Calvin  N..  76.  Harrison- 
burg. Va..  March  4 
Konkey.  Virginia.  73.  La  Porte.  Ind.. 

April  1 
Kreider.  Warren.  89.  Palmyra.  Pa.. 

Dec.  9 
Kurlz.  Eleanor  M..  90.  San  Diego. 

Calif..  Feb.  24 
Landes.  Charles  H..  64.  Cicero.  Ind.. 

Feb.  18 
Layser.  Patricia.  56.  Lebanon.  Pa..  |an.  1 0 
Lecklider.  Ralph,  85.  Greenville.  Ohio. 

March  25 
Lcilcr.  Lewis.  66.  Wooster.  Ohio. 

Feb.  24 
Lenker.  Dorothy.  94.  Greenville.  Ohio. 

March  4 
Lewis.  Violet  H..  Glen  Burnie,  Md.. 

Nov.  29 
Liggett,  luanita.  76.  North  Liberty. 

Ind..  March  9 
Linlnger.  Geraldine.  74.  La  Verne. 

Calif..  March  19 
Lockett.  Larrv  L..  Lewistown.  Pa.. 

March  21   ' 
Ludholtz.  .Allene.  79.  Harrisonburg. 

Va..  Feb.  10 
McCurdy.  Frances.  87.  Greensburg. 

Pa  .  Oct.  8 
McNeil.  Robert  E..  82.  Lima.  Ohio. 

Feb.  8 
Manley.  Alfred  A..  84.  Iowa  City.  Iowa. 

Feb.  10 
March.  Doltie.  56.  Willards.  Md..  Jan.  5 
Martin.  Eugene.  59.  Waynesboro.  Pa.. 

Feb.  13 
Martin,  loseph  R..  79.  Goshen.  Ind.. 

Feb.  8 
Mclzgcr.  La  Rue.  84.  Mechanicsburg. 

Pa..  Feb.  27 
Metzger.  Lester  Clifford.  Boise.  Idaho. 

April  4 
Miller.  Betty  L..  74.  New  Carlisle. 

Ohio.  Dec.  14 


Miller.  Paul.  76.  Lebanon,  Pa..  Feb.  13 
Miller.  Rosa  L..  78.  Baker.  W.Va.. 

March  6 
Miller.  Sally.  76.  Hollidaysburg.  Pa.. 

Dec.  1 
Miller.  Sarah  lane.  78.  Bridgewater. 

Va..  Feb.  8 
Mitchell.  Dorothy  B..  72.  Indepen- 
dence. Kan..  Dec.  12 
Morrison.  Shirley.  66.  Mechanicsburg. 

Pa..  Feb.  7 
Mull.  Clarence  B..  79.  Lebanon  Route. 

Pa..  March  1 1 
Myers.  Ernest  Daniel.  82.  Warrenton. 

Va..  Feb.  16 
Murrey.  Chester.  McPherson.  Kan.. 

Dec.  29 
Ober.  Galen.  82,  Lorida,  Fla..  Aug.  21 
Overman.  Dennis.  56.  Morgantown. 

W.Va..  Ian.  3 
O'Baugh.  Lydia  B..  87.  Crimora.  Va.. 

March  I  5 
Painter.  Lucille.  94.  Palmyra,  Pa.,  |an.  31 
Pendley.  Lorene.  78.  Beaverton.  Mich.. 

March  24 
Perdue.  |ohn.  97.  Lorida.  Fla. 
Pfoulz.  Leah.  88,  Bridgewater.  Va.. 

Feb.  10 
Pratt.  Mary  Elizabeth.  83.  Fresno. 

Calif..  March  3 
Putman.  Erma.  88.  Somerset.  Pa., 

Feb.  19 
Radford.  Annabel  L..  Fayetteville. 

W.Va..  Ian.  1  5 
Reierson.  Naomi.  Sebring.  Fla..  Nov.  1  3 
Reinecker.  Betty.  72.  McPherson. 

Kan..  Feb.  1  I 
Repine.  Gertrude.  58.  Barnesboro.  Pa.. 

March  30 
Rinehart.  Margaret.  78.  Waterford. 

Calif..  Feb.  28 
Rogers.  Grace.  77.  New  Paris.  Ind.. 

Feb.  14 
Rowland.  Feme  P..  76,  Bridgewater, 

Va..  Feb.  26 
Royer.  Gladys  Hawbaker.  97.  N.  Man- 
chester. Ind..  Aug.  27 
Rush.  Elwood  L..  86.  Mauertown.  Va.. 

March  12 
Rush.  William  M..  77.  Fort  Valley.  Va.. 

Feb.  12 
Sager.  Otis  D..  83.  Lost  River.  W.Va.. 

March  1  7 
Sample.  Duane.  66.  Ashland.  Ohio. 

Feb.  25 
Sawyer.  Grace.  82.  Dripping  Springs. 

Tex.,  March  24 
Senseman.  lohn.  75.  Tipp  City.  Ohio. 

Ian.  18 
Settle.  Madeline  L..  85.  Fayetteville. 

W.Va..  Ian.  21 
Shaffer.  Dorothy.  82.  Pomona.  Calif.. 

March  19 
Shaffer.  Rose  N..  75.  lohnstown.  Pa. 
Shepherd.  Ted.  81.  Nokesville.Va., 

Sept.  30 
Shober.  Emil  E..  77.  Frederick.  Md.. 

Ian.  25 
Shutter.  Carl,  62,  Lebanon,  Pa..  Feb.  4 
Simmons.  Treva,  82,  Moyers,  W.Va.. 

Feb.  9 
Slagle.  George  W..  Limestone.  Tenn.. 

Feb.  5 
Small.  Kermit.  79.  Lebanon.  Pa..  Feb.  1 3 
Smalley.  lune.  57.  New  Stanton.  Pa.. 

Oct."  12 
Smith.  Elizabeth.  70.  Lebanon.  Pa.. 

Feb.  2 
Stern.  Georgetta.  72.  Elizabethtown. 

Pa..  Ian.  26 
Strawdcrman.  Austen.  81.  Bergton. 

Va..  Feb.  1  1 
Sludebaker.  Emmert.  94,  Tipp  City. 


Ohio.  March  8 
Stultz.  Martha  A..  91.  Hollidaysburg. 

Pa..  Nov.  13 
Swab.  Beulah.  92.  Glendale.  Calif.. 

Feb.  24 
Swinger.  Mildred  Lillian.  85.  Essex. 

Mo..  March  18 
Thundu.  Daniel.  27.  Mechanicsburg. 

Pa..  Ian.  14 
Ulrich.  Robert  H..  70.  Lebanon.  Pa.. 

Feb.  29 
VanDyke.  lohn.  93.  Lorida.  Fla. 
Vaughn.  Leonard  E..  83.  Alexandria. 

Va..  Nov.  29 
Vetlori.  Carol.  61.  Friedens.  Pa..  Nov.  24 
Vinard.  lini.  Rossville.  Ind..  Feb.  19 
Wagner.  Murray.  Lancaster.  Pa.. 

March  21 
Walker.  Arlie.  Toledo.  Ohio 
Walker.  Hilda  M..  78.  New  Oxford. 

Pa..  March  5 
Waybright.  Ludholtz  Allene.  79.  Har- 
risonburg. Va..  Feb.  10 
Weaver.  Paul.  Sebring,  Fla.,  |uly  2 
Wheeler,  Howard,  81,  Camp  Hill,  Pa.. 

Feb.  2 
Whisler.  Mabel.  85.  Lebanon,  Pa..  Ian.  18 
Whitesel.  Goldie  M.,  78,  Timberville. 

Va..  March  24 
Wilkie.  Luella  G..  82.  Somerset.  Pa. 
Williams.  Hazel.  91.  Pittsburgh.  Pa.. 

Nov.  10 
Williams.  leffrey  L..  28.  Harrisonburg. 

Va..  Feb.  1  3 
Wilson.  Beth.  22.  Acme.  Pa..  Ian.  29 
Wise.  Emma..  85.  Tucson.  Ariz.. 

March  6 
Wittier.  Albert.  Sebring,  Fla..  May  2 
Woof.  Rey,  Sr..  73.  Harrisburg.  Pa.. 

Dec.  31 
Yingling.  Ruth  R..  68,  Union  Bridge. 

Md..  March  14 
Voder.  Robert.  Sebring.  Fla..  March  16 
Young.  Nancy.  80.  Elizabethtown,  Pa.. 

Feb.  I 


Licensings 


Allen.  Donna  R..  March  12.  Bethel. 

DuBois.  Pa. 
Baker.  Mildred  R.  March  5.  Tyrone.  Pa. 
Carlson.  Melinda.  Ian.  29.  York.  Pa. 
Coulter.  Nina.  Nov.  6.  Waka.  Tex. 
Cornelius.  George  Edward.  Nov.  21. 

West  Chester.  Pa. 
Keller.  Ion.  Ian.  2.  Oakland.  Bradford. 

Ohio 
Kiehner.  Kermit.  Avon  Park.  Fla., 

March  1  5 
Kurozovich.  William.  March  26.  Lower 

Claar.  Claysburg.  Pa. 
Manthos.  Michael  C.  Ian.  30.  Oak 

Park.  Oakland.  Md. 
Martin.  Michael  D..  Feb.  6.  Phoenix.  Ariz. 
Mauck.  William  Vancliff.  March  26. 

Sugar  Valley.  Loganton.  Pa. 
Murlin.  Allen  Kurtis.  March  19.  Sun- 

nyside.  New  Creek.  W.Va. 
Rice,  lames  Edward.  Feb.  20.  Light- 
house. Boones  Mill.  Va. 
Schreyer.  Manfred.  Feb.  6.  West 

Alexandria.  Ohio 
Shaulis.  M.  Eric.  Feb.  6.  Meyersdale.  Pa. 
Stewart.  Kenneth  Allen.  March  19. 

Mechanicsburg.  Pa. 
Walker.  Larry  E..  East'McKeesport.  Pa. 
Webb.  Timothy  I..  Feb.  6.  Locust 

Grove.  New  Castle.  Ind. 
Wheeler.  Myrna  L..  March  19.  Pomona 

Fellowship.  Pomona.  Calif. 
Yoder.  Lisa.  March  26.  New  Philadel- 
phia. Ohio 
Young.  Cynthia,  )an.  16,  Brook  Park,  Ohio 


I 


Zepp,  |oy  Elaine,  March  5,  Hager- 
stown.  Md. 

Ordinations 

Barley.  Shirley.  March  26,  Reister- 

stown,  Md. 
Beam.  Nicholas.  March  5.  Pleasant 

Hill.  Ohio 
Berkey.  Corey.  Feb.  13,  Dry  Run.  Pa. 
Berkley.  Richard  Wayne.  Feb.  6, 

Danville.  Va. 
Coulter.  Carol.  Nov.  6.  Waka.  Tex. 
Elsea.  Henry  Dearmont.  |r..  Feb.  5. 

Tearcoat.  Augusta.  W.Va. 
Golden.  Wilburt.  Ian.  29.  First.  Balti- 
more. Md. 
Harlman.  Charles  Leroy.  March  26. 

New  Fairview.  York.  Pa. 
lohnson.  Daniel.  March  26.  Schuylkill. 

Pine  Grove.  Pa. 
Kaufman-Frey.  Cameron,  Feb.  13. 

Morgantown.  W.Va. 
Longenecker.  Thomas  William.  March 

5.  Glendale.  Calif. 
Miller.  David  Lloyd.  March  19.  Lick 

Creek.  Bryan.  Ohio 
Oren.  Kenneth.  Ian.  30.  Happy  Corner. 

Clayton.  Ohio 
Osborne.  Helen  Louise,  April  2,  Black 

Rock.  Glenville.  Pa. 
Rhodes.  Rebecca  Oliver.  March  26. 

Roanoke  Central.  Roanoke.  Va. 
Sheppard.  Daniel  lames.  March  19. 

North  Fort  Myers.  Fla. 
Sherlock.  Douglas  D..  Ir..  April  9. 

Lewistown.  Pa. 
Shook.  Gregory  Paul,  March  5. 

Hagerstown.  Md. 
Wiser.  Tracy  Lee,  Feb.  6.  Harmony. 

Myersville.  Md. 
Woodard.  Emma  lean.  Feb.  6.  Oak 

Grove.  Roanoke.  Va. 

Pastoral  placement 

Bieber.  Fred,  from  interim  to  perma- 
nent. Hanoverdale  Big  Swatara. 
Hummelstown.  Pa. 

Boleyn.  Lester  E..  from  Cedar  Creek. 
Citronelle.  Ala.,  to  Congregational 
Life  Team  Area  3 

Edwards.  lohn  F..  interim  to  perma- 
nent. West  Milton.  Ohio 

Fisher.  Chester,  from  Buena  Vista.  Va.. 
to  Middle  River.  New  Hope.  Va. 

Grady.  Duane.  from  Northview.  Indi- 
anapolis. Ind..  to  co-pastor. 
Anderson.  Ind. 

Hall.  Mary  Lou.  to  Lower  Claar.  Clays- 
burg. Pa.,  part  time 

Meyerhofer.  Kelly,  youth  ministries, 
Pleasant  Valley,  Weyers  Cave,  Va. 

Miller.  .Man.  interim  to  permanent, 
Conestoga.  Leola.  Pa. 

Schwarze.  Robert,  from  interim  to  per- 
manent. Rossville.  Ind. 

Sgro.  lohn.  from  Sebring.  Fla..  to  associ- 
ate pastor.  Pleasant  Dale.  Decatur,  Ind. 

Smith.  Robert,  from  interim  to  perma- 
nent. Peoria.  111. 

Snair.  Freeman,  to  Amaranth.  Pa. 

Thomas.  leffrey  A.,  part-time.  Robin- 
son. Pa. 

Voorhis.  Valarie  Van.  to  Upper  Fall 
Creek.  Middletown.  Ind. 

Weaver.  Beverly,  from  Northview.  Indi- 
anapolis. Ind..  to  co-pastor. 
-Anderson.  Ind. 

Weaver.  Herbert,  from  interim  to  per- 
manent, lacksonville.  Fla. 

Yoder.  Ruth,  from  interim  to  senior 
pastor.  Union  Center.  Nappanee.  Ind. 

June  2000  Messenger  31 


Forgiveness  isn't  fair 


Put  away  from  you  all  bitterness  and  wrath  and  anger  and 
wrangling  and  slander,  together  with  all  malice,  and  be 
kind  to  one  another,  tenderhearted,  forgiving  one  another, 
as  God  in  Christ  has  forgiven  you.  — Eph.  4:31-32 

My  heart  aches  for  the  aching  hearts  of  the  families 
of  the  Lockerbie,  Scotland,  airline  disaster.  Many 
have  gone  to  Europe  to  watch  the  trial  of  those  accused  of 
blowing  up  the  plane  in  which  their  loved  ones  died.  They 
are  rekindling  the  anger  and  resentment  that  after  a  decade 
hasn't  died.  They  are  like  victims  and  families  of  victims 
everywhere  who  go  to  trials  and  sentencing  hearings,  even 
executions,  hoping  for  the  closure  that  never  comes.  I  yearn 
for  them  to  have  the  peace  that  comes  from  forgiveness. 

Large  forgiveness  always  inspires  me.  Brethren  have 
heard  the  story  of  SueZann  Bosler,  who  has  forgiven 
the  man  who  in  1986  murdered  her  father,  Bill  Bosler, 
pastor  of  Miami  (Fla.)  First  Church  of  the  Brethren. 
She  has  also  worked  tirelessly  against  the  death  penalty, 
and  for  healing  for  others  through  Murder  Victims' 
Families  for  Reconciliation. 

I  have  read  recently  of  Gregory  Gibson,  a  father  in 
Massachusetts,  who  has  been  exchanging  letters  with  the 
man  who  went  on  a  rampage  and  killed  his  son  and 
others.  Their  correspondence  is  a  mutual  attempt  to 
understand  what  happened.  Steven  McDonald  of 
Malverne,  N.Y.,  a  former  police  officer  who  has  lived  as 
a  quadriplegic  since  he  was  shot  14  years  ago,  now  trav- 
els the  country  telling  audiences  he  has  forgiven  his 
assailant  "unconditionally."  Sam  Reese  Sheppard,  whose 
mother  was  murdered  and  whose  father,  Dr.  Sam  Shep- 
pard, was  convicted  and  then  acquitted  of  the  murder, 
prays  for  those  who  have  wronged  him  and  his  family. 

Of  course  I  can  understand  the  anger  of  someone 
who  posted  this  in  an  internet  chat  room:  "Forgiveness  is 
a  premise  of  Christianity  and  many  other  religions,  yet 
religion  has  often  been  used  to  manipulate  us.  I  have 
experienced  family  brawls  in  which  I  had  to  fight  for  my 
life  at  the  age  of  nine.  I  have  been  required  to  kiss  the 
man  and  woman  who  had  abused  me  the  night  before. 
Then,  I  was  required  to  attend  church  and  act  like  none 
of  this  ever  happened  so  the  benefits  of  forgiveness  could 
be  crammed  down  my  throat.  Maybe  others  can  find 
peace  in  forgiving,  but  I  am  quite  happy  being  angry 
right  now.  Anger  empowers  me." 

Victims  have  the  "right"  to  reject  forgiveness,  and 
those  who  haven't  been  wronged  or  hurt  have  no  "right" 
to  push  it  on  them.  But  sometimes  forgiveness  is  rejected 


as  an  option  before  it  is  understood.  In  recent  years 
scholars  and  healers  have  devoted  considerable  effort  to 
explaining  what  forgiveness  is  and  what  it  is  not. 

In  a  seminar  on  "Learning  to  forgive,"  Robert  D. 
Enright,  psychology  professor  at  the  University  of  Wis- 
consin, explains  that  interpersonal  forgiveness  is  a  moral 
choice,  an  act  of  mercy,  that  one  who  has  been  wronged 
is  free  to  give  or  to  withhold.  It  is  a  gift,  not  a  duty  or  an 
obligation.  It  isn't  earned  or  deserved,  nor  is  it  necessar- 
ily acknowledged  or  reciprocated.  As  such  it  isn't  what's 
fair,  but  rather  it  is  an  exchange  of  good  for  evil.  Forgive- 
ness is  "the  foregoing  of  resentment  or  revenge  when  the 
wrongdoer's  actions  deserve  it,  and  giving  the  gifts  of 
mercy,  generosity,  and  love  when  the  wrongdoer  does 
not  deserve  them."  Nobody  deserves  to  be  forgiven. 

(ust  as  important  is  what  forgiveness  is  not.  It  is  not 
forgetting,  or  "moral  amnesia,"  says  Enright,  who  heads 
the  International  Forgiveness  Institute  (www.forgive- 
nessinstitute.org).  On  the  contrary,  the  person  who 
forgives  becomes  more  acutely  aware  of  the  wrong.  And 
forgiveness  does  not  forego  redress;  one  can  forgive  and 
seek  justice  at  the  same  time. 

Another  thing  forgiveness  is  not  is  this:  It  is  not 
.  easy.  It  is  not  a  sign  of  weakness,  but  of  strength. 
It  often  doesn't  happen  all  at  once;  forgivers  say  they  have 
to  work  at  it  every  day.  Jesus  testified  to  the  difficulty 
when,  after  forgiving  the  paralytic,  he  asked  the  scribes 
who  were  critical  of  him,  "Which  is  easier,  to  say,  'Your 
sins  are  forgiven,'  or  to  say,  'Stand  up  and  walk'?"  (Matt. 
9:5).  Spiritual  healing  is  just  bigger  than  physical  healing. 

The  rewards  equal  the  difficulty  and  the  work.  Free- 
dom from  the  pain  of  resentment  and  anger  is  a  great 
reward.  Forgiveness  offers  the  possibility  of  less  anxiety 
and  more  self-esteem,  renewed  hope,  restored  relation- 
ships, community  harmony.  It  offers  the  peace  of  Christ. 

Even  after  learning  the  theories  of  forgiveness,  the 
definitions  and  the  pros  and  cons,  I  still  don't  know  if  I 
could  bring  myself  to  do  it,  were  I  ever  wronged  or  hurt 
badly.  I  can  practice  on  small  slights.  As  a  Christian  I  can 
remember  the  example  of  Christ,  who  forgave  us  all.  Yet 
there  would  come  a  time,  after  all  the  intellectual  resources 
are  gathered,  when  I  would  have  to  ask  God  for  help.  I 
would  call  upon  the  promise  of  the  Song  of  Zechariah: 
"By  the  tender  mercy  of  our  God,  the  dawn  from  on  high 
will  break  upon  us,  to  give  light  to  those  who  sit  in  dark- 
ness and  in  the  shadow  of  death,  to  guide  our  feet  into  the 
way  of  peace"  (Luke  1:  78,  79). — Fletcher  Farrar 


32  Messenger  June  2000 


'A  Bretliren  Education 


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with  Brethren  Values 


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Brethren  Colleges  Abroad 
North  Manchester,  Indiana 


Bridgewater  College 
Bridgewater,  Virginia 


Bethany  Theological  Seminary  Elizabethtown  College 

Richmond,  Indiana  Elizabethtown,  Pennsylvania 


Juniata  College 
Huntingdon,  Pennsylvania 

University  of  La  Verne 
La  Verne,  California 


Manchester  College 
North  Manchester,  Indiana 

McPherson  College 
McPherson,  Kansas 


The  cornerstones  of 

a  Brethren  education 

are  found  in  the  values 

of  the  church  itself: 

faith,  peace,  justice 

and  service.  Upon  this 

foundation,  students 

develop  the  qualities 

essential  for 

intellectual  grov/th, 

personal  integrity, 

a  strong  faith,  and 

service  to  their  church 

and  communities. 

A  Brethren  education 

reinforces  in  students 

a  system  of  values 

which  they  v/ill  carry 

throughout  their  lives. 

oration  £ 


fJLi 


COBCOA 


ie  Brethren  Recruiting  Project  •   Church  of  the  Brethren  General  Board   •    1451  Dundee  Ave.   •   Elgin,  IL  601  20 


Envision  a  world  where 
the  environment  is  protected, 
human  dignity  is  upheld, 
and  there  is  no  violence. 


The  Staff  and  Board  of  Church  of  the  Brethren  Benefit  Trust  Cordially  invite  You  to  the 

Socially  Responsive  Investing  Reception 

Monday,  July  17,2000,4:30  P.M.  to  6:30  P.M. 
Marriott  Hotel  Downtown,  Basie  Ballroom  B I 

Sample  hot  appetizers,  socialize,  and  learn  more  about  socially  responsive  investing. 

There  will  be  opportunities  to  ask  questions  and  to  listen  to  short,  informal  presentations 
on  socially  responsive  investing  by  Geeta  Aiyer  of  Walden  Asset  Management  and 
Wil  Nolen  of  Brethren  Benefit  Trust. 

Reservations  required.  To  R.S.V.P.,  call  800-746-l505,ext.  388,  or  e-mailACReception@Brethren.org. 


CHURCH   OF  THE   BRETHREN 

BENEFIT  TRUST 


For  more  information  on  the  Walden/BBT  Social  Index  Funds,  including  charges,  expenses,  and  ongoing  fees,  please  call  800-746- 1 505  ext.  388  to  receive  a  prospectus.  Read  the  prospectus  carefully  befor 
investing  or  sending  money.  United  States  Trust  Company  of  Boston  is  the  Investment  Adviser  for  the  Funds  and  has  designated  its  Walden  division  to  fulfill  its  obligations  with  respect  to  the  Funds.  Brethre 
Benefit  Trust  serves  as  a  consultant  on  issues  concerning  peace  and  justice  and  is  compensated  by  the  adviser.  BISYS  Fund  Services  is  the  Funds'  Distributor. 


JULY  2000  WWW.BRETHREN.ORG 


EMPOWERING   GOD'S   PEOPLE   IN 

HONDURAS 


:amp  changes  live. 


LIFE  PROGRAM 


A  Brethren  tducation 

.oininq  Academic  [xcellence 
with  Brethren  Values 


^af\et«  ^ 


^^P  A.  1 


_»-i-^-i-a*(S^^ 


Brethren  Colleges  Abroad 
North  Manchester,  Indiana 

Bethany  Theological  Seminary 
Richmond,  Indiana 


Bridgewater  College 
Bridgewater,  Virginia 

Elizabethtown  College 
Elizabethtown,  Pennsylvania 


Juniata  College 
Huntingdon,  Pennsylvania 

University  of  La  Verne 
La  Verne,  California 


Mahchester  College 
North  Manchester,  Indiana 

McPherson  College 
McPherson,  Kansas 


The  cornerstones  of 

a  Brethren  education 

are  found  in  the  values 

of  the  church  itself: 

faith,  peace,  justice 

and  service.  Upon  this 

foundation,  students 

develop  the  qualities 

essential  for 

intellectual  growth, 

personal  integrity, 

a  strong  faith,  and 

service  to  their  church 

and  communities. 

A  Brethren  education 

reinforces  in  students 

a  system  of  values 

which  they  will  carry 

throughout  their  lives. 


t**""n% 


/JL_ 


COBCOA 


The  Brethren  Recruiting  Project  •   Church  of  the  Brethren  General  Board   •    1451  Dundee  Ave.   •   Elgin,  IL  60 


JUNfaOOO   VOL.149  NO./  WWW.BRETHREN.ORG 


bMESSENGER 

ir:  Fletcher  Farrar    Publisher:  Wendy  McFadden    News:  Walt  Wiltschek   Advertising:  Russ  Matteson    Subscriptions:  Peggy  Reinacher    Designer:  Paul  Stocksdalc 


The  cover  photograph  is  by  David  Radcliff.  director  of  Brethren 
Witness,  whose  photography  often  graces  the  pages  o/ Messenger. 
We  asked  him  to  describe  this  photo.  He  writes: 

An  uncertain  future  awaits  young  girls  like  Cristina  of  El  Estribo, 
Honduras.  Most  often,  they  face  a  tomorrow  that  is  clouded  by  things 
like  little  chance  for  education  beyond  sixth  grade,  early  marriage  to 
often -abusive  or  disrespectful  spouses,  and  few  opportunities  for 
employment  or  personal  development. 

Ironically,  enabling  and  empowering  women  is  a  key  factor  for  enhancing 
the  well-being  of  families,  communities,  and  societies.  For  instance,  there 
is  a  direct  and  inverse  relationship  between  the  years  of  education  a  young 
woman  receives  and  the  number  of  children  she  is  likely  to  bear. 

This  photo  itself  does  not  hint  at  the  possible  troubles  awaiting 
Cristina  and  other  young  women  in  poor  communities  around  the 
world.  She,  like  them,  is  more  than  the  problems  she  will  face.  She 
is  capable,  intelligent,  playful — and  can  smile  for  the  camera.  God's 
image  persists  in  the  souls  of  even  those  at  the  margins  of  human 
society,  giving  them — and  us — hope  of  a  better  day. 


I- 


DEPARMENTS 

2  From  the  Publisher 

3  In  Touch 
6       News 


27     Letters 

31  Turning  Points 

32  Editorial 


9      Church  camp  changes  lives 

There  are  33  Church  of  the  Brethren  camps,  places  that 
give  young  people  time  and  space  to  be  especially  close 
to  God.  In  this  article,  Walt  Wiltschek  celebrates  the 
important  role  of  camps  in  the  ministry  of  the  church. 

12    Special  section:  Honduras 

After  Hurricane  Mitch  left  thousands  of  Hondurans 
homeless  in  1998,  the  Christian  Commission  for 
Development  set  about  to  help  them  rebuild  both  lives 
and  buildings.  Working  with  this  partner  agency,  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  has  sent  both  volunteers  and 
dollars  to  aid  the  reconstruction.  Howard  Royer,  who 
traveled  to  Honduras  last  year,  edited  this  color  section. 

22    Working  for  peace  in  Hebron 

Church  of  the  Brethren  member  Art  Gish  has  spent  extended 
periods  in  the  Middle  East  working  among  Palestinian  fami- 
lies in  Hebron.  He  describes  the  vision  of  Christian 
Peacemaker  Teams  and  explains  the  importance  of  presence. 

25    Breathing  LIFE  into  churches 

It  is  sad  to  see  church  buildings  abandoned.  Was  it  a 
lack  of  vision  that  led  to  their  decline?  Robin  Wentworth 
Mayer  describes  the  LIFE  process,  offered  by  New  Life 
Ministries,  which  can  help  churches  discover  a  new 
vision  and  fresh  vitality. 


Messenger  July  2000 


FROM  THE  PUBLISHER 


Sometimes  "redesign"  doesn't  refer  to  cataclysmic  organizational  shifts. 
This  month  it  simply  means  that  Messenger  has  a  faceHft. 
A  publication  undergoes  evolutionary  design  changes  all  the  time,  but 
every  once  in  a  while  the  moment  comes  to  change  a  number  of  things  all  at 
once.  The  timing  seemed  right  for  a  new  look,  now  that  we're  in  a  new  millennium 
and  the  1  50th  anniversary  of  the  magazine  is  just  around  the  corner.  So  we  asked 

Paul  Stocksdale,  who  just  returned  to 

The  Gospel  Messenger 


our  masthead  a  couple  of  issues  ago,  to 
develop  this  new  design. 

The  previous  logotype  changed 
exactly  10  years  ago,  to  the  month. 
The  one  before  that  was  developed  in 
1971,  though  it  was  not  radically 
different  from  the  one  generated  in  a 
^^  I      k    k  major  redesign  of  the  magazine  in 

\JOSP^I    iVl^SS^nQ^r         1965.  Most  of  the  logotypes  have 

■  ^  lasted  a  much  shorter  time  than  that 

one — one  of  them  no  more  than  four 
years.  Maybe  10  years  is  a  pretty 
long  time,  especially  in  this  era  of 
rapid  change. 

The  first  logo  pictured  here  is  from 
1883,  when  The  Gospel  Messenger 
came  into  being.  (Messenger  traces  its 
lineage  back  to  The  Gospel  Visiter. 
founded  in  1851,  which  is  why  our 
sesquicentennial  will  take  place  in 
200 1 .)  It's  interesting  to  see  that  our 
new  logotype — with  a  serif  typeface 
rendered  in  all  caps — shares  some  char- 
acteristics with  the  classic  look  of  1883. 
That  original  typeface  (used  47  years) 
has  withstood  the  test  of  time  better 
than  any  of  the  intervening  ones. 

Bridging  the  classic  and  the  con- 
temporary, the  traditional  and  the 
forward-looking,  is  not  a  bad  place  for  Messenger  to  be.  As  we  move  forward,  we 
trust  that  the  loyal  readers  who  have  always  read  Messenger  will  continue  to  do  so, 
turning  to  it  like  a  familiar  friend.  We  also  hope  that  new  readers  who  don't  even 
know  what  a  Brethren  pedigree  is  will  find  food  for  thought  and  nurture  for  the  soul 
in  these  150-year-old  pages. 


Gospel  Messenger 

INCLUDING    THE    MISSIONARY    VISITOR 

Gospel  Messenger 

>el  Messenger 

Gospel  Messenger 

"b*pM[SSH1G1R 

messenger 

messieriger 


ESSENGER 


^^^^^7%^7^w^^ 


How  to  reach  us 

Messenger 

1451  Dundee  Avenue 
Elgin,  IL  60120 

Subscriptions: 

preinacher_gb@brethren.org 
Phone:  847-742-5100 
Fax:  847-742-6103 

Display  advertising: 

rmatteson_gb@brethren.org 
Phone:  800-323-8039 
Fax:  847-742-1407 

Editorial: 

ffarrar_gb@'brethren.org 
Phone:  217-525-9083 
Fax:  217-525-9269 

Subscription  rates: 

$16.50  individual  rate 
$13.50  church  group  plan 
$13.50  gift  subscriptions 

If  you  move,  clip  address  label 
and  send  with  new  address  to 
Messenger  Subscriptions,  at 
the  above  address.  Allow  at  least 
five  weeks  for  address  change. 

Connect  electronically: 

For  a  free  subscription  to 
Newsline,  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren  e-mail  news 
report,  write  cobnews@aol.com. 

To  view  the  official  Church  of 
the  Brethren  website,  go  to 
http://www.  brethren.org. 


Messenger  is  Ihe  official  publication  of  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren.  Entered  as  periodical  postage  matter 
Aug.  20,  1918,  under  Act  of  Congress  of  Oct.  17, 
1917.  Filingdate,  Nov.  1,  1984.  Member  of  the 
Associated  Church  Press.  Subscriber  to  Religion 
News  Service  &  Ecumenical  Press  Service.  Biblical 
quotations,  unless  otherwise  indicated,  are  from 
the  New  Revised  Standard  Version.  Messenger  is 
published  1 1  times  a  year  by  Brethren  Press.  Church 
of  the  Brethren  General  Board.  Periodical  postage 
paid  at  Elgin,  III.,  and  at  additional  mailing  office, 
July  2000.  Copyright  2000.  Church  of  the  Brethren 
General  Board.  ISSN  0026-0355. 
Postmaster:  Send  address  changes  to  Messenger, 
1451  Dundee  Ave,,  Elgin,  IL  60120. 

op  Printed  on  recycled  paper 


Messenger  August  2000 


Collecting  typewriters  for  peace 

The  proceeds  of  the  1999  "Run  for  Peace"  held  in  Eliz- 
abethtown,  Pa.,  were  hand-delivered  to  the  residents  of 
Mulukuku  and  Santa  Rita,  Nicaragua,  by  Bill  Puffen- 
berger  last  November.  The  money  was  used  to  begin  a 
new  community  center  building  in  Santa  Rosa. 

As  part  of  the  ongoing  relationship  with  the  Mulukuku 
community.  Bill  is  collecting  manual  typewriters  to  be 
used  in  adult  education  classes  in  buildings  without 
electricity.  So  far  he  has  collected  28  typewriters,  which 
will  be  cleaned  and  reconditioned  before  being  sent  to 
Nicaragua. 

For  more  information  contact  Bill  Puffenberger  at  717- 
367-7021  orPuffenvw@etown.edu. 


IN  TOUCH 


Women's  retreat 
in  Peace  Valley 

We  gathered  March  31- 
April  1  at  an  old 
schoolhouse  in  Peace 
Valley,  Mo.,  24  women 
from  around  the  Mis- 
souri-Arkansas District. 
We  laughed,  cried, 
sang,  shared  our  mem- 
ories, prayed,  played. 
And  we  broke  bread 
together.  Our  ages 
ranged  from  the  twen- 
ties to  the  eighties. 

Clefa  Cox  and 
Dorothy  Scofield  of 
Messiah  Church, 
Kansas  City,  Mo.,  led 
us  in  worship  on 
Friday  evening. 

Marie  Petty  of  the 
Broadwater  Church, 
Essex,  Mo.,  was  inspir- 
ing and  fun-loving  as 
she  led  us  in  music, 
playing,  and  quizzes, 
suggesting  biblical 
skits  to  act  out  in  pan- 
tomime. Helen  Fisher 
led  morning  watch, 
sharing  with  us  the 
pain  of  watching  bi- 
racial  grandchildren 
suffer  because  they 
were  bi-racial. 

— Margaret  Hartsock  Keltner 


Working  to  end 
sanctions  on  Iraq 

Stephanie  Schaudel 
will  be  working  with 
the  Church  of  the 
Brethren  Washington 
Office  this  summer  on 
Iraq  sanctions  issues. 
She  is  a  May  graduate 
of  American  Univer- 
sity and  a  member  of 


the  Lancaster,  Pa., 
congregation. 

Stephanie's  focus  will 
be  on  August  5-7  "End 
the  Economic  Sanc- 
tions on  Iraq"  rallies  in 
the  nation's  capital. 
Included  will  be  work- 
shops, a  cultural  event 
on  Saturday  evening, 
an  all-day  vigil  and  rally 
on  Sunday,  nonvio- 
lence training  sessions. 


Stephanie  Schaudel 

and  the  opportunity  for 
nonviolent  direct  action 
on  Monday,  August  7. 

"Stephanie  has  a 
real  passion  for  the  sit- 
uation of  the  Iraqi 
people,  and  we  wanted 
to  support  her  in  her 
work  related  to  ending 
the  sanctions,"  said 
David  Radcliff,  director 
of  Brethren  Witness. 
Schaudel  will  work 
closely  with  Washing- 
ton Office  coordinator 
Greg  Laszakovits, 
while  also  collaborat- 
ing with  other  groups 
active  on  this  issue. 

Contact  Stephanie 
at  the  Washington 
Office  for  information 
on  the  August  event 
or  for  resources 
related  to  ending  the 
sanctions  on  Iraq. 


Messenger  July  2000 


1 


INTOUCH 


Reaching  out  in  St.  Petersburg 

On  May  5  the  St.  Petersburg  (Fla.)  Church  of  the 
Brethren  presented  a  gift  to  its  community  in  the 
form  of  a  "iVIay  Fest  in  the  Grove."  About  40  chil- 
dren and  adults  from  the  congregation,  clad  in 
bright  yellow  church  T-shirts  with  the  Church  of 
the  Brethren  logo  and  "Continuing  the  work  of 
Jesus"  taglines  on  the  back,  welcomed  more  than 
100  visitors  to  the  church  grounds.  The  fest 
included  pony  rides,  face  painting,  horseshoes, 
clowns,  live  banjo  music,  and  free  hotdogs. 

This  was  the  outreach  project  that  followed 
the  second  phase  of  the  church's  participation 
in  the  LIFE  evangelism  process.  For  more  on 
LIFE,  a  program  of  New  Life  Ministries,  see 
article  on  page  25.— Phil  Lersch 


MILESTONES 


Roanoke  Central's 
75th  anniversary 

On  May  7,  Central 
Church  of  the 
Brethren,  Roanoke, 
Va.,  celebrated  its  75th 
anniversary  with  wor- 
ship and  special 
events,  including  a 
ribbon-cutting  cere- 
mony for  the  new 
children's  playground. 


and  the  burial  of  a 
time  capsule  to  be 
opened  during  the 
centennial  in  2025. 

In  the  early  1920s  a 
committee  of  the 
Northwest  Church  of 
the  Brethren  in 
Roanoke,  later  named 
First  Church,  recom- 
mended construction 
of  another  church 
building  closer  to  the 
center  of  the  city. 


^1  Messenger  July  2000 


The  new  church 
building  was  dedi- 
cated May  3,  1925.  Dr. 
M.  G.  Brumbaugh, 
former  governor  of 
Pennsylvania  and  then 
president  of  Juniata 
College,  preached  the 
sermon. — Ron  Berkheimer 

Mocks  celebrate 
70th  anniversary 

On  April  6,  1930,  Ruth 
Bowser  and  Clair 
Mock  stood  before 
George  Rogers,  a  min- 
ister in  the  Dunnings 
Creek  Church  of  the 
Brethren,  New  Paris, 
Pa.,  and  exchanged 
their  wedding  vows. 

On  April  6,  2000, 
they  celebrated  70 
years  of  marriage.  The 
Mocks'  four  children 
made  possible  ten 
grandchildren,  and 


nearly  double  that 
many  great-grandchil- 
dren. Family  and 
friends  helped  the 
Mocks  celebrate  their 
70th  anniversary  at  an 
open  house  at  their 
home  on  April  9,  2000. 

Their  service  to  the 
church,  beyond  the 
local  parish,  included 
volunteer  service  to 
Camp  Blue  Diamond 
and  at  the  New  Wind- 
sor Service  Center. 
To  keep  abreast  of 
happenings  in  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren, 
they  now  listen  to 
Messenger  on  tape. 
— Elaine  Sollenberger 

Appreciation  for 
65  years  of  music 

On  April  30, 
Stonerstown  Church 
of  the  Brethren  in 


Good  Friday  pilgrimage — Pastor  Jim 
Beckwith  of  the  Montezuma  Church  of  the  Brethren, 
Dayton,  Va.,  took  his  turn  leading  several  dozen 
pilgrims  on  a  Good  Friday  walk  through  Bridgewater,  Va. 


Just  what  is  the  CIR? 

No,  it's  not  a  child's  affirmation  tiiat 
we  do  indeed  exist  (See,  I  are!),  but 
the  initials  of  the  Committee  on  Inter- 
hurch  Relations  (CIR). 
Composed  of  seven  members,  this 
committee  encourages  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren  in  its  relationships 
*/vith  our  brothers  and  sisters  in  the 
wider  church. 


Its  current  objectives  are  to: 

•  promote  and  celebrate  cross-cultural 
ecumenical  partnerships  of  local  con- 
gregations; 

•  encourage  participation  in  the  World 
Council  of  Churches  "Decade  to 
Overcome  Violence"; 

•  work  with  the  American  Baptists  to 
train  and  resource  our  congregations 
undergoing  cross-cultural  transitions; 


The  Committee  on  Interchurch 
Relations  at  the  Brook  Park 
(Ohio)  Church  of  the  Brethren. 
Left  to  right,  front  row:  Joe 
Loomis,  Barbara  Cuffie,  Belita 
Mitchell,  and  Jim  Beckwith.  Back: 
Jon  Kobel  (staff  support),  Tim 
McElwee,  and  Ken  Kline  Smeltzer. 

•  communicate  and  implement  initiatives 
of  the  National  Council  of  Churches  of 
Christ  among  the  Brethren; 

•  communicate  the  work  of  the  CIR  within 
the  Church  of  the  Brethren;  and 

•  model  hospitality  toward  other 
Christians  by  inviting  residents  of  host 
cities  to  participate  in  Annual 
Conference  events  and  worship. 

At  Annual  Conference  the  committee 
will  be  hosting  the  new  general  secretary 
of  the  National  Council  of  Churches  of 
Christ,  Robert  W.  Edgar,  as  its  featured 
speaker  at  the  ecumenical  luncheon  and 
an  insight  session  on  Tuesday.  For  fur- 
ther information,  check  out  the  CIR 
website  at  www.brethren.org  in  the  exec- 
utive director's  section.— Ken  Kline  Smeltzer 


Saxton,  Pa.,  cele- 
brated the 
ontribution  of  more 
than  65  years  of  music 
on  organ  and  piano  by 
\/irginia  Cunningham 
Reed.  Old  friends, 
family  members,  and 
former  students  joined 
jlongtime  churchgoers 
!to  express  "deepest 
Hove,  appreciation. 


and  gratitude"  to  Vir- 
ginia with  a  time  of 
reflections,  and  a 
plaque  quoting  Psalm 
100  ("Make  a  joyful 
noise  to  the  Lord...") 
and  Proverbs  31:29 
("Many  women  have 
done  excellently, 
but  you  surpass 
them  all"). 


Celebrating  music.  From  left  to  right  are 
Dianne  Reed,  Virginia  Cunningham  Reed, 
end  Sarah  Q.  Malone,  pastor,  Stonerstown 
Church  of  the  Brethren. 


Dedicating  a 
peace  pole 

Palm  Sunday  afternoon 
saw  a  peace  pole  dedi- 
cation service  led  by 
pastor  Barbara  Ober  at 
the  Live  Oak  (Calif 
Church  of  the  Brethren 
The  pole  was  placed  in 
memory  of  Coy 
Cason,  who 


had  attended  the 
church  with  his  wife, 
Jo,  for  some  30  years 
before  he  died  at  the 
age  of  85.  The  pole  is 
inscribed  with  "May 
Peace  Prevail  on  the 
Earth"  in  eight  lan- 
guages. 


A  peace  memorial. 

Jo  Cason,  son-in-law  Phil 
Shepard,  and  daughter 
Sandy  Shepard  stand 
beside  the  peace  pole 
placed  in  memory 
of  Coy  Cason. 


Messenger  July  2000  E 


NEWS 


Keynote  speaker 
Andrew  Young 

signs  a  book  for 

Anni  Bender  of 

Mil  ford,  Ind. 


Andrew  Young  shares  fond 
memories  of  Camp  Mack 

Among  the  wood  rafters  and  stone  walls  and 
earth  floor  of  venerable  Miller  Auditorium,  hun- 
dreds of  Brethren  and  others  gathered  on  May 
20  for  a  celebration  of  Camp  Alexander  Mack's 
first  75  years.  The  camp,  located  in  Milford,  Ind., 
is  one  of  the  largest  outdoor  ministry  facilities  in 
the  denomination. 

Two  special  features  high- 
lighted the  event:  a  keynote 
address  from  Andrew  Young,  pres- 
ident of  the  National  Council  of 
Churches  of  Christ  and  former 
United  Nations  ambassador,  who 
spent  a  week  at  Camp  Mack  as  a 
young  adult;  and  the  unveiling  of 
a  new  Brethren  history  mural  by 
artist  Margie  Retry. 

The  afternoon  began  with  a 
hymn  sing  and  reflections  on  the 
camp's  history,  including  a  recog- 
nition    of    all     former    camp 
directors  and  present  director 
Becky  Ball-Miller,  then  moved 
into  Young's  address.  Young  told 
his  personal  history,  including 
i  that  formative  week  at  Camp 
I  Mack  while  volunteering  for  a 
I  nationwide  youth  program. 

"I  don't  think  I  can  say  thank 
you  enough  for  how  much  my  life  was  influenced 
and  shaped  by  that  one  week  here,"  Young  said. 
"Something  happened  that  moved  me  in  the  right 
direction.  That  week,  while  I  did  not  know  it  at  the 
time,  helped  to  shape  my  ministry." 


Young  said  it  particularly  influenced  his  per- 
spectives on  nonviolence,  and  he  later  worked 
with  Martin  Luther  King,  Jr.  He  urged  the  camp  to 
continue  offering  such  life-changing  experiences, 
saying  "miracles  will  continue  to  be  wrought." 

Retry  then  presided  over  the  unveiling  of  the 
mural,  which  attempts  to  capture  the  past  50  years 
of  Brethren  history  as  it  joins  a  series  of  murals, 
dedicated  in  1949,  already  displayed  in  the  audi- 
torium. The  mural  shows  more  than  40  faces  of  I 
people,  along  with  logos,  buildings,  sketches,  , 
and  other  pictures.  It  was  created  on  a  very  large  i 
canvas  in  her  living  room,  with  finishing  touches  i 
added  right  up  to  minutes  before  the  celebration. 

Catching  up  with  50  years  of  church  history 
is  not  an  easy  thing,"  Retry  said.  "I  think  I  got  i 
most  of  it  on  this.  It's  busy,  but  that's  what  we 

were."— Walt  Wiltschek 


Messenger  July  2000 


Artist  Margie  Retry,  k 

right,  in  front  of  a  corner 
of  the  Brethren  history 
mural  she  created,  along 
with  her  granddaughter, 
Danelle  Wion,  who  helpec 
with  the  lettering. 


-<  A  crowd  of  supporter 

in  Miller  Auditorium  for 
the  celebration  event. 


Protests  continue  in  wake 
of  US  action  on  Vieques 

The  situation  on  the  Puerto  Rican  island  of  Vieques,  where  protesters 
were  seeking  to  bring  an  end  to  US  Navy  activity,  came  to  a  head  on 
May  4  with  the  arrival  of  US  law  enforcement  forces. 

Protesters  were  removed,  departing  peacefully,  and  bombing 
tests  and  military  maneuvers  soon  began  again.  The  protest  camps 
had  stopped  the  tests  for  more  than  a  year  following  the  death  of 
a  civilian  guard  by  stray  bombs. 

Demonstrations  continued  as  bombing  resumed,  and  Cliff  Kindy 
and  Ambrosia  Brown  of  the  Manchester  Church  of  the  Brethren 
(North  Manchester,  Ind.),  both  members  of  a  Christian  Peacemaker 
Teams  delegation,  were  among  56  people  arrested  for  trying  to  re- 
enter the  bombing  range. 

Religion  News  Service  has  reported  that  church  leaders  in  Puerto 
Rico  vowed  to  continue  fighting  for  the  US  military's  withdrawal 
from  Vieques,  and  a  demonstration  was  planned  for  the  Puerto  Rican 
capital  of  San  Juan  on  May  28.  In  addition  to  Christian  Peacemaker 
Teams,  other  US  Brethren  and  individuals  from  Church  of  the  Brethren 
congregations  in  Puerto  Rico  have  been  involved  in  the  protests. 


BBT  board  holds  busy 
spring  meetings 

The  Brethren  Benefit  Trust 
board  addressed  issues  from 
insurance  to  charitable  gifts  at 
its  spring  meetings  in  Elgin,  III. 
Business  items  included: 

•  Shifting  all  employees, 
programs,  and  assets  currently 
under  BBT  to  BBT,  Inc.,  or  the 
Brethren  Foundation,  Inc.,  to 
provide  legal  protection.  BBT 
will  continue  to  report  activi- 
ties of  its  incorporated  entities 
to  Annual  Conference. 

•  An  update  on  group  life 
insurance,  with  exploration  of 
a  new  carrier  due  to  an 
impending  large  rate  increase 
from  Aetna  US  Healthcare. 

•  Approval  of  a  policy  stating 
that  those  Brethren  Pension 
Plan  members  who  retire 


before  age  59  1/2  and  choose  to 
annuitize  the  employer  portion 
of  their  account  while  with- 
drawing the  employee  portion, 
and  subsequently  paying  the 
income  tax  due  on  that  account, 
will  have  a  six-month  waiting 
period  before  they  are  eligible 
to  resume  contributing  into  a 
new  pension  plan  account. 

•  Giving  updates  on  Flex- 
Care  participation  (781  people 
as  of  May  1),  Clergy  Consulta- 
tion Service,  charitable  gift 
annuity  registration  (which  the 
Brethren  Foundation  can  now 
receive  in  31  states),  the 
Church  Workers  Assistance 
Plan,  and  three-year  priorities. 

•  Approval  of  a  change  that 
allows  charitable  gift  funds  under 
$50,000  to  accumulate  invest- 
ment earnings,  and  approval  of  a 
new  minimum  investment  of 


$10,000  (up  from  $2,000). 

•  Approval  of  allowing  up  to 
100  percent  of  the  taxable  por- 
tion of  a  minister's  long-term 
disability  income  to  be  eligible 
for  a  housing  allowance  exclu- 
sion, beginning  in  2000. 

•  Nominating  candidates  for 
three  BBT  Board  of  Trustees 
positions  up  for  election  this 
year,  one  to  be  elected  by  Annual 
Conference  and  two  by  BBT  Pen- 
sion Plan  members  (one  of  those 
to  represent  churches  and  dis- 
tricts and  one  to  represent 
retirement  home  communities). 


Church  membership 
down  from  1998 

The  Church  of  the  Brethren  lost 
more  than  1.2  percent  of  its  mem- 
bership in  1999, according  to 
statistics  to  be  printed  in  the  2000 
Yearbookfrom  Brethren  Press. 

Membership  in  the  US  and 
Puerto  Rico  at  the  end  of  1999 
was  138,304,  a  drop  of  1,707 
from  the  previous  yean  That  fol- 
lows a  net  loss  of  1,389  members 
(about  1  percent)  in  1998. 

It  marks  the  largest  decrease, 
in  both  number  and  percentage, 
since  1994,  when  membership 
showed  a  net  loss  of  2,431  for 
the  previous  year.  Overall  mem- 
bership is  down  about  8,400 
(5.7  percent)  since  1993.  Num- 
bers are  approximate,  and 
based  on  information  provided 
by  churches  that  return  annual 
statistical  reports. 

Numbers  of  the  Ekklesiyar 
Yan'uwa  a  Nigeria  (the  Church  of 
the  Brethren  in  Nigeria),  mean- 
while, now  stand  nearly  equal  to 
those  of  its  US  sister  denomina- 
tion. Estimates  put  EYN 
membership  at  130,000  to 
140,000.  The  Church  of  the 
Brethren  also  has  approximately 
600  international  members  in 
the  Dominican  Republic. 


BRETHRENSPEAK 

As  we  live  into 

a  new  century 

an(d  move 

ever  closer  to 

the  300th 

birthday  of  our 

denonnination, 

it  is  vital  that 

we  celebrate 

the  gifts  of  all 

of  God's 

children. 

Christy  Waltersdorff 


Christy  Waltersdorff  Is 

pastor  of  the  York  Center 

Church  of  the  Brethren, 

Lombard,  III. 

Quoted  from  Resources 

for  Calling  Ministerial 

Leadership,  the  latest 

packet  of  materials  in  the 

In  Our  Midst  series.  This 

congregational  resource, 

sent  free  to  all  churches, 

is  available  from 

Brethren  Press. 


Messenger  July  2000 


INEWS 


UPCOMINGEVENTS 

July  2-@  National 
Youth  Spiritual 
Growth  Camp,    The 

God-Centered  Life,"  at 
Shepherd's  Spring  Out- 
door Ministries  Center, 
Sharpsburg,  Md. 

July  6-10  Western 
Regional  Youth 
Conference  at 

University  of  La  Verne 
(Calif.).  Theme: 
"Peace  Together  a 
Future  with  Love." 

July  9-15  Great 
Plains  Song  &  Story 
Fest  at  Camp  Pine 
Lal<e,  Eldora,  Iowa. 
Theme:  "Celebrating 
the  Fruits  of  the  Land." 

July  15-19  Annual 
Conference,  Kansas 
City,  Mo.  Theme:  "Love 
As  I  Have  Loved  You." 

July  19-20  Ministers' 
Association  meet- 
ing, Kansas  City,  Mo. 
Theme:  "Interactive 
Preaching." 

July  28-30  Brethren 
Revival  Fellowship 
"Brethren  Alive 
2000"  conference 

at  Elizabethtown  (Pa.) 
College  (Brethren  Bible 
Institute  follows  July 
31-Aug.4). 


Manchester  hosts 

youth  conference 

Small  groups,  music,  work- 
shops, and  inspirational 
speal<ers  ranked  as  favorites 
for  more  than  170  youth  and 
advisors  who  gathered  at 
Manchester  College  (North 
Manchester,  Ind.),  for  the 
Midwest's  Regional  Youth 
Conference. 

Participants  said  highlights 
included  small-group  ses- 
sions led  by  Manchester 
students,  workshops  on  sub- 
jects from  dating  to  athletics 
to  prayer,  and  campus  Peace 
Week  activities  that  were 
available  to  RYC  participants 
during  free  time,  such  as  ulti- 
mate frisbee,  tie-dying,  and  a 
variety  of  musical  perfor- 
mances. 

They  also  applauded  the 
musical  leadership  of  Joseph 
Helfrich,  Ron  Bohannon,  and 
Brett  Clark  and  the  creative 


Sudanese  celebrate 

during  last  year's  peace 

conference.  A  similar 

conference  in  May 

helped  move  the  peace 

process  forward. 


keynote  addresses  from  Frank 
Ramirez  and  Chris  Douglas. 
Ramirez  put  on  a  large  card- 
board box  with  holes  for  head 
and  arms  to  introduce  his  ses- 
sion, and  Douglas  used  a  clip 
on  "kids  doing  things  to  make 
a  difference"  from  the  Oprah 
Winfrey  show. 


Michael  Good,  a  youth  at 
the  Manchester  Church  of  the 
Brethren,  wrote  a  theme 
song  for  the  weekend.  This 
year's  theme  was  "Things 
Not  Yet  Seen."  Next  year's 
RYC  at  Manchester,  in  April 
2001,  will  feature  performer 
Ken  Medema. 


Dramatic  breakthrough  achieved 
in  Sudanese  peace  process 

Reports  from  Africa  said  another  "dramatic  breakthrough"  was 
achieved  in  the  peace  process  of  war-torn  southern  Sudan  with 
the  East  Bank  Nilotic  People-to-People  Peace  and  Reconciliation 
Conference,  held  May  9-15  in  the  Upper  Nile  village  of  Liliir. 

More  than  250  traditional  and  civil  leaders  representing 
members  of  the  region's  Anyuak,  Dinka,  Jie,  Kachipo,  Murle, 
and  Nuer  ethnic  groups  came  together  for  the  conference,  facili- 
tated by  the  New  Sudan  Council  of  Churches.  Mark  Sloan, 
working  with  the  New  Sudan  Council  of  Churches  on  behalf  of 
the  General  Board,  was  among  those  attending. 

The  conference,  which  follows  a  similar  event  on  the  West 
Bank  of  the  Nile  held  last  year  [see  Messenger,  June  1999],  func- 
tioned as  a  forum  for  people  to  face  each  other,  discuss  their 
differences,  and  agree  to  reconcile  and  make  peace.  Practical 
agreements  were  made  on  issues  such  as  access  to  animal  graz- 
ing areas  and  water  points,  and  the  return  of  abducted  children 
and  women.  Participants  also  agreed  on  an  amnesty  for  all  prior 
offenses  against  people  and  their  property. 

The  conference  concluded  with  the  making  of  a  public  covenant 
between  the  ethnic  groups,  when  129  representatives  signed  a  com- 
prehensive document  pledging  peace  and  reconciliation.  Delegates 
urged  the  peace  process  to  continue  and  include  other  groups. 


Messenger  July  2000 


onnect  the  Dots 

Things  are  different 


The  Association  of  Brethren  Caregivers 
has  been  an  independent  organization 
since  January  1,  1998. 

ABC  became  an  official  denominational 
agency  on  July  3,  1998. 

Annual  Conference  charged  ABC  with 
responsibility  for  the  health  and  caring 
ministries  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren 
on  July  3,  1998. 

Most  ABC  programs  are  congregationally 
based. 

ABC  needs  financial  support  from  you 
and  your  congregation  to  continue 
these  programs. 

ABC  does  not  receive  financial  support 
from  any  other  denominational  agency. 


ABC  connects  to  you  and  your 
congregation  by  providing: 

•  National  Older  Adult  Conference 
and  Caring  Ministries  Assembly 

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•  Annual  Health 
Promotion 
Worship  and 
study  Resources 

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pubLication 
for  caregivers 

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with  visual  impairments 

•  Scholarships  and  Loans  for 
studies  in  the  Health  Professions 


«The  only  way  you  and  your  congregation  can  financially 
support  the  caring  ministries  of  the  Church  of  the 
-1     Brethren  is  to  send  that  support  directly  to  ABC. 


Support  the  Assodation  of  Brethren  Caregivers 

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by  Walt  Wiltschek 

A  friend  of  mine  called  camp  her  "magic 
place."  When  she  was  growing  up,  it  was 
a  place  where  she  could  leave  behind  distractions 
and  stress  and  other  less  pleasant  parts  of  life,  it 
was  a  place  where  she  felt  surrounded  by  a  sup- 
portive community.  And  it  was  a  place  where, 
more  than  anywhere  else,  she  felt  close  to  God. 


Something  about  spending  a  week  at  camp 
brings  a  new  focus  to  life,  and  for  many 
people,  those  effects  seem  to  linger.  The  expe- 
riences under  that  forest  cathedral  urge 
forward  our  faith  and  our  sense  of  call  in  often 
surprising  ways. 

I  know  that  my  own  call  to  ministry  would 
likely  not  have  happened  had  I  not  been  coaxed 
and  prodded  into  joining  the  staff  at  Camp  Eder  in 
southern  Pennsylvania.  I  entered  the  summer  anx- 


Messenger  July  2000 


B 


While 

appreciation  of 

nature  forms 

an  innportant 

part  of  cannp,  it 

is  the  spiritual 

environnnent  of 

Christian 

community  and 

openness  to 

God's  presence 

that  truly 

makes  camp  a 

special  place. 


ious  for  the  eight  weeks  to  be  over  and  left  wishing 
they  could  go  on  forever.  I  saw  the  lives  of  both 
children  and  counselors  touched  and  changed.  I 
felt  my  own  passion  for  ministry  awakened  and 
crystallized  as  God  worked  through  my  time  there. 

As  I've  gone  on  to  work  and  volunteer  at 
several  camps  and  in  other  ministries  of  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren,  I've  heard  many  simi- 
lar sentiments  expressed.  Somehow,  some  way, 
God's  spirit  speaks  to  people  loudly  amid  the 
quiet  places  of  camp. 

"I  think  ministry  happens  in  very  tangible 
ways,"  said  Demetra  Heckman,  in  her  fifth  year  as 
program  director  at  Camp  Swatara  in  Bethel,  Pa., 
and  current  chair  of  the  denomination's  Outdoor 
Ministries  Association.  "It's  intentional,  because 
we  are  a  Christian  camp  . . .  and  ministry  happens 
at  camps  by  the  community  that  we  create." 

Heckman  said  the  opportunity  for  children 
and  youth  from  all  backgrounds  to  interact  one- 
on-one  and  in  small  groups  with  Christian  adults, 
both  paid  staff  and  the  countless  volunteers,  is 
particularly  valuable.  She's  seen  children  open  up 
more  and  more  with  stories  of  violence,  illness, 
losing  a  parent  or  a  friend,  or  other  inner  pains. 

"Children  are  hurting  a  lot  more,"  she  said. 
"When  they  come  to  camp,  it's  an  environment 
where  they  can  share  what's  making  them  hurt 
and  feel  supported.  The  adults  are  here  to  listen 
to  the  kids  and  heal  their  hurts.  It's  a  safe  envi- 
ronment where  children  can  feel  God  moving  in 
that  community,  often  much  safer  than  they'd 
feel  at  home." 

The  Church  of  the  Brethren  has  long  valued 
camps  as  a  means  of  reaching  out,  especially  to 
children  and  youth.  The  church  camps  as  we 
know  them  today  began  in  the  1920s,  starting 
with  Western  Pennsylvania's  Camp  Harmony 


and  Pacific  Southwest's  Camp  La  Verne  in 
1923-24,  and  exploded  through  the  1930s, 
according  to  the  Brethren  Encyclopedia. 

The  Church  of  the  Brethren  Yearbook  pub- 
lished by  Brethren  Press  now  lists  33  camps 
and  outdoor  ministry  facilities  across  the 
denomination.  Some  of  them  are  large,  year- 
round  retreat  centers,  and  others  offer 
programs  for  just  a  few  weeks  during  the 
summer,  but  all  continue  to  work  at  providing  a 
unique  ministry  in  their  respective  areas. 

"Camp  has  shaped  who  I  am  and  what  I  want 
to  be,"  said  Tracy  Stoddart,  who  attended  Camp 
Colorado  and  now  serves  as  a  Brethren  Volunteer 
Service  worker  in  the  BVS  office.  "As  an  adult, 
time  at  camp  renews  and  strengthens  my  faith  each 
year.  I  think  the  value  of  camp  is  immeasurable." 

Stoddart  said  she  values  both  the  strong 
friendships  and  experiences  she  gained  as  a 
camper  and  the  weeks  she  later  worked  as  a 
counselor,  helping  lead  her  to  a  degree  in  ele- 
mentary education. 

Rebekah  Houff,  a  youth  from  Bethel,  Pa., 
has  always  had  camp  as  a  part  of  her  life,  since 
her  father,  Marlin,  is  a  camp  director.  Even  so, 
she  said  it  has  remained  special.  She  plans  to 
serve  as  a  junior  counselor  at  Brethren  Woods 
in  Keezletown,  Va.,  this  summer. 

"You  learn  so  much  about  God,  make  great 
friends,  and  spend  a  wonderful  week  in  the 
midst  of  God's  creation,"  Houff  said.  "Camp 
always  changes  me  spiritually." 

Molly  Ault,  a  youth  from  Hanover,  Pa., 
echoed  those  feelings.  "Words  cannot  explain 
how  much  my  soul  is  rejuvenated  after  just  a  week 
there,"  she  said.  "My  faith  level  is  skyrocketed, 
my  mood  is  lightened,  and  all  I  want  to  do  when  I 
get  home  is  sing  praise  songs  and  spread  the  word 
of  God.  I  feel  closest  to  the  Lord  when  I'm  at 
camp,  and  if  I  could,  I'd  live  there  simply  because 
of  that.  Camp  affects  my  life  in  so  many  positive 
ways  that  I  can't  begin  to  count  them  all." 

■  amp  has  changed  many  people  over  the 
^^years.  General  Board  executive  director 
Judy  Mills  Reimer  said  her  time  at  Camp  Bethel 
in  southern  Virginia  was  pivotal  to  her  faith  and 
call  to  ministry,  calling  it  a  "24-hour-a-day,  seven- 
day-a-week,  life  laboratory,  where  I  could  practice 
the  Christian  values  and  Jesus'  teachings  with 
others  learning  with  me."  Randy  Yoder,  now  dis- 
trict executive  in  Middle  Pennsylvania,  said  it  was 
a  week  as  a  counselor  at  Indiana's  Camp  Alexan- 
der Mack  where  he  found  his  "Yes,  Lord,  here  am 
I"  becoming  much  clearer. 


I^J  Messenger  July  2000 


Robert  Blake,  who  now  works  with  the  Asso- 
ciation of  Brethren  Caregivers,  grew  up  in  the 
camps  of  another  denomination  but  said  the 
community,  diversity,  challenges,  and  support  he 
found  there  led  him  to  later  become  a  minister 
when  he  joined  the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  "I 
remember  being  affirmed  with  a  strength  and  to  a 
depth  that  brought  Christ's  spirit  alive,"  Blake 
said.  "1  learned  that  one  week  in  the  summer 
could  influence  the  whole  rest  of  my  year." 

Annual  Conference  moderator  Emily  Mumma 
said  Camp  Sugar  Grove  in  Ohio  was  a  place 
where  "opportunity  was  granted  and  encourage- 
ment given  to  try  my  wings  doing  new  things, 
even  be  a  leader.  It  was  a  'safe'  place  to  fail."  She 
said  it  was  also  where  she  really  learned  to  pray. 

And  former  UN  ambassador  Andrew  Young, 
now  president  of  the  National  Council  of 
Churches,  said  during  a  speech  at  Camp  Mack's 
75th  anniversary  celebration  that  a  week  at  Camp 
Mack  strongly  influenced  his  life,  and  such  expe- 
riences can  continue  to  influence  others. 

■'You've  created  an  environment  for  the 
presence  of  the  church  in  the  lives  of  young 
people,  for  the  Holy  Spirit  to  be  revealed  in 
prayer,  singing,  camaraderie,  and  Bible  study 


that  goes  on  here,"  Young  said.  "You  can  never 
anticipate  what's  going  to  come  of  it." 

And  therein  lies  the  heart  of  outdoor  min- 
istry. While  appreciation  for  the  physical 
environment  of  nature  forms  an  important  part 
of  camp,  it  is  the  spiritual  environment  of 
Christian  community  and  openness  to  God's 
presence  that  truly  makes  camp  a  special  place 
of  transformation  in  the  lives  of  so  many. 

Camp  Mack  staff  member  Phyllis  Leininger 
recently  wrote  a  book.  The  Cornfield  That  Grows 
People,  describing  the  camp's  journey  from  an 
open  field  along  a  lake  to  a  place  that  makes  a  dif- 
ference in  hundreds  of  lives.  It's  a  story  that  could 
be  recounted  in  camps  across  the  country,  and  an 
ongoing  story  with  bountiful  harvests  each  year. 

"A  lot  of  youth  do  move  on  to  other  min- 
istries, a  lot  of  other  options,"  said  Heckman, 
who  said  her  years  as  a  camper  at  Camp  Bethel 
were  a  major  influence  for  her.  "Camp  is 
really  the  place  where  seeds  are  planted 
for  their  life  in  the  church  as  they  grow." 


52 


I  learned  that 
one  week  in  the 
sumnner  could 
influence  the 
whole  rest  of 
my  year. 


Walt  Wiltschek  is  manager  of  news  services  for  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren  General  Board  and  spent  four  summers  on  staff  at  Camp 
Eder  in  Fairfield,  Pa.,  plus  volunteer  stints  at  Camp  Mardela  and 
Shepherd's  Spring  in  Maryland. 


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Comnmnity 


Messenger  July  2000 


HONDURAS: 

^  EMPOWERING 


Howard  Royer 


Upon  the  launching  of 
the  Christian  Commis- 
sion for  Development 
(Comision  Cristiana  de 
Desarwllo)  in  Honduras 
in  1982,  death  threats  to 
staff  were  frequent.  In 
that  volatile  era,  assist- 
ing Salvadoran  refugees 
massed  on  the  country's 
western  border  and 
defending  the  rights  of 
the  poor  did  not  win 
CCD  many  laurels. 

In  fact,  Noemi 
Espinoza,  one  of  the 
founding  staff  members, 
spent  time  in  exile  in 
the  US  during  that 
tumultuous  beginning. 
Contrast  that  to  1999, 
when  Espinoza,  as  exec- 
utive president  of  CCD, 
received  her  country's 
National  Human  Rights 
Award.  CCD,  the  joint 
effort  of  Protestant 
churches,  and  Caritas, 
the  Roman  Catholic 
social  ministry,  were 
commended  jointly  for 
their  outreach  to  the 
most  needy  and 
excluded  of  Hondurans. 

Church  of  the  Brethren 
connections  with  CCD 
go  back  to  its  beginnings, 
when  Dan  McFadden  and 
Steve  Newcomer  were  in 
Brethren  Volunteer 
Service  working  with 
Salvadoran  refugees  in 
Honduras,  it  was  in  that 


era  and  region,  too,  that 
Yvonne  Dilling  was  lifting 
up  the  cause  of  Salvado- 
ran refugees  through 
Witness  for  Peace.  Out 
of  that  encounter  she 
co-authored  the  award- 
winning  book  In  Search 
of  Refuge. 

In  1988  David  Rad- 
cliff  set  up  the  first 
international  workcamp 
with  CCD,  even  before 
he  joined  the  General 
Board  staff.  For  most  of 
the  past  dozen  years  he 
has  led  annual  workcamp 
groups  to  CCD -related 
projects  in  Honduras. 

Before  Hurricane 
Mitch  struck  late  in 
1998,  CCD's  outreach 
centered  on  1 13  rural 
communities  in  the  poor- 
est areas  of  the  country. 
In  each  community  its 
staff  trained  a  represen- 
tative group  of  villagers 
to  analyze  problems  and 
define  solutions. 

Since  Mitch,  the 
agency's  work  has 
expanded  to  400  villages 
and  to  Tegucigalpa,  the 
capital,  where  CCD  is 
headquartered.  Enabling 
the  expansion  was  the 
responsiveness  of  the 
international  Christian 
community  in  sending 
volunteers  and  money. 
The  CCD  budget  over 
the  current  two-year 


"The  poor 
possess  a 
tremendous 
capability  to 
solve  their 
own  prob- 
lems. Our 
task  is  to 
accompany 
them." 


period  is  $1  5  million. 

Beginning  with  the 
medical  team  that  was  dis- 
patched in  November 
1 998  by  the  General 
Board  to  assist  survivors 
of  Hurricane  Mitch, 
Brethren  have  maintained 
an  active  presence  in  Hon- 
duras. In  follow-up  to 
hurricanes  Georges  and 
Mitch  in  Central  America 
and  the  Caribbean,  Gen- 
eral Board  programs  have 
invested  over  half  a  million 
dollars.  Some  50  Brethren 
have  joined  the  work 
brigades  in  Honduras 
since  last  August.  Church 
of  the  Brethren  women  are 
being  recruited  by  the 


Brethren  Witness  office 
for  a  Faith  Expedition  to 
Honduras  this  November. 
And  three  projects 
there  are  seeking  the 
placement  of  BVSers. 

Individual  Brethren 
are  also  involved.  Harold 
Metzler,  a  builder  from 
Memorial  Church  in 
Martinsburg,  Pa.,  and 
his  sons  have  designed 
and  built  prototype 
housing  in  Honduras. 
Others  from  Memorial 
church  have  worked  in 
health  and  service  min- 
istries there.  For  over  25 
years  Chet  Thomas,  a 
Church  of  the  Brethren 
member  and  former 
Church  World  Service 
director  in  Honduras, 
has  given  leadership  to 
Project  Global  Village, 
an  enterprise  of  interest 
especially  to  his  home 
district.  Western  Penn- 
sylvania. In  1994-95 
BVSers  David  and  Adela 
See  of  the  Shenandoah 
District  worked  with 
Project  Global  Village. 

For  CCD  and  its 
partner  churches,  the 
focus  goes  far  beyond 
such  hurricane  recovery 
efforts  as  rebuilding 
houses  and  bridges  that 
were  washed  away. 
The  larger  challenge  is 
long-term  development, 

continued  on  page  21 


Messenger  July  2000 


AFTER  MITCH, 

VISIONS  OF  HOPE 


'aui  Jefftev  CCD 


After  the  waters  of  Hurricane 
Mitch  lashed  the  countryside  for 
a  week  in  the  fall  of  1998,  Hon- 
durans  faced  an  overwhelming 
task.  Especially  the  poor  and  the 
marginalized.  Their  challenge 
went  beyond  the  recovery  of 
homes,  land,  and  income,  to  the 
shaping  of  a  more  hopeful  future. 
In  the  nearlv  two  vears 


since,  400  ravaged  communi- 
ties have  been  transformed 
through  the  efforts  of  the 
Christian  Commission  for 
Development  (CCD).  The 
Church  of  the  Brethren  is 
among  CCD's  long-time  part- 
ners helping  Honduras'  poor 
glimpse  what  God's  justice 
and  love  means  for  them. 


Hondurans  know  well  how  water 
can  both  ravish  and  replenish 


Messenger  July  2000 


B 


by  Howard  Royer 


For  CCD 
the  focus  is 
on  working 
with,  not  for, 
the  poor 


BUILDING 

HOMES  AND 
RELATIONSHIPS 


In  the  language  of 
friendship,  no 
translation  is 
required.  Below, 
Sarah  Shank  with 
Honduran  friends 
in  I  990  workcamp. 


Within  days  of  Mitch's 
fury,  the  trust  estabhshed 
between  the  Church  of 
the  Brethren  and  CCD 
enabled  Yvonne  DiUing  to 
coordinate  the  first  group 
of  Brethren  volunteers — 


11  Spanish-speaking  med- 
ical workers — to  enter 
disaster  communities  in 
southern  Honduras,  sup- 
ported by  the  Emergency 
Disaster  Fund. 

Since  October  1998 
Brethren  have  contributed 
over  Haifa  million  dollars 
for  hurricane  relief  in 
Central  America  and  the 
Caribbean.  Over  the  past 
year,  more  than  50 
Brethren  volunteers  have 
helped  build  houses  in 
southern  Honduran  vil- 
lages, working  under 
auspices  of  the  General 
Board,  CCD,  and  Church 


World  Service. 

"Even  in  the  face  of 
urgent  needs  caused  by 
Mitch,  CCD  keeps  the 
focus  on  building  rela- 
tionships over  building 
houses,"  noted  Merv 
Keeney,  director  of 
Global  Mission  Partner- 
ships for  the  General 
Board.  "Rather  than 
working /or  people  in 
need,  participants  return 
with  a  strong  sense  of 
having  worked  with  the 
people,  a  style  that 
inspires  hope  and  renewal 
within  both  Hondurans 
and  visiting  workers." 


?1  Messenger  July  2000 


ielina  Hernandez,  front,  works  on  her  own  home  with  help  of  neighbor.  Organized  by  CCD  and  local  pastors,  their  women's  group  erected  22  houses  in  Tegucigalpa. 


.'liana  Juarez,  front  center,  cuts  ribbon  at  doorway  of  her  new 
me  she  and  other  women  built  in  Tegucigalpa,  aided  by  CCD. 


For  10  years.  Church  of  the  Brethren  workcampers  have  assisted  with  CCD  projects  in  Honduras. 
Since  last  August,  50  Brethren  volunteers  have  helped  build  houses,  mostly  along  the  southern  coast. 


Messenger  July  2000 


nl 


Brethren 
grants  boost 
livestock 
development 
in  villages 


PROMOTING 
SUSTAINABLE 
DEVELOPMENT 


Rapid  deforestation  aggra- 
vated the  Mitcii  disaster. 
The  steep  slopes  and  river 
valleys  no  longer  have  the 
abilit\'  to  absorb  vast 
amounts  of  water.  Villages 
like  El  Estribo  along  the 


away — people,  houses,  live- 
stock, tillable  land. 

Last  year  in  a  pilot  pro- 
ject with  CCD,  the  General 
Board's  Global  Food  Crisis 
Fund  provided  $5,000  for 
the  women's  group  in  El 


Choluteca  River  were  swept         Estribo  to  purchase  pigs 


and  chickens.  Providing 
food  and  income,  the  live- 
stock project  was  a  marked 
success.  This  year  the 
Brethren  hunger  program 
has  allocated  $42,000  to 
help  800  other  women 
in  dozens  of  southern 
Honduran  \illages  acquire 
small  livestock. 

Small-scale  development 
in  poor,  rural  communi- 
ties is  addressed  by  CCD 
in  a  host  of  practical  ways. 
With  each,  CCD's 
approach  to  change  is  for 
the  poor  to  become  sub- 
jects of  their  own  history, 
rather  than  objects  of 
someone  else's  planning. 


CCD  helps  farmers  adopt  sustainable  a. 


Messenger  July  2000 


ctices,  soil  conservation,  improved  seed  stock,  and  better  storage  and  marl<eting. 


Juana  Ramon  Munquilla  beside  her  new  chicken  house  in  El  Estribo. 


Reforestation  project  in  Ocotepeque  enlists  intergenerational  support. 


unity  where  small  livestock  donated  by  Brethren  has  helped  reinvigorate  village  life. 


Messenger  July  2000 


Circles  of 
women 
marshal 
support  for 
one  another 


NURTURING 
CIRCLES  OF 


In  mobilizing  the  margin- 
alized, CCD  is  particularly 
focused  on  the  powerless- 
ness  and  victimization  of 
women.  It  places  a  premium 
on  projects  that  augment 
household  incomes.  It 
assists  women  in  building 
their  own  homes.  In  its 
village  development 


programs,  CCD  requires 
that  women  make  up  half 
of  all  committees.  And  it 
quietly  but  determinedly 
tackles  issues  of  abuse  and 
domestic  violence. 

A  new  venture  is  an 
organizational  model 
called  circulos  de  arnicas — 
"circles  of  women 

friends."  A  circle  is 
formed  by  up  to  12 
neighboring  women 
P^  -;        who  provide 
emotional 


and  social  support  for  one 
another.  More  than  200  cir- 
cles now  operate,  El  Estribo 
being  a  prime  example. 

CCD  itself  is  a  model  of 
women  in  leadership.  The 
executive  president  is 
Noemi  Espinoza,  a  found- 
ing member  who  last  year 
on  behalf  of  CCD 
received  Honduras' 
Human  Rights  Award. 

Among  other  women 
in  leadership  is  Valle 
sector  coordinator  Patri- 
cia Mendez,  whose 
oversight  covers  78 
villages  in  three  states. 
Mendez  is  24  years  old. 


Noemi  Espinoza  receives  Honduras'  Human  Rights  Award  from  LeoValladares. 


Valle  sector  coordinator  Patricia  Mendez  (left)  with  Paula  Suazo  in  El  Estribo. 


Brethren  and  Honduran  volunteers  at  El  Estribo  project  in  August  1999. 


!D's  revolving  loan  fund  helps  villagers  form  cooperatives  and  market  products. 


Messenger  July  2000 


d: 


At  Nacaome  and  throughout  Honduras,  the  Christian  community  lifts  up  the  abundant  life  in  Christ  promised  to  all  of  God's  children. 

LIBERATING        #& 
HANDS  &  HEARTS 


The  goal  of 
CCD  and 
partners: 
empowering 
God's  people 


A  key  effort  of  CCD  is  training 
church  leaders  in  pastoral  care 
and  congregational  development. 
Theological  training  runs  the 
gamut  from  grassroots  programs 
for  the  newly  literate  to  advanced 
degrees  for  pastors  and  teachers. 
On  the  heels  of  Mitch,  church 
leaders  sensed  the  urgency  of 
helping  survivors  deal  with 
insecurity  and  low  self-esteem. 
Many  children,  for  example. 


were  afraid  to  go  near  the  river 
Some  230  pastoral  leaders 
were  trained  in  handling 
post-traumatic  stress. 

Through  the  churches' 
presence  in  Hon- 
duras, God's  spirit  is  at  work 
mobilizing  communities, 
opening  doors,  and  liberating 
hands  and  hearts. 

Christ  statue  overlooking  Teguclgalpi 


TJ  Messenger  July  2000 


continued  from  page  12 

Noemf  Espinoza  empha- 
sizes, helping  comm- 
unities change  the  way 
that  power  is  directed 
and  exercised. 

"The  poor  possess  a 
tremendous  capability  to 
solve  their  own  problems," 
insists  Espinoza.  "Our 
task  is  to  accompany 
them.  If  they're  not  the 
ones  to  rebuild  their  com- 
munities, to  participate  in 
making  decisions  about 
their  lives,  then  we  have 
no  Future  as  a  country." 

Espinoza  is  deeply 
grateful  to  the  churches 
and  relief  agencies  around 
the  world  that  support 
CCD's  ministry  and  who, 
in  her  words,  "recognize 
Christ  in  each  woman  and 
man  who  struggles  to 
defend  their  rights  and 
the  rights  of  others." 

Merv  Keeney,  director 
of  Global  Mission  Partner- 
ships, affirms  CCD's 
theme,  "Empowering 
Cod's  People,"  as  one  that 
resonates  with  the  com- 
mitment of  the  Church  of 
the  Brethren.  "We  rejoice 
in  the  opportunities  God 
has  laid  before  us  for  min- 
istry in  one  of  Latin 
America's  poor  yet 
promising  countries," 
Keeney  states. 

Two  occasions  are  at 
hand  for  Brethren  to 
strengthen  their  under- 
standing of  the  churches' 
work  in  Honduras. 
In  mid-|uly,  Noemf 
Espinoza  will  be  a  guest 
and  a  presenter  at  Annual 
Conference  in  Kansas 
City.  On  Oct.  8,  ministry 
in  Honduras  is  the  sub- 
ject of  this  year's 
churchwide  World       FTJj 
Mission  Offering.         iMiil 

This  article  is  one  of  a  senes  on  Gen- 
eral Board  ministnes.  Tfie  writer  was 
in  Honduras  earlier  tfiis  year. 


NIGHT  SOUNDS 

by  Bill  Hare 

It's  pitch  dark,  but  footsteps  are  heard  as  someone  makes  his  way  home, 
unaided  by  artificial  light  after  a  long  day  of  work  in  the  scorching  sun  in  the 
melon  fields.  Plodding  home  for  tortillas  and  beans  and  rest  from  the  long  day. 

A  rooster  crows  just  25  feet  from  my  bed — is  it  time  to  get  up?  No,  it's  8:48 
p.m.  and  soon  the  macho  call  is  heard  all  over  town  as  each  calls  his  claim  to  his 
territorial  roosting  tree. 

It's  quiet  again,  but  not  for  long,  as  a  dog  across  town  detects  an  intruder. 
Every  pooch  within  earshot  answers  the  challenge  of  my  domain! 

Several  in  our  room  have  already  succumbed  to  sleep  and  have  turned  out  the 
night  time  village  sounds  to  add  their  own  labored  breathing,  restricted  inhaling, 
as  they  rest  from  the  hot,  dusty,  uphill  labor  of  the  day. 

It's  squeak,  squeak,  squeak,  as  the  bats  that  have  spent  the  day  in  the  roof 
become  restless  and  hungry  and  venture  out  to  feast  on  those  pesky,  buzzing 
mosquitoes  that  bothered  me  a  little  while  ago. 

Quiet  again,  but  no,  that  bat  just  fluttered  against  my  mosquito  net. 

Somebody  just  walked  by  outside  and  there  go  the  roosters  again.  First  one, 
then  another,  and  soon  the  din  has  spread  again  all  over  town. 

Quiet  again,  but  not  really,  as  the  constant  sounds  reverberate  unchanging 
from  the  nearby  river.  Insect 
or  amphibian  or  both,  I  don't 
know,  but  the  haunting  night 
sound  goes  on  unchanging. 

Dogfight!  Claim  of  terri- 
tory! All  over  again,  the  dogs 
break  the  calm. 

A  nearby  baby  cries — maybe 
hungry,  maybe  sick.  It  makes  its 
announcement  in  the  universal 
language  of  crying. 

There's  that  bat  again,  still 
squeaking. 

That  rooster  with  the 
slight  upward  lilt  at  the  end  of 
his  call  just  woke  up  and  soon 
again  each  neighbor  tries  to 
outdo  the  other. 

Quiet  again.  Finally  some  sleep,  but  not  for  long,  as  one  of  our  guys  shuffles 
past,  dodging  sleeping  mats  and  suitcases,  ducking  under  ropes  holding  mosquito 
nets,  and  carefully  opening  the  squeaking  door  for  his  nightly  walk  down  the  path. 

And  so  it  goes,  through  the  long,  hot  night,  catching  sleep  when  possible. 

Before  dawn,  before  first  light,  the  nearby  pump  squeaks  and  water  flows 
from  one  of  the  four  wells  in  the  community  as  Maria  begins  the  never-ending 
task  of  carrying  water  for  her  family — uphill. 

Old  |uan  plods  by  with  the  tap,  tap,  tap  of  his  tattered  flip-flops  gently 
caressing  his  leathery  feet.  His  frayed  straw  hat,  not  needed  now,  will  protect 
him  from  the  scorching  sun  later  as  he  cuts  firewood  from  the  distant  forest  to 
load  onto  the  burro  he  leads. 

A  cow  moos,  pigs  grunt,  a  horse  neighs — it's  like  living  in  the  barnyard. 

But  that's  life  here  in  Santa  Catarina.  A  hard,  hot  life  at  the  end  of       

the  road.  It  goes  no  farther.  But  there  is  hope  here,  hope  for  a  better  Ff  ■ 

life,  a  better  tomorrow.  ■■■ 

Based  on  a  week  in  Santa  Catarina.  Honduras,  in  February  2000,  a  village  on  tfie  Nicaraguan  border.  Eight 
Brethren  were  part  of  a  Church  World  Service/CROP  group  of  volunteers  constructing  houses.  Hare  is 
manager  of  Camp  Emmaus,  Mount  Ivlorris.  III.,  and  member  of  the  Polo  (III.)  Church  of  the  Brethren. 


Messenger  July  2000 


WORKING  FOR  PEAUE  IIM  I  Hfc 


In  1984  Ron  Sider  addressed  the  World  Men- 
nonite  Conference  and  challenged  Mennonites 
to  get  serious  about  working  for  peace.  He  sug- 
gested that  Christians  start  going  into  situations 
of  conflict  to  be  a  nonviolent  witness  in  the  midst 
of  those  conflicts,  taking  the  same  risks  for  peace 
that  soldiers  take  in  war. 

Christian  Peacemaker  Teams  (CRT)  was  started 
in  1 986  as  a  response  to  that  challenge.  Although  ecu- 
menical, the  largest  numbers  of  people  involved  in  CPT 
are  Mennonites  and  Church  of  the  Brethren  people. 

CPT  has  been  in  Haiti,  the  Middle  East,  Bosnia, 
and  Chechnya,  and  has  worked  to  diffuse  tensions 
around  Native  American  communities.  At  present 
there  are  full-time  teams  in  Chiapas,  Mexico; 
Hebron,  Palestine;  and  New  Brunswick,  Canada. 
I  have  been  privileged  to  be  part  of  the  team  in 
Hebron  four  different  times  in  the  past  five  years, 
the  most  recent  this  past  winter. 

Hebron  is  mentioned  70  times  in  the  Bible.  It 
is  where  Abraham  and  Sarah  are  buried,  and  was 


the  capital  of  David's  kingdom  for  seven  years. 
Today  it  is  probably  the  most  tense  city  in  Pales- 
tine, a  city  often  mentioned  in  the  news. 

Working  with  CPT  in  Hebron  has  been  one 
way  I  have  found  to  live  out  Jesus'  call  for  us  to 
be  peacemakers,  and  to  make  a  Christian  witness 
in  a  largely  Muslim  city.  Almost  every  day  in 
Hebron  Muslims  would  ask  me  if  I  were  Muslim. 
Often  when  I  told  them  I  am  a  Christian,  a  deep 
conversation  ensued. 

CPT  is  in  Hebron,  first,  to  listen  and  to  learn. 
I  have  spent  much  time  talking  to  the  different 
factions  of  both  sides  of  the  conflict.  I  now  count 
both  Israelis  and  Palestinians  as  my  friends. 

We  are  also  in  Hebron  to  act  as  international 
observers.  We  say  we  have  the  grandmother  effect. 
There  are  things  we  will  not  do  if  our  grandmothers 
are  watching  us.  When  people  know  they  are  being 


Messenger  July  2000 


)^ 


observed,  they  tend  to  act  more  responsibly.  |ust 
having  international  observers  in  places  of  con- 
flict is  important. 

CPT  not  only  listens  and  observes,  we  also 
get  involved  in  the  conflict.  We  engage  in  nonvi- 
olent direct  action.  When  the  No.  18  bus  in 
Jerusalem  was  bombed  two  Sundays  in  a  row  a 
few  years  ago,  our  team  announced  the  we  would 
ride  the  No.  18  bus  the  next  Sunday. 

When  there  have  been  clashes  between  Israelis 
and  Palestinians,  we  have  often  stood  in  the  middle. 
One  time  our  team  prevented  Israeli  soldiers  from 
firing  their  guns  into  a  crowd  of  demonstrators, 
by  standing  in  front  of  the  guns.  We  have  sat  on 
the  roofs  of  Palestinian  homes  that  were  about  to 
be  demolished. 

Most  important,  our  actions  are  rooted  in 
prayer.  Daily  worship  and  times  of  fasting  are 
essential  to  the  work  of  our  teams  as  we  work  to 
discern  how  to  engage  the  powers  of  evil. 

Recently  the  focus  of  the  team  in  Hebron  has 
been  home  demolitions  and  land  confiscation. 
Part  of  this  work  has  been  starting  the  Campaign 
for  Secure  Dwellings  (CSD),  in  which  Palestin- 
ian families  who  face  home  demolitions  are  paired 
with  congregations  in  North  America.  These  con- 
gregations pray  for  their  partner  family,  keep  in 
contact  with  them,  and  act  as  advocates  for  them. 

Here  are  two  stories  that  illustrate  some  of 
our  work  in  Hebron. 

Love  overcomes  fear 

For  two  weeks  this  past  December,  I  lived  with  the 
Omar  and  Lamia  Sultan  family.  The  Sultans  are 
a  Palestinian  Muslim  family  whose  home  in  the 
Beqa'a  valley  east  of  Hebron  was  threatened  by 
Israeli  settlers  coming  at  night  and  terrorizing  the 
family.  The  settlers  believe  that  all  the  land  in  Pales- 
tine was  given  to  them  by  God,  and  thus  feel  justified 
in  taking  Palestinian  land  for  their  own  purposes. 

Our  team  wrestled  with  how  we  could  turn 
this  ugly  situation  into  something  beautiful.  How 
could  the  power  of  love  break  into  this  place  of 
fear  and  hate? 

On  the  evening  of  Saturday,  Dec.  25,  there  was 
a  large  settler  demonstration  at  the  Sultan  home, 
ending  with  about  100  settlers  coming  up  the  hill- 
side to  and  above  the  house  with  their  flaming  torches, 
destroying  property  and  frightening  the  family. 

The  settlers  announced  on  that  evening  that 
they  would  return  on  the  following  Tuesday  to 
demolish  the  home,  confiscate  the  property,  and 
start  construction  of  a  new  settlement  there.  This 
followed  five  days  of  round-the-clock  vigiling  in 
front  of  the  home  by  the  settlers. 

Our  team  went  on  red  alert.  We  sent  out  an  urgent 


action  call  for  people  of  good 
will  around  the  world  to  con- 
tact their  governments  and 
the  Israeli  government  to  stop 
this  impending  tragedy.  We 
asked  for  help  from  the  Israeli 
peace  movement. 

We  later  learned  that 
College  Mennonite  Church  in  Goshen,  Ind.,  sent 
approximately  75  faxes  to  the  Israeli  government 
on  behalf  of  the  Sultan  family.   College  Mennon- 
ite Church  is  paired  with  the  Sultan  family. 

By  Monday  evening,  Israeli  peace  activists 
began  to  arrive  at  the  Sultan  home  to  stand  in  sol- 
idarity with  the  Palestinian  family.  What  a  wonderful 
time  we  had  sitting  around  the  fire — Muslims, 
Jews,  and  Christians  sharing  together  in  Hebrew, 
Arabic,  and  English.  I  could  tell  the  Sultans  were 
grateful  for  the  Jewish  presence.  I  was  excited.  The 
ugly  actions  of  the  settlers  brought  people  together. 

From  the  gospel  we  learn  that  there  is  an  arro- 
gance to  the  power  of  evil.  That  arrogance  leads 
to  evil  overstepping  its  own  power.  The  powers 
of  evil  crucified  Jesus,  but  in  their  arrogance 
brought  about  their  own  defeat. 

After  a  lot  of  personal  sharing,  we  talked  about 
how  to  respond  if  the  bulldozers  came  the  next 
day  to  demolish  the  house.  A  number  of  us  were 
prepared  to  sit  in  front  of  the  bulldozers. 

On  Tuesday,  about  50  Israelis  from  Gush 
Shalom,  Rabbis  for  Human  Rights,  and  other 
Israeli  peace  groups  arrived.  There  were  other 
internationals  and  lots  of  press  there.  Soldiers 
declared  the  area  a  closed  military  zone  and  ordered 
everyone  to  leave.  No  one  left  the  area,  however, 
and  it  ended  up  that  the  Israeli  police  allowed 
everyone  to  stay.  Only  two  settlers  showed  up. 

The  next  day,  Wednesday,  a  large  group  of 
settlers  came  to  occupy  the  land,  but  were  removed 
by  the  Israeli  authorities.  I  also  was  removed  by 
the  police  from  the  area  for  a  few  hours  during 
this  time  of  removing  the  settlers.  I  returned  to 
the  Sultan  home  when  all  the  settlers  had  left. 

On  Thursday,  local  Palestinians  organized  a 
march  to  the  Sultan  home.  This  included  a  member 
and  a  former  member  of  the  Israeli  parliament,  a 
member  of  the  Palestinian  Legislative  Assembly, 
and  a  high-ranking  Muslim  official  from  Jerusalem. 
The  march  also  included  local  Palestinian  digni- 
taries and  Israeli  peace  activists. 

Although  at  first  stopped  by  Israeli  soldiers, 
the  marchers  eventually  came  to  the  house  and 
greeted  the  Sultan  family.  With  the  dignitaries 
present,  a  high-ranking  Israeli  military  official 
promised  the  Sultan  family  that  their  home  was 
safe  and  would  not  be  demolished. 

After  that  there  was  no  more  settler  activity  at 


A  new  Israeli 
settlement  is  being 
built  on  this  liill  wiiere 
tlie  rocl<  wall  was 
constructed.  On  the  hill 
used  to  be  the  orchard 
of  a  Palestinian  family 
in  the  Beqa  'a  Valley 
east  of  Hebron. 


Our  team 
wrestled 
with  how  we 
could  turn 
this  ugly 
situation  into 
something 
beautiful. 
How  could 
the  power  of 
love  break 
into  this 
place  of  fear 
and  hate? 


Messenger  July  2000  Rj 


Six  grandchildren  of 
Omar  and  Lamia  Sultan. 

They  are  looking  toward 
Hebron  across  the 
Beqa'a  Valley. 


It  was  thrilling 

to  have  Jews, 

Muslims,  and 

Christians 

sharing 

together 

around  the 

fire  in  front  of 

the  Sultan 

honne.  We 

experienced 

again  that 

peace  is 

possible  in 

this  torn  land. 


the  Sultan  home,  and  I 
then  moved  back  into  He- 
bron to  be  part  of  the 
team  there.  I  continued  to 
visit  the  Sultan  family  reg- 
ularly. They  adopted  me 
as  part  of  their  family. 

What  did  our  peace- 
maker team  do  there? 
Actually,  not  very  much. 
We  were  present  with  the 
family,  we  made  ourselves 
vulnerable  to  the  evil 
there,  we  alerted  the 
world  to  what  was  hap- 
pening, we  asked  for  help 
and  support,  we  prayed. 
Something  happened  that 
was  much  bigger  than  anything  we  did. 

It  is  exciting  to  think  of  the  results  of  this 
action.  The  Sultan  family  received  international 
attention  and,  because  of  their  being  visible,  they 
are  much  safer  now.  We  got  a  promise  from  the 
Israeli  government  that  the  home  would  not  be 
demolished.  It  is  now  less  likely  that  any  settle- 
ment will  be  built  there. 

Israelis  and  Palestinians  came  together.  It  was 
thrilling  to  have  lews,  Muslims,  and  Christians  shar- 
ing together  around  the  fire  in  front  of  the  Sultan 
home.  We  experienced  again  that  peace  is  possible 
in  this  torn  land.  The  ugly  situation  did  turn  into 
something  beautiful.  Love  overcame  fear  and  hate. 
Here  is  one  small  example  of  what  can  happen  every- 
where, if  we  would  open  ourselves  to  God's  grace. 

A  snowstorm  brings  us  together 

The  Middle  East  was  hit  by  a  major  snowstorm 
on  Jan.  27  and  28  this  year;  Israel/Palestine  received 
the  biggest  snowfall  in  many  years.  In  Hebron, 
where  they  have  a  bit  of  snow  every  few  years,  we 
were  gifted  this  time  with  about  20  inches  of  snow. 
Imagine,  snow  on  palm  trees.  I  was  delighted. 

On  Thursday,  Jan.  27,  our  peace  team  was  in 
Jerusalem  for  two  important  meetings  with  Israeli 
and  Palestinian  activists.  We  knew  a  major  storm  was 
coming,  but  the  meetings  seemed  important.  When 
we  left  Jerusalem  at  4  p.m.,  it  was  snowing  hard.  We 
also  had  to  get  through  a  massive  traffic  jam. 

As  we  were  driving  south  out  of  Jerusalem, 
the  road  was  becoming  more  and  more  covered 
with  snow,  and  at  one  point,  near  Bethlehem,  we 
had  to  get  out  and  push  our  taxi.  Soon  our  driver 


Readers  may  request  more  information  and  a 
copy  of  the  Christian  Peacemaker  Teams 
newsletter  by  writing  CPT,  P.O.  Box  6508,  Chicago, 
IL  60680.  Tel.  312-455-1 199.  E-mail  cpt@igc.org 


said  he  didn't  think  he  could  get  to  Hebron,  and 
that  he  was  going  back  to  Jerusalem.  We  decided 
to  get  out  and  start  walking  toward  Hebron,  hoping 
for  a  ride  in  the  night. 

We  started  hitchhiking.  A  pickup  truck  used  to 
transport  workers  picked  us  up.  We  sat  in  the  back 
with  two  young  Palestinians.  It  was  snowing  really 
hard.  Some  vehicles  were  stranded  by  the  side  of  the 
road.  After  a  few  miles,  the  traffic  was  barely  moving. 

Before  long  traffic  was  not  moving  at  all,  but 
we  were  having  fun.  Our  common  plight  had 
brought  us  all  together.  Palestinians,  soldiers,  set- 
tlers, and  North  American  activists  were  all  stranded, 
brought  together  by  a  snowstorm.  Our  differences 
no  longer  seemed  important.  Something  bigger 
than  us,  and  out  of  our  control,  had  brought  us 
together.  We  fight  over  things  we  want  to  control, 
but  here  was  something  none  of  us  could  control. 

People  who  otherwise  might  be  enemies  now 
were  acting  as  friends.  Settlers,  soldiers,  and  Pales- 
tinians were  helping  push  each  other's  cars,  each 
identifying  with  the  others,  all  because  of  an  act 
of  nature.  At  this  "checkpoint"  we  were  all  equal. 

After  sitting  there  for  about  two  hours,  I  sug- 
gested that  we  start  walking  the  10  miles  home  to 
Hebron.  As  we  started  walking  up  the  long,  steep 
hill,  we  understood  why  traffic  was  not  moving. 
For  over  a  mile,  cars  and  trucks  were  jammed 
together  on  the  slick  road.  No  one  could  move. 
Some  places  it  was  even  difficult  for  us  to  squeeze 
between  the  cars  and  trucks. 

At  the  top  of  the  hill  the  road  was  free,  and 
we  soon  got  a  ride  into  Hebron. 

Friday  was  a  quiet  day  in  Hebron,  except  for 
the  many  snowball  fights  in  which  I  eagerly  par- 
ticipated. I  must  admit  I  started  quite  a  few  of  the 
fights.  What  a  wonderful  way  to  break  rigid  atti- 
tudes and  patterned  responses,  and  connect  with 
people  in  a  new  way.  I  started  one  battle  with  about 
a  dozen  young  Palestinians,  all  of  them  against 
me.  Excitement  and  commonality  filled  the  air. 

The  Israeli  soldiers  were  expecially  friendly 
and  some  of  them  even  participated  in  the  snow- 
ball fights.  A  few  of  our  team  members  were 
walking  up  the  street  and  pretended  to  throw  snow- 
balls at  some  soldiers.  They  said,  no,  no.  Then 
some  other  soldiers  came  by  who  were  more  recep- 
tive to  the  idea.  Our  group  threw  some  snowballs 
near  the  soldiers,  who  then  threw  snowballs  back. 
There  were  no  arrests.  We  did  a  lot  of  joking  and 
laughing  together  with  soldiers. 

The  snow  brought  us  together,  but  unfortu- 
nately the  snow  melts  quickly  there.  The  oppression 
of  the  occupation  continues.  The  problems  there 
are  too  deep  to  be  covered  over  by  snow. 
We  were,  however,  given  another  glimpse  WfU 
of  what  can  be.  |^^ 

Art  Gish  is  a  member  of  New  Covenant  Fellowship,  an  intentional 
Christian  community  near  Athens,  Ohio.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren,  a  graduate  of  Bethany  Theological  Semi- 
nary, an  organic  farmer,  and  a  peace  activist. 


£1 


Messenger  July  2000 


CukM^i 


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Compiled  by  FRANK  RAMIREZ 


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>he  love  feast  is  based  on  a  simple  premise:  disciples  do  as  Jesus 
commands.  We  examine  our  lives,  wash  feet,  eat  a  simple  meal, 
and  take  communion.  Through  stories,  memories,  scriptures, 
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Here  is  a  glimpse  into  the  corporate  memory  of  this  central  ritual  of  our  faith. 
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'Teacher,  which  commandment  is  the  greatest?"  Jesus  said 

to  him,  "You  shall  love  the  Lord  your  God  with  all  your 

heart,  and  with  all  your  soul,  and  with  all  your  mind. 

This  is  the  greatest  and  first  commandment, " 

Matthew  22:36-38 


Giving  God  your  heart,  soul,  and  mind  is  central  to  the 
decision  to  be  baptized  as  a  Christian  and  become  a  member 
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SI  ON 


J 


If  your 

church  is 

declining, 

give  it 
LIFE 


PBgmi^  PE 


VISION 


by  Robin  Wentworth  Mayer 

Whenever  I  walk  to  Suffern, 

along  the  Erie  track 
I  go  by  a  vacant  church  house. 

with  its  shingles  all  broken  and  black. 
I  suppose  I've  passed  it  a  hundred  times. 

but  I  always  stop  for  a  minute 
And  look  at  the  church,  the  tragic  church. 

the  church  with  nobody  in  it. 

Maybe  I'm  overly  sensitve  to  such 
things,  but  it  seems  that  no  matter 
where  1  go,  no  matter  what  route  I  take  to  get 
there,  I  invariably  drive  past  a  building  that  at 


'.^SijailWBWMIL^ 


one  time  housed  a  vital  church.  Sometimes  it's 
out  in  the  middle  of  nowhere,  just  looking  for- 
lorn and  lonely — where  the  only  signs  of  life  are 
the  birds  and  the  squirrels  in  the  adjoining  ceme- 
tery. Other  times  there's  one  on  an  abandoned 
corner  in  a  "declining"  neighborhood  with  boarded 
windows  and  "For  Sale"  signs  on  the  neglected 
lawn.  Often  you'll  see  one  that  has  been  con- 
verted into  an  antique  store  or  museum — a  resting 
place  for  obsolete  artifacts  and  outdated  relics — 
which  in  itself  is  a  chilling  commentary. 

And  every  time  I  pass  one  of  these  empty 
buildings,  I  wish  the  walls  could  talk.  "What 
happened?"  1  would  ask.  "Tell  me  how  you  came 
to  this!  Did  your  pastor  abandon  sound  doc- 
trine for  worldly  fables?  Did  a  root  of  bitterness 
spring  up  and  defile  many?  Did  temperate  living 
give  way  to  moral  turpitude?  Did  you  give  the 


Messenger  July  2000  |^ 


\A/hether 

your  church  is 

dealing  \AAith 

a  struggling 

budget, 

flagging 

morale, 

relational 

tension,  or 

disputes  over 

doctrine, 

discovering 

a  vision  is 

the  first  step 

to\A/ard 

overcoming 

those 

barriers. 


devil  a  foothold?  Did  you  exchange  the  truth 
of  God  for  a  lie? 

This  church  on  the  road  to  Suffern 

needs  a  dozen  panes  of  glass. 
And  somebody  ought  to  weed  the  walk 

and  take  a  scythe  to  the  grass. 
It  needs  new  paint  and  shingles. 

the  vines  should  be  trimmed  and  tied; 
But  what  it  needs  most  of  all 

are  people  praying  inside. 

I  know  that  sometimes  the  demographics  of 
an  area  change  enough  so  that  the  viable  need 
for  a  church  diminishes.  I  know  too  that  some- 
times a  congregation  relocates  for  positive, 
growth-related  reasons,  and  that  due  to  factors 
such  as  location,  access,  building  codes,  and 
remodeling  costs,  there's  simply  no  buyer  for  the 
vacated  building.  In  other  words,  I  acknowledge 
that  there  are  a  number  of  legitimate  reasons  for 
a  church  to  close  its  doors  and  not  every  empty 
meetinghouse  is  a  testimony  to  failure. 

But  there  are  also  far  too  many  times  that 
a  church  suffers  a  long,  slow,  painful  decline 
and  gradually  fades  away  until  all  that's  left 
is  a  building.  There  was  no  vision,  and  so  the 
people  perished. 

The  first  study  module  of  the  LIFE  (Living 
in  Faithful  Evangelism)  process  is  "Discovering 
a  Vision."  In  his  excellent  book.  Following  in  the 
Footsteps  of  Paul,  author  Ed  Bontrager  examines 
the  First-Century  churches  that  flourished  in 
what  is  now  modern-day  Turkey.  Through  short 
video  sketches,  reader -friendly  text,  and  engag- 
ing discussion  questions,  the  LIFE  curriculum 
draws  parallels  between  the  challenges  of  our 
Twenty-first-Century  congregations  with  those 
encountered  by  these  pioneer  churches.  Whether 
your  church  is  dealing  with  a  struggling  budget, 
flagging  morale,  relational  tension,  or  disputes 
over  doctrine,  discovering  a  vision  is  the  first  step 
toward  overcoming  those  barriers.  Following  in 
the  Footsteps  of  Paul  gives  biblical,  implementable 
guidance  on  how  to  do  just  that. 

In  the  18  months  since  we  began  the  LIFE 
process  at  the  Kokomo  (Ind.)  church,  we  have 
welcomed  several  new  persons  into  our  fel- 
lowship— individuals  who  previously  had  no 


church  affiliation,  and  who  were  sought  out  anc  i 
invited  by  other  church  members.  We've  experi- 
enced a  significandy  heightened  sensitivity  toward 
being  inclusive  to  newcomers.  And,  as  is  always! 
the  case,  our  new  members  have  contributed] 
much  input  and  enthusiasm  toward  creative  strate- 
gies for  outreach  that  are  helping  us  combine  thei 
twin  callings  of  service  and  evangelism. 

The  LIFE  process  is  a  two-year  commitment 
that  helps  build  disciples  for  an  eternal  kingdom.  It  I 
is  an  investment  of  about  $2,500  that  helps  focus  ' 
our  treasures  on  heavenly  values  that  thieves  cannot 
touch  and  moths  cannot  destroy.  It  is  not  a  bad  , 
return  by  any  standards. 

Churches  that  might  vote  it  down  by  saying 
"We  can't  afford  to  do  it"  should  take  a  critical 
look  at  their  membership  growth  over  the  pasti 
1 5  years,  and  project  that  trajectory  into  the  next, 
1 5  years.  Churches  learn  that  if  their  budget  is 
struggling,  their  money  problem  is  merely  a  symp- 
tom of  their  vision  problem.  In  which  case,  thei 
better  question  is:  "Can  we  afford  not  to  do  it?' 

Today,  if  you're  interested  in  visiting  thej 
once  thriving  churches  of  Asia  Minor,  youii 
have  to  hire  either  a  Muslim  tour  guide  or  an  archae-  > 
ologist.  Neither  heritage  nor  memory  sustained] 
them.  They  lost  their  vision,  and  they  perished.  | 
You  can  invest  time,  money,  and  energy  into] 
discovering  and  developing  a  vision  for  the  future,  j 
Or,  you  can  manage  your  budget  constraints  byii 
pinching  pennies  and  cutting  corners.  Then  youJ 
can  look  forward,  in  a  few  years,  to  eliminating' 
money  problems  altogether  when  you  disband  as 
a  congregation  and  sell  the  church  property. 

So  whenever  I  go  to  Suffern  along  the  Erie  Track, 

I  never  go  by  that  empty  church 

without  stopping  and  looking  back; 
Though  it  hurts  me  to  look  at  the  crumbling 

roof  and  the  shutters  fallen  apart. 
For  I  can 't  help  thinking  that  poor  old  church 

is  a  church  with  a  broken  heart. 

— adapted  from  "The  House  with  Nobody  in  It. " 
by  Joyce  Kilmer 

Robin  Wentworth  Mayer  is  pastor  of  the  Kokomo  (Ind.)  Church 
of  the  Brethren. 


ABOUT  NEW  LIFE  MINISTRIES 


The  LIFE  process  is  a  program  of  New  Life  Ministries,  a 
cooperative  initiative  among  five  Anabaptist/  believers'  church 
denominations,  including  the  Church  of  the  Brethren,  and 
one  para-church  organization.  New  Life  Ministries,  incorporated 
in  1997  as  the  successor  to  The  Andrew  Center,  provides 
materials,  consultation,  and  workshops  for  congregations  in 


the  participating  denominations  in  the  areas  of  evangelism, 
church  growth,  and  revitalization. 

S.  Joan  Hershey  is  the  coordinator  of  New  Life  Ministries. 
For  more  information,  contact  her  at  New  Life  Ministries, 
1996  Donegal  Springs  Road,  Mount  Joy,  Pa.  1  7552.  Phone: 
800-774-3360.  E-mail:  lifeminnew@aol.com.. 


6    Messenger  July  2000 


LETTERS 

^^  As  followers  of  Jesus  we  are  called 
to  another  path,  a  path  in  which  the  sword 


is  put  away,  the  dannage  healed 


## 


Canon  of  Holy  Scriptures 

Here  is  one  87-year-old  Sunday  school 
teacher  and  Bible  student  who,  in 
Christian  love  and  respect,  does  not 
agree  with  Brother  Fenton  Platter  on 
the  death  penalty  (see  May  Letters). 

But  my  main  reason  for  writing  is  to 
discuss  his  use  of  the  term  "the 
Bible."  There  is  no  such  thing  as 
'the"  Bible.  There  are  at  least  27 
major  and  recognizable  versions  of 
"The  Canon  of  Holy  Scriptures,"  not 
counting  those  translations  into  vari- 
ous languages.  Brother  Platter  says 
the  Bible  is  "to  be  believed  as  it  was 
written."  How  exactly  was  it  written? 
And  by  whom? 

Let  it  be  known  that  I,  along  with 
others,  believe  this  book  to  be  the 


greatest  piece  of  literature  ever  written. 
It  is  most  inspiring. 

Don  Snyder 

Waynesboro,  Va, 


Put  away  your  swords 

In  comment  to  the  letter  of  Brother 
Platter  [see  "Bible  and  the  death 
penalty,"  May],  we  may  find  another 
message  in  Matthew  26:51-54.  In  that 
scriptural  passage,  Jesus  tells  what  it 
means  to  be  in  the  world  but  not  of  it. 
The  follower  of  Jesus  is  told  to  put  his 
sword  back  in  its  place.  The  people  of 
Jesus  are  not  people  of  the  sword. 

Those  who  follow  the  ways  of  the 
world,  that  is  those  who  live  by  the 
sword,  will  die  by  it,  but  that  type  of 


CAREGIVING     IS 


REGIVING 


<^llurrffOlir /«,«%» 


i 


*^Caregiving  is  excellent 
and  I  hope  ABC  continues 
w^ith  the  same  terrific  content 
and  design.  Thumbs  up!  -^ 

—  R.  Kurt  Borgmann,  pastor 

Oakton  Church  of  the  Brethren,  Vienna,  Va. 

Caregiving  is  a  quarterly  publication  dedicated  to 
providing  practical  information  and  the  latest  news 
about  caring  ministries  for  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren.  Learn  about  caring  ministries  including 
deacons,  older  adults,  families,  chaplains,  retirement 
communities,  disabilities  and  whole  health. 
Subscriptions  are  available  for  $10  annually  or  at 
special  congregation  rates.  Call  ABC  to  subscribe. 


CARING    FOR 
ONE   ANOTHER 


Association  of 
Brethren  Caregivers 


1451  Dundee  Ave.,  Elgin,  IL  60120 
phone  847-742-5100   fax  847-742-5160 


justice — an  eye  for  an  eye,  a  life  for  a 
life — is  justice  of  the  world.  As  follow- 
ers of  Jesus  we  are  called  to  another 
path,  a  path  in  which  the  sword  is  put 
away,  the  damage  healed  (Luke  22:51), 
and  forgiveness  extended. 

Karen  Lefever 

Los  Angeles,  Calif. 


Pennsylvania  geography 

I  wish  to  point  out  an  error  in  the  article 
"Celebrating  a  life  full  of  Brethren 
memories,"  in  the  May  issue,  about 
Miriam  Wagner. 

She  and  I  are  both  members  of  the 
Hanoverdale  congregation  of  the  Big 
Swatara  District  of  the  Atlantic  North- 
east District.  Paxton  church  is  also  a 
part  of  our  congregation. 

Hanoverdale  is  east  of  Harrisburg 
and  about  five  miles  north  of  Hershey. 

When  Miriam  left  the  farm,  she 
moved  into  our  neighborhood,  and  we 
provided  her  transportation  to  church. 

Verna  M.  VUampler 

Hummelstown,  Pa. 


Poised  for  renewal 

Thank  you  for  the  wonderful  article 
covering  the  Renovare  conference  in 
Elizabethtown,  Pa.  The  content  and 
spirit  of  the  article  were  truly  reflective 
of  the  experience.  We  are  still  feeling 
the  results  of  the  conference,  well  after 
the  experience. 

With  this  and  similar  efforts  like  Wor- 
shipful-Work [see  June  Messenger],  as 
Brethren  we  are  getting  poised  for 
renewal.  In  this  case  there  is  further 
grounding  in  terms  of  small  Renovare 
groups  of  spiritual  encouragement, 
prayer  partnerships,  and  individuals 
taking  up  the  spiritual  disciplines. 

As  a  spiritual  renewal  team  of  the 
Atlantic  Northeast  District,  an  intentional 
emphasis  is  emerging  on  individual. 

Messenger  July  2000 


B 


"if  we  suddenly  find 
ourselves  face  to  face  with 
dying,  we  come  up  against 
ultimate  questions — After 
I  received  the  diagnosis  of 
advanced  lung  cancer,  I 
needed  to  deal  with  those 
questions  more  intensely 
than  I  ever  had  before." 

—Dale  Aukeiman 


Hope 
Beyond 
Healing 


Hope  Beyond  Healing: 
A  Cancer  Journal 

by  Dale  Aukerman  available 
now  from  Brethren  Press  for 
$14.95  P^us  shipping  and 
handling  charges. 


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(219)  982-5232 


group,  and  corporate  spiritual  growth 
being  projected  for  a  number  of  years  in 
duration.  Your  article  picked  up  so  well 
the  incremental  steps  we  take  to  con- 
tinue the  growth  and  experience  the  joy. 

Thank  you  for  an  article  that  con- 
veyed  the  real  meaning  and  excitement^ 

^^  With  Renovare  1 

and  similar  efforts, 
we  are  getting  poised 
for  renewal.  ^^ 

of  the  conference.  And  we  again  thank 
the  many,  many  persons  who  made 
this  experience  possible. 

David  S.  Young, 

Ephrata,  Pa., 

Chair,  Regional  Renovare  Conference, 

Co-chair,  District  Spiritual  Renewal  Team 


We  must  be  silent  no  longer 

I  recently  received  from  the  Brethren 
Mennonite  Council  for  Lesbian  and  Gay 
Concerns  (BMC)  a  short  document  offer- 
ing guidelines  on  how  the  church  and  its 
leaders  can  help  make  discussion  on 
homosexuality  and  other  volatile  matters 
more  productive  and  fair.  This  "Fair 
Play"  document  had  a  number  of  excel- 
lent suggestions  and  helpful  guidelines, 
including:  "Do  not  tolerate  the  use  of 
weapons"  (verbal,  written  or  otherwise), 
"Do  not  allow  hostage-taking  and 
threats,"  "Nothing  about  me  without 
me"  (borrowed  from  the  Disability  Rights 
Movement),  and  "Insist  on  educated, 
informed,  and  responsible  dialogue." 

These  guidelines  are  indeed  a  helpful 
framework  for  our  discussions,  and 
BMC  is  to  be  credited  for  its  hard  work. 
However,  I  have  to  ask — what  dia- 
logue? It  seems  that  many  of  us  are 
perfectly  content  in  sitting  back  and 
pretending  that  gay  and  lesbian 
Brethren  do  not  exist.  At  the  1993 
Wichita  Annual  Conference  delegates 
passed  a  statement  calling  the  church 
to  refrain,  for  a  period  of  five  years, 
from  bringing  to  conference  business 
items  concerning  gays  and  lesbians. 
Unfortunately,  many  took  that  state- 
ment to  mean  that  we  should  stop 


Messenger  July  2000 


LETTERS^ 

^^  I  pray  for  the  day  when  we  can  all  worship 

together  and  see  the  presence  of  God  in  each 

person,  whether  straight  or  gay,  whether  white 

or  Latino  or  African-Annerican.  ^^ 


talking  about  our  differences  too. 

The  church  must  face  its  inaction  and 
silence,  and  we  must  each  do  our  part. 
I  pray  that  we  can  begin  again  a  dia- 
logue in  which  each  of  us  can  share  our 
struggles,  our  fears,  and  our  hopes,  all 
in  an  attitude  of  mutual  love  and 
respect.  We  must  be  silent  no  longer, 
and  we  can  no  longer  pretend  that 
those  faithful  lesbian  and  gay  sisters 
and  brothers  among  us  do  not  exist. 

I,  for  one,  pray  for  the  day  when  we 
can  all  worship  together  and  see  the 
presence  of  God  in  each  person, 
whether  straight  or  gay,  whether  white 
or  Latino  or  African-American,  whether 
from  rural  Ohio  or  urban  Los  Angeles.  I 
pray  for  God  to  move  in  our  midst. 

John  Harvey 

Encinitas.  Calif- 


The  death  penalty,  Moses  to  Jesus 

The  May  Messenger  arrived  yesterday. 
As  usual  I  read  each  word  with  care.  I 
noted  a  letter  from  a  longtime  friend 
favoring  the  death  penalty.  Maybe  my 
response  will  help  him. 

Moses  was  very  heavy  for  the  death 
penalty.  I  have  gone  through  the  books 
of  Moses  with  a  marker.  I  found  many 
more  than  seven  offenses  calling  for 
the  death  penalty.  In  Exodus  21  and  22 
the  death  penalty  is  called  for  for  one 
who  strikes  father  or  mother,  one  who 
steals  a  man  for  slavery,  one  who 
curses  father  or  mother,  one  who  takes 


The  opinions  expressed  in  Letters  are  not  necessarily 
those  of  the  magazine.  Readers  should  receive  them  in 
the  same  spint  with  which  differing  opinions  are  expressed 
In  face-to-face  conversations. 

Letters  should  be  brief,  concise,  and  respectful  of  the 
opinions  of  others.  Preference  is  given  to  letters  that  respond 
directly  to  items  read  in  the  magazine. 

We  are  willing  to  withhold  the  name  of  a  writer  only 
when,  in  our  editorial  (udgment,  it  is  warranted.  We  will 
not  consider  any  letter  that  comes  to  us  unsigned. 
Whether  or  not  we  print  the  letter,  the  writer's  name  is 
<ept  in  strictest  confidence. 

Address  letters  to  Messenger  editor,  1451  Dundee 
^ve..  Elgin.  IL  60120. 


a  life,  the  owner  of  an  ox  that  gores  a 
second  person,  a  sorceress,  anyone 
having  sex  with  a  beast,  anyone  sacri- 
ficing to  any  god  but  the  Lord,  and 
anyone  afflicting  a  widow  or  orphan. 

There  are  at  least  30  more  Old  Testa- 
ment scriptures  prescribing  the  death 
penalty  for  various  offenses,  including 
being  a  prophet  or  dreamer  of  dreams 
(Deut  13:5).  If  we  should  kill  all  the 
people  Moses  wanted  to  have  killed,  the 
population  would  not  grow  so  rapidly. 

You  may  find  more.  Now  read  Exodus 
2:11-15.  When  Moses  had  killed  a  man  he 
did  not  favor  the  death  penalty.  He 
skipped  the  country  and  got  a  new  iden- 
tity. In  time  God  used  the  murderer-Moses 
as  the  leader  of  the  children  of  Israel. 

Jesus  was  thought  to  differ  from 
Moses  on  what  to  do  about  sins  in 


on 


Position  Available 


On  Earth  Peace  Assembly,  Inc.,  a  25-year- 
old  Church  of  the  Brethren  peace  educa- 
tion movement,  seeks  Executive  Director 
applicants. 

Responsibilities  include  envisioning, 
designing,  and  implementing  peace  educa- 
tion strategy  and  program. 

Experience  preferred  with  management, 
flind-raising,  and  nonviolence  education. 

Seeking  person  with  strong  commitment 
to  the  centrality  of  peace  and  reconcilia- 
tion in  the  mission  of  the  church,  and 
management  skills  consistent  with  the  val- 
ues of  nonviolence. 

For  more  information  contact  us:  OEPA, 
PO  Box  188,  New  Windsor,  MD  21776; 
oepa@oepa.org;  410-635-8704;  or 
www.  brethren .  org/oepa. 


Yes,  but . . . 

Wanda  Callahan,  a  "sister"  or  member 

in  the  Church  of  the  Brethren,  has  never 
been  one  to  wait  for  events  to  shape  her. 
Rather,  she  has  proactively  sought  to 
change  her  world. 

Thus  Callahan  has  spent  a  lifetime  as 
an  activist  in  many  areas.  In  pithy,  direct 
style,  this  book  addresses  such  areas, 
including  advocacy  for  the  poor,  for 
women  in  leadership,  and  for  prisoners 
on  death  row. 

"Wanda  Callahan's  deep  faith  and  her 
practical  understanding  of  Christian  dis- 
cipleship  shine  through  every  page  of 
this  satisfying  and  valuable  book." 

— Bob  Gross,  Coordinator,  Ministry 
of  Reconciliation,  Church  of  the 
Brethren 

Paper,  112  pages,  $8.99; 
in  Canada  $13.49 

straishttalk 

*^     nom  a 
Brethren 

sister 

Wanda  L.  Callahan  • 

Herald 
Press 

^ 

Orders:  1800  759-4447 

ww.mph.org 

Messenger  July  2000 


LETTERS  ^^^^^^^^^^m 

^^  In  recent  years  I  have  become  concerned  that 

we  are  beconning  more  like  the  Unitarians,  and 

less  like  the  New  Testament  church,  in  our  vision 

statement  and  in  our  total  faith  and  life.  ^^ 


John  8:1-8.  Jesus  knows  that  not  one 
of  us  is  sinless  enough  to  give  the 
death  penalty.  When  Jesus  was  being 
crucified  he  prayed  that  God  would 
forgive  the  ones  taking  his  life. 

Most  of  us  have  a  long  way  to  go  to 
understand  the  Jesus  way  of  dealing 
with  all  evil.  He  was  clear  in  asking  for 
a  sinless  person  to  cast  the  first  stone. 

Millions  believe  that  Jesus  knew 
God  better  than  Moses  did.  I  pray  that 
the  day  may  come  when  all  can  hear 
and  follow  the  way  of  Jesus. 

E.  Paul  Weaver 
Everett,  Pa 


Famous  vision  statements 

"Of  God,  for  God,  with  God."  This  new 
"vision  statement"  of  the  General 
Board  will  be  frequently  seen  in  our 
Brethren  publications. 

As  I  reflect  on  this  statement,  I  am 
made  aware  that  it  could  readily  be  the 
vision  statement  of  the  Jews,  or  the 
Muslims,  or  the  Unitarians,  or  of  almost 


any  religious  group  in  the  world. 

The  Gospels  and  the  New  Testament 
Church  had  as  the  center  of  their  "vision 
statement"  a  simple  yet  profound  truth: 
"Jesus  is  Lord."  The  Apostle  Peter,  as 
recorded  in  Acts  4:12,  was  certain: 
"There  is  salvation  in  no  one  else,  for 
there  is  no  other  name  under  heaven 
given  among  men  by  which  we  must  be 
saved."  The  Apostle  Paul  proclaimed  to 
the  world  his  vision  statement  to  the 
church  at  Corinth:  "I  preach  Christ. ..the 
power  of  God  and  the  wisdom  of  God  ... 
I  decided  to  know  nothing  among  you 
except  Jesus  Christ"  (I  Cor.  1:23-24,2:2). 

Over  the  years  I  have  had  close  friends 
who  are  Unitarian  in  their  religious  faith. 
I  have  studied  their  faith,  and  respect 
how  they  study  and  live  it.  In  recent 
years  I  have  become  deeply  concerned 
that  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  is  contin- 
ually becoming  more  like  the  Unitarians, 
and  less  like  the  New  Testament  church, 
in  our  vision  statement  and  in  our  total 
faith  and  life  as  a  church. 

Olden  D.  Mitchell 

North  Manchester,  Ind. 


Man,  that  woman 
can  preach. 

An  Uncommon  Woman: 

The  Life  and  Times  of  Sarah  Righter  Major 

Nancy  Kettering  Frye.  Brethren  Press.  Infamous  in 
the  mid  1800s  as  a  woman  preacher  in  a  man's 
world.  Sister  Sarah  bravely  preached  the  gospel 
wherever  people  invited  her  to  speak.  Nancy 
Kettering  Frye  provides  details,  facts,  and  stories 
about  the  life  of  the  first  female  Brethren  preacher. 
Step  into  the  19th  century  and  meet  the  men  and 
women  who  influenced  Sarah  Righter  Major's  life 
and  supported  her  preaching  ministry. #8224,  $6.93 


*^^ 


Brethren  Press 


1451  Dundee  AvL-niic,  EK: 
phone  800-441-371: 


IL  60I20-I694 
>ax  800-667-8188 
gb@hrethren.org 


CLASSIFIED 


m 


Christian  Family  Practice  group  is  seeking 
a  family  physician  to  join  our  growing  practice. 
We  are  located  in  North  Central  Indiana,  near 
Goshen.  We  provide  obstetrics  with  many  deliv- 
eries done  at  an  Amish  Birthing  Center  near 
Shipshewana.  Opportunities  for  short-  or  long- 
term  missions.  Independently  owned  (six 
physicians  &  one  PA)  and  committed  to  remain- 
ing sensitive  to  the  needs  of  the  local  community. 
Option  to  buy  in.  Contact  Steve  Wendler,  Admin- 
istrator, at  Middlebury  Family  Physicians,  PO 
Box  459,  Middlebury,  IN  46540.  Day  telephone: 
219-825-2900  Evening;  219-825-7506. 

Good  Shepherd  Home  is  seel<ing  a  full-time 
chaplain  for  this  rural  100-bed  nursing  home  and 
licensed  50-bed  rest  home  located  in  Fostoria, 
Ohio.  This  position  will  provide  spiritual  care  to 
the  residents,  families  and  employees.  If  willing, 
the  chaplain  may  assist  the  executive  director  and 
Board  of  Trustees  with  fund  raising  and  devel- 
opment projects.  Good  Shepherd  Home  prefers 

Messenger  July  2000 


candidates  who  are  licensed  or  ordained  minis- 
ters with  strong  written  and  verbal  skills.  Send 
or  fax  resumes  to  Chris  Widman,  executive  direc- 
tor, phone  (419)  435-1801;  fax  (419)  435-1594. 

Travel  with  a  purpose.  Visit  the  "Cradle  of  Civ- 
ilization," March  16-29,  2001.  Featuring:  crossing 
the  Red  Sea,  visiting  Mt.  Sinai,  cruising  on  the 
Sea  of  Galilee,  cable  car  ride  to  Massada.  Visit 
Petra,  the  rose  city,  Jerusalem,  The  Holy  Land, 
St.  Catherine  Monastery  on  Mt.  Sinai.  Full  break- 
fast and  dinner  throughout.  For  information  write 
Wendell  and  Joan  Bohrer,  8520  Royal  Meadow 
Drive,  Indianapolis,  IN.  46217,  Tel/fax  317-882- 
5067.  E-mail  rdwboh@aol.com. 

Visiting  Washington,  D.C.?  Come  worship 
with  us  at  the  Arlington  Church  of  the  Brethren, 
300  N.  Montague  St,  Arlington,  Virginia.  Phone 
703-524-4100.  Services:  Sunday  School  9:45 - 
10:45  a.m.  Worship:  11:00  a.m.  Summer  Hours: 
June4thruSeptember3.  Worship  10:00  a.m. 


No  Sunday  School.  Nursery  Services  Provided. 
Roseann  B.  Cook,  Pastor. 

,! 

Wooden  plaques  of  the  Coventry  Church  ot 
the  Brethren  are  available  for  purchase.  Cost  is 
$12.00  per  plaque  which  includes  S  &  H.  To  obtainj 
one  of  these  275th  anniversary  specials,  contact 
Linda  Wood  in  the  church  office  at  610-326-5426, 
or  send  a  check  made  payable  to  Coventry  Church 
of  the  Brethren,  946  Keen  Road,  Pottstown,  PA 
19465-6532  with  notation.  Anniversary  Commit- 
tee. Include  shipping  address  in  request. 

York  Center  congregation  in  Lombard,  IL 
will  celebrate  50  years  of  ministry  in  2001J 

To  kick-off  our  anniversary  we  will  have  a  cele- 
bration weekend  August  12  and  13,  2000.  If  you 
have  been  a  part  of  the  York  Center  family  we 
hope  you  will  join  us  for  this  celebration.  For 
more  information  call  the  church  office  at  630- 
627-7411  ore-mail  Pastor  Christy  Waltersdorf' 
(cwaltersdorff@mindspring.com). 


TURNING  POINTS 


This  month's  Turning  Points 
includes  all  listings  received 
prior  to  5/1 1/00  not  previously 
published.  Forms  for  submit- 
ting Turning  Points  information 
are  available  by  calling  Peggy 
Reinacher  at  800-323-8039. 

New  members 

Aniioch.  Rockv  Mount,  Va.: 
ML-lvin  Fikc!  Lisa  Fike.  loel 
Sou'ers 

Arcadia.  Ind.:  Don  Knapp. 
Dorothy  Knapp 

Bear  Creek,  Accident,  Md.: 
Carol  Smith,  lessica  Smith, 
Katie  Sizemore,  Karen  Size- 
more 

Bradford,  Ohio:  Truman  Scott 
Bashore,  Esther  Naomi 
Bashore 

Curryville.  Martinsburg,  Pa.: 
Yvette  Brumbaugh 

GreenmounI,  Harrisonburg, 
Va.:  lustin  S.  Dean.  Quentin 
L.  Biller.  Lenwell  H.  Sacra, 
Donna  Gail  Sacra.  Charles 
S.  Biller.  Gene  Smith. 
Michelle  Smith 

Harper  Woods.  Mich,:  Tina 
Eckhart 

Independence,  Kan.:  Danielle 
Gallagher.  Betty  Mayo.  Mary 
Padley.  Crystal  and  Douglas 
Wheeler 

Lititz.  Pa.:  Lindsay  Bednar, 
Carly  Hess,  Lisa  Kreider, 
Jordan  Rice,  loanna  Witmer. 
Toby  Enck,  Dan  Ober.  |im 
Ross,  Barbara  Showers. 
Harry  Mumma.  Terry  Ross 

Locust  Grove,  lohnstovvn.  Pa.: 
Rebecca  Birtle.  Diane  Chris- 
tine. Christy  Fyock.  Ashley 
Kirkwood.  Ryan  Pristow. 
Tom  Ream.  Adam  Thomas. 
Timothy  Thomas.  Lorie  Wilt 

Logansport.  Ind.:  Nicole 
Brown.  Brenda  Gaumer. 
Kayla  Kite 

Maitland.  Lewistown.  Pa.:  Ty 
Angney.  jeffery  Moiek, 
Donovan  Kratzer,  Tony 
Poorman 

McPherson,  Kan,:  Nathan 
Clary,  lamie  Crist.  Matthew 
Hoffman.  Tim  Houghton. 
Tyler  Hughes.  Ir..  Bryan 
Jordan,  lordan  Rothrock. 
Scott  Vancil.  Adam  Wagoner, 
loel  Wagoner.  Ian  Diaz, 
Manny  Diaz,  Paul  Liepelt, 
Brenda  Lolling.  Darlene 
Nelson.  Marvin  Nelson. 
Irven  Stern.  Patricia  Stern 

Maple  Grove.  .Ashland,  Ohio: 
Paul  and  Ella  Myers,  Brenda 
Henderson,  June  Trille,  joe 
Woodring,  Barbara 
Woodring 

Maple  Grove,  New  Paris,  Ind.: 
Tiffany  Berkey,  Kelsey 
Garris.  janii  Hoover,  Mar- 
lena  Marquart,  lamie  Miller 

Mechanic  Grove.  Quarryville, 
Pa.:  Richard  Drennen'lll, 


Sylvia  Drennen,  Chris  Pur- 
cell,  Walter  Buckley,  Angel 
Weigand.  Linda  Waltman, 
Gerard  Rosolie.  Jill  Rosolie. 
Susan  Mull.  Herb  and  Donna 
Martin.  Shawn  and  Laura 
Love,  Albert  and  Betty  Pyle, 
Matthew  Kreider,  Genny 
Bledsoe,  jason  Futcher. 
Matthew  Groff,  Leann  Hart, 
Kandace  Kreider.  Trista  Krei- 
der. Tye  hCreider.  Rairdan 
Munro.  Marian  Osborne, 
Rebecca  Wimer 

Modesto,  Calif,:  Dortha  and  R, 
Norman  lohnson 

Mohlcr,  Ephrata,  Pa.:  Ivan  and 
Dorothy  Ludwig 

Monroeville.  Pa.:  Kelsey 
Brewer,  Kristin  Brewer, 
Bryan  Furey,  lulie  Hernley, 
Hayle  Ritchey 

New  Carlisle,  Ohio:  Aaron 
Larson,  Andrew  Larson, 
Denise  Barlow.  Samantha 
Larason,  Cameron  Dogget. 
Timothy  Woelfer.  leremy 
Funderburg.  Shirley  Bell. 
Andrew  Gibson.  Cheryl 
Gibson,  Doug  Gibson, 
Rodney  Funderburg, 
Anna  Reno 

New  Enterprise,  Pa.:  Paul  and 
lennie  Turner.  Davey  Leidy. 
Danielle  Settlemyer.  Tracy 
Brunner.  Madeline  Kanode. 
Brittany  Kanode 

North  Liberty.  Ind.:  Christo- 
pher Beyer 

Northview.  Indianapolis,  Ind.: 
Anna  Grady,  Lida  Emerson, 
Carol  Emerson,  lacob  Grady 

Peace,  Portland,  Ore.:  Jennifer 
Sheppler.  Robert  Cone 

Peach  Blossom.  Easton.  Md.: 
Kathy  Moore,  Leo  Truban, 
loy  Marshall 

Pine  Creek,  North  Liberty, 
Ind.:  jason  Deckard.  Lauren 
Mangus 

Pittsburgh.  Pa.:  Zinnia  Black- 
wood 

Sangerville.  Bridgewater.  Va.: 
Dwayne  Fifer.  Ian  Horn, 
Matthew  Ridgeway,  Eric 
Sheets,  Kimberly  Atkins, 
Danny  Lambert 

Snake  Spring  Valley,  Everett. 
Pa.:  Mike  Dunkle.  lanice 
Dunkle.  .Amber  Dunkle. 
lanelle  Dunkle.  Sara 
Redman 

West  Goshen.  Goshen.  Ind.: 
Beth  Hochstetler 

Westminster.  Md.:  William 
Landon.  Erica  A.  Royer. 
Ashley  Cavanaugh.  Curtis 
Wharton 

Winter  Park.  Fla.:  Rhonda  Neal 


Wedding 
anniversaries 

Baker.  Clyde  and  Glenna, 
Bradford.  Ohio,  55 


Bruckharl.  Abe  and  Mary. 
Palmyra.  Pa..  65 

Gift.  Donald  and  LaRue. 
Chambersburg.  Pa.,  60 

Gingrich.  Lloyd  and  Velnia. 
Lebanon.  Pa.,  50 

Gorden.  Israel  and  Edwina. 
Goshen.  Ind..  72 

Harclerode.  Joan  and  Howard. 
Everett,  Pa.,  50 

Hosteller,  Harley  and  Louise. 
Goshen.  Ind..  50 

Lambert.  Mervin  and  lanet. 
Harrisonburg.  Va.,  60 

Leapiey,  Ralph  and  Elizabeth, 
New  Carlisle,  Ohio.  50 

Lehman.  |ohn  and  Maxine. 
lohnstown.  Pa..  50 

Roeth.  lames  and  Ruth.  Brad- 
ford. Ohio.  55 

Thomas,  lohn  M.  and  Louise. 
Valrico.  Fla..  60 

Walter.  Donald  and  Rosella. 
Martinsburg.  Pa..  50 

Wine,  Ray  and  Ann.  Harrison- 
burg. Va..  50 

Zuck.  Nevin  and  Leah.  Lan- 
caster. Pa..  60 


Deaths 

Adams.  Stella  M..  95. 
Staunton.  Va..  April  27 

Alley.  Helen  R..  84,  Bridgewa- 
ter, Va.,  April  1 

Anderson.  Lorenia.  89.  Virden. 
III..  April  16 

Andes.  Francis  B..  85.  Tim- 
berville.  Va..  April  9 

Bankert.  Pauline  Miller.  93. 
Hanover.  Pa..  May  1 

Barritt.  Cheri  Frazier.  39. 
Omaha.  Neb..  March  13 

Beck,  Rosemary.  51. 

Brinkhaven.  Ohio,  April  24 

Benner,  Phyllis,  61,  Ephrata, 
Pa..  April  8 

Boitnott.  lohn  W.,  102,  Bridge- 
water.  Va..  March  31 

Burnside.  Mable.  84,  Trot- 
wood,  Ohio,  Nov,  27 

Clark.  Marv.  Easton.  Md.. 
Oct.  2 

Clark.  Robert.  81.  Easton.  Md.. 
March  16 

Clinton.  Dennis,  90,  Virden, 
111..  April  10 

Cochran.  Violet.  82.  Berlin. 
Pa..  March  7 

Cox.  Philip  A..  46,  New 
Carlisle,  Ohio.  April  29 

Crites.  leremy  L.,  18,  Moore- 
field.  W.Va..  April  23 

Crumley.  William  C.  87. 
Kno.wille,  Tenn..  March  28 

Dancy.  Frances  Sheets.  98, 
lacksonville,  Fla..  April  29 

Darr.  Cora  "Feme,"  85, 
Sipesville,  Pa..  March  12 

Dellinger.  Flovd  E..  Sr..  69. 
Fulks  Run.  Va..  April  1 

Diehl.  Robert.  86.  West  Alexan- 
dria. Ohio.  March  51 

Dove.  Evalyn,  90.  Manassas. 
Va..  May  23.  1999 

Dove.  L.  Clifford.  88.  Manas- 


sas. Va..  Feb.  22 

Ebling,  Dudley.  74.  Easton, 
Md..  lune  17 

Edmislon.  loseph,  84.  Lewis- 
town.  Pa..  March  29 

Emswiler.  Esther.  84.  McPher- 
son. Kan..  March  21 

Erbaugh.  Ruth.  87.  Brandon. 
Fla..  Feb.  21 

Elter,  Dwane  W,,  98,  Cham- 
bersburg, Pa..  Feb.  1 

Faidley,  Norman.  83.  Somer- 
set. Pa..  Ian.  21 

Fausl.  Gladys  H..  71.  Cham- 
bersburg, Pa..  Feb.  29 

Feaster.  Emmett  D.,  92.  Peters- 
burg. W.Va..  March  31 

Fetters,  Samuel,  75.  Lewis- 
town.  Pa..  Nov.  1  3 

Finiff.  Charles  E.,  88,  Cham- 
bersburg. Pa..  Feb.  18 

Fisher.  Edna  |..  92.  Fulks  Run. 
Va..  April  10 

Ford.  Eva  E..  66.  Timberville. 
Va..  April  25 

Frazier.  Clifton  E..  81,  Grot- 
toes. Va.,  April  1  5 

Ganger.  Olive,  93,  Greenville. 
Ohio.  March  17 

Gift,  Lois  E..  83.  Chambers- 
burg. Pa..  Feb.  14 

Harper.  Ella  O..  89.  Moyers. 
W.Va..  April  15 

Harper,  Elsie,  94,  Movers. 
W.Va..  April  10 

Hartman.  Blanche  R.,  87. 
April  26 

Hash.  Ruby  Mae,  86.  Luray. 
Va.,  April  2 

Hicks,  Raymond  G..  56.  Cham- 
paign. 111..  April  29 

Hoffman.  Clark.  81.  Somerset. 
Pa..  Ian.  31 

Hubbard.  Treva.  84.  Bradford. 
Ohio.  March  10 

Isenberg.  lames  D..  94. 

Knoxville.  Tenn..  March  14 

lohnson.  Kenneth.  80.  Troy. 
Ohio.  March  20 

[ones.  Ethel  M..  87.  Chambers- 
burg, Pa,,  March  50 

Knupp,  Roy,  86,  Gray.  Pa.. 
March  28 

Koontz.  Leona,  90,  Ebensburg. 
Pa..  April  28 

Larsen.  Nellie.  93.  Council 
Bluffs.  Iowa.  April  7 

Livingston.  Robert  1..  82.  Cov- 
ington. Ohio.  Ian.  4 

Lobb.  Dorthy.  79.  lohnstown. 
Pa..  Ian.  22 

Long.  Edythe  E..  89.  Luray. 
Va..  March  30 

Looker.  Darrell.  61.  Piqua. 
Ohio.  Dec.  27 

Lunsford.  Ernest.  88.  Bealeton. 
Va..  Nov.  2 

Martz,  Mary  K..  84.  Edinburg. 
Va..  April  24 

McNelt.  Leah  E..  76.  Bridge- 
water.  Va.,  April  I  1 

Miller,  lennie,  94,  Friendsville. 
Md..  Ian.  31 

Miller.  Margaret.  61,  Accident. 
Md.,  Ian.  27 

Mitchell.  Reba.  79.  Fairview, 
Ore..  March  12 


Mohler,  Elizabeth.  101.  War- 

rensburg.  Mo..  April  I  5 
Painter.  Sarah  F..  85.  Stanley, 

Va..  April  30 
Peyton,  Katherine,  89,  Holli- 

daysburg.  Pa.,  Sept.  27 
Richard.  Sadie.  91.  Lewistown. 

Pa..  Sept.  29 
Sanger.  Henry.  Easton.  Md., 

March  22 
Sager.  Otis.  84,  Lost  River, 

W.Va..  March  17 
Seese.  Norman.  Easton.  Md.. 

Ian.  1 
Shaw.  Kenneth.  79,  Danville, 

Ohio,  April  1 
Shepherd,  Ted,  81,  Nokesville, 

Va.,  Sept.  30 
Shiffletl.  Larry  L..  49.  South 

Daytona  Beach,  Fla.,  April  1 
Shull.' Everett  W..  83.  N.  Man- 
chester. Ind..  April  26 
Simmons.  Dorothy.  80. 

lohnstown.  Pa..  April  1 1 
Simmons.  Marie  V.  74.  Sugar 

Grove.  W.Va..  April  1  7 
Speers.  Terry.  41.  Trotwood. 

Ohio.  Nov.  21 
Stambaugh.  Florence  M..  90, 

New  Oxford,  Pa.,  April  28 
Stoltz,  Patricia,  67.  New 

Carlisle.  Ohio.  March  7 
Walkup.  Norman  K..  50. 

Mount  Crawford.  Va.. 

April  16 
Weimer.  Ralph.  76.  Manassas. 

Va.,  Aug.  31 
Wood,  Hester,  96.  Boones  Mill. 

Va..  Feb.  7 


Licensings 

Fleshman.  Greg.  April  9.  Buena 

Vista.  Va. 
Hileman.  .Michael  C.  April  30, 

Ashland  Dickev,  Ashland. 

Ohio 
Reece.  Kathy.  April  30.  Dallas 

Center.  Iowa 
Remillet.  Charles.  March  19. 

Buffalo.  Ind. 
Yankey,  Robert,  59.  Nokesville. 

Va.,  Oct.  17 
Young.  Frank  P..  April  30.  Tire 

Hill,  Pa. 


Ordinations 

Coffin,  loseph  H..  Feb.  20. 

Windfall.  Ind. 
Miller-Rieman.  Ken.  March  5, 

Huntington.  Ind. 
Wray.  Harry.  Feb.  1  3. 

Kokomo.  Ind. 


Pastoral 
placement 

Barber.  Howard,  to  Barren 
Ridge.  Staunton.  Va. 

(ones,  Gregory  L..  to  Fairview. 
Unionville.  Iowa 

Sayles,  Frank,  to  Bethel. 
Arriba.  Colo. 


Messenger  July  2000 


EDITORIAL 

To  Sam,  on  becoming  an  Eagle  Scout 


Scouts 

know  the 

group  is  the 

thing,  all  for 

one.  But 

there  will  be 

times  when 

like  an  eagle 

you  will  soar 

alone 

Life  will  give 

you  nnany 

occasions 

for  sorting 

out  when  to 

work  as  part 

of  the  group 

and  when  to 

act  alone. 


Dear  Sam, 

On  |une  1  you  will  become  an  Eagle  Scout.  Con- 
gratulations. You  barely  know  me,  but  your  father 
is  my  best  friend  and  I  am  inspired  by  his  son's 
achievement.  You  will  now  be  marked  for  life  as  a 
leader.  If  you  ever  run  for  political  office,  this  will 
tell  the  voters  you  are  one  who  not  only  believes 
in  core  values,  but  you  have  done  the  work  they 
imply.  Being  an  Eagle  Scout  will  give  you  moral 
authority.  Use  it  well. 

Because  I  never  got  to  the  rank  of  Eagle — 1 
stumbled  on  my  citizenship  merit  badges — I  look 
up  to  you  all  the  more.  Like  you,  I  stayed  in  scout- 
ing long  after  many  of  my  agemates  had  dropped 
out.  I  became  a  Senior  Patrol  Leader,  and  in  that 
role  worked  to  give  the  younger  boys  some  of  the 
wonderful  experiences  I  had  had  coming  up.  We 
were  famous  for  campouts.  While  other  troops  had 
neat  flag  ceremonies  at  their  meetings,  or  learned 
to  march  with  military  precision,  we  spent  our 
meetings  sorting  gear  from  the  last  campout  or 
planning  the  next  one. 

1  got  my  education  around  the  campfire,  lis- 
tening to  the  older  boys  share  their  ignorance  about 
sex,  and  learning  to  smoke  grapevines.  Our  scout- 
masters had  that  rare  quality  of  knowing  how  to 
disappear.  They  knew  when  to  reappear  too,  telling 
us  when  to  knock  it  off  and  be  quiet. 

It  was  long  after  Taps  that  day  was  finally  done, 
gone  the  sun.  All  is  well,  safely  rest,  God  is  nigh.  Alone 
under  the  big  night  sky,  God  became  real  to  me.  I 
grew  up  under  the  stars.  And  I  awoke  to  the  dawn 
telling  me  the  way  I  live  my  life  matters. 

It  was  in  scouting  that  I  learned  the  power  of 
the  group,  one  for  all,  all  for  one.  Trustworthy,  loyal, 
helpful,  friendly,  courteous,  kind  . . .  these  weren't 
just  theoretical  concepts,  or  even  rules  for  behavior 
around  adults;  they  were  how  we  treated  each  other. 
If  somebody  fell  behind  on  a  hike  we  waited  till  they 
caught  up.  We  could  be  cruel,  of  course,  but  we  knew 
that  was  contrary  to  the  scout  way.  We  were  taught 
that  fat  kids  got  included,  that  poor  kids  looked  the 
same  in  uniform,  and  black  kids  were  welcome  in 
our  group. 

Lately  the  Boy  Scouts  have  taken  a  rap  for  trying 
to  keep  certain  people  out,  but  this  isn't  the  Scouts 
1  knew.  We  were  physically  strong,  mentally  awake, 
and  morally  straight — but  not  narrow.  When  I  was 
at  the  National  |amboree  in  1964  our  troop  had  a 
cookout  with  a  troop  from  Massachusetts.  At  the 
end  of  the  evening  the  scoutmaster  from  New  Eng- 
land suggested  that  we  form  a  "lodge  circle"  around 
the  campfire.  Our  group  from  southern  Illinois  didn't 
know  how  to  make  a  lodge  circle;  I  assumed  it  might 


be  a  regional  scout  tradition  we  needed  to  learn. 
Only  after  he  repeated  the  instruction  several  times 
did  we  catch  on  that  we  were  to  form  a  "large"  circle. 
Scouting  for  me  is  about  making  the  circle  lodger 
and  lodger. 

Scouts  know  the  group  is  the  thing,  all  for  one. 
But  there  will  be  times  when  like  an  eagle  you  will 
soar  alone.  Some  of  my  first  lessons  in  personal 
courage  came  from  your  grandmother,  who  was 
my  fourth-grade  teacher.  She  would  be  so  proud 
of  you  now.  I  remember  she  would  bark,  "Stand 
up  straight,  don't  slouch,"  and  I  knew  she  was  cor- 
recting my  character  as  well  as  my  posture.  If  I 
would  hedge  an  answer  she  would  say,  "Don't  be 
wishy-washy."  I  think  of  her  when  I  am  called  to 
stand  up  straight  and  name  a  wrong. 

Her  lessons  were  confirmed  in  scouting,  when  I 
was  "tapped  out"  for  the  Order  of  the  Arrow.  I  have 
vivid  memories  of  the  night  I  lined  up  with  my  fellow 
scouts  on  the  lakeshore  at  camp,  shirtless  for  this 
solemn  occasion.  On  the  far  side  of  the  lake  we  saw 
an  Indian  chief  in  full  headdress,  standing  in  the  bow 
of  a  canoe,  his  face  lighted  by  a  torch.  He  was  pad- 
dled across  the  water,  to  the  slow  beat  of  a  drum. 
When  he  finally  reached  our  side  of  the  lake  he  dis- 
mounted the  canoe  and  walked  silently  in  back  of  our 
line,  stopping  behind  selected  scouts.  We  would  hear 
his  open  palm  pound  the  bare  shoulder  of  those  sin- 
gled out — three  loud  slaps  and  then  they  were  led 
away.  Finally  he  stopped  behind  me.  I  can  still  feel  the 
pain  of  his  hand  on  my  shoulder,  and  the  thrill  it 
brought  to  my  soul.  You  know  the  rest,  which  is  not 
to  be  disclosed.  lesus  too  was  sent  into  the  wilderness 
for  a  time  of  testing.  And  from  there  he  emerged  a 
leader,  one  for  all. 

Life  will  give  you  many  occasions  for  sorting 
out  when  to  work  as  part  of  the  group  and  when 
to  act  alone.  Your  father  and  I  have  both  been 
guided  by  Rudyard  Kipling's  poem  //: 

"If  you  can  keep  your  head  when  all  about  you/ 
Are  losing  theirs  and  blaming  it  on  you;/  If  you 
can  trust  yourself  when  all  men  doubt  you,/  but 
make  allowance  for  their  doubting  too;/  If  you  can 
wait  and  not  be  tired  by  waiting,/  Or,  being  lied 
about,  don't  deal  in  lies,/  Or  being  hated,  don't 
give  way  to  hating,/  And  yet  don't  look  too  good, 
nor  talk  too  wise " 

For  you,  Sam,  I  would  add  some  "ifs"  of  my 
own.  If  you  can  use  your  strength  as  an  Eagle  to 
stand  up  for  what  is  right, ...  if  you  as  a  leader  can 
get  the  group  to  include  the  last,  the  lost,  the  least 
. . .  then,  as  Kipling  concludes:  "Yours  is  the  Earth 
and  everything  that's  in  it,/  And — ^which  is  more — 
you'll  be  a  Man,  my  son!"— Fletcher  Farrar 


Messenger  July  2000 


YOU'LL  PROBABLY  SPEND  TWO  DAYS 
PREPARING  TO  GO  TO  ANNUAL  CONFEREN 


WHY  NOT  TAKE  AN  HOUR  OR  TWO, 
ONCE  YOU'RE  THERE,  TO  PREPARE  FOR     ^ 

THE  REST  OF  YOUR  LIFE? 


Annual  Conference  2000  in  Kansas  City  will  be  a  great  time 
to  learn  about  your  retirement  and  insurance  options. 


BRETHREN   PENSION    PLAN 

Plan  for  a  more  financially  secure  retirement 

Insight  Session: 

Putting  your  ducks  in  a  row  for  retirennent. 

Presented  by  BBT's  Employee  Financial  Services. 
Tuesday,  July  18,9:00  pm. 

Exhibit:  Are  you  a  member  of  the  Brethren 
Pension  Plan  and  approaching  retirement? 
Stop  by  the  BBT  booth  to  request  a  calculation 
of  your  projected  annuity. 


BRETHREN   FLEXCARE   PLAN 

FlexCare  can  save  active  members  tax  money 

Insight  Session: 

What's  for  lunch?Tax  Money! 

A  focus  on  BBT's  FlexCare  Cafeteria  Plan. 
Sunday,  July  16,9:00  pm 

Exhibit:  Active  clergy  and  lay  church  employees, 
stop  by  the  BBT  booth  to  ask  about  all  of  your 
insurance  options.  Retired  pastors,  stop  by  to  ask 
about  optional  vision  and  dental  coverage. 


^^PB  CHURCH   OF  THE   BRETHREN 

W^  BENEFIT  TRUST 


1505  Dundee  Avenue,  Elgin.  IL  60120-1619    •    800-746-1505    •    847-742-01  35  fax 


We  insure  members  of  The 
Church  of  the  Brethren 
and  member  churches 
exclusively...and  we  want  to 
transform  the  way  you  and  your 
fellow  church  members  think 
about  insurance.  We  want  your 
experience  with  Mutual  Aid 
Association  to  be  so  unique 
that  you  see  us  as  an  extension 
of  the  Church. 


We  aren't  a  congregation  or  a 
district,  but  we  continue  the 
practices  of  the  Church  in  the 
way  that  we  reach  out  and  care 
for  you  and  for  one  another. 
Because  we  beUeve  in  the 
message  of  Christ  and  follow 
the  teachings  of  the  Church, 
you  can  think  of  the  Mutual 
Aid  Association  as  part  of  your 
Church  community.  We  genuinely 
believe  in  the  ideal  of  Brethren 
joining  together  for  mutual  aid. 
Here  is  one  story  out  of  many 
that  illustrates  our  faith-centered 
business  practices. 


7JJJjJ]i  \\\ 

Ui  iJJ^  JjJJUJ^JiJJ 


/I  /htii  QLi/iJs.  PM'^^i  ^UiJ-yy!^  ^Jk^  /kk'^^i 


More  than  a  dozen  volunteer  fire  companies 
fought  the  flames,  but  the  fire  burned  for 
nearly  twenty-four  hours  until  the 
Manchester  Church  of  the  Brethren  was  a 
hollow  brick  shell.  Built  in  1907  and  extensively 
remodeled  in  1950,  the  church  was  undergoing 
a  major  expansion  to  bring  church  offices, 
Sunday  school  rooms,  and  a  nursery  under  one 
roof  Then  sometime  during  the  night  of 
January  7,  1998,  fire  broke  out  near  an  electric 
hot  water  heater.  All  that  was  left  of  the 
90-year-old  church  and  its  new  addition  would 
soon  be  dozed  to  the  ground  and  trucked  away. 

That  same  day,  a  team  from  Mutual  Aid's 
Abilene  office  arrived.  On  this  first  of  several 
visits,  the  Mutual  Aid  Association  workers 
stayed  a  week.  They  met  with  church  leaders  to 
handle  the  inventory  of  lost  contents  and  other 
specifics.  They  also  met  with  individual  church 
members  to  help  them  deal  with  their  sense  of 


Get  Security  You  Can  Depend  On 
The  Mutual  Aid  Association  has  been 
faithfully  meeting  the  property  insurance 
needs  of  Brethren  Churches  and  Church 
members  for  over  a  century.  We  offer  free 
property  appraisals  and  support  services 
designed  to  protect  your  financial  security 
and  peace  of  mind. 


©  Copyright  2000E  Mutual  Aid  Association  MAA-2013 


loss  and  say  farewell  to  their  old  building. 
Church  members  commented  that  the  MAA 
workers  became  part  of  the  church  family 
and  helped  the  congregation  maintain 
its  ministry  and  spiritual  health.  On  the 
financial  side,  church  members  said  that  the 
Mutual  Aid  Association  tried  to  help  in  every 
way  it  could  and  was  very  generous  in  the 
final  settlement. 

After  a  lengthy  process  of  planning, 
construction  on  the  new  Manchester  Church 
began  in  April  1999  -  at  a  new  25-acre 
site  that  offers  room  to  grow  for  many 
years  to  come. 

All  of  us  at  Mutual  Aid  Association  are 
proud  to  have  played  a  part  in  building  the 
new  Manchester  Church.  Services  started  in 
March  and  on  April  30,  2000,  the  Manchester 
congregation  dedicated  the  building  and 
began  its  spiritual  journey  in  its  new  home. 


Call  1-800-255-1243  Day  or  Night 
You  can  also  reach  us  by  e-mail  at 
maa@maabrethren.com  or  over  our  toll- 
free,  24-hour  fax  line  at  1-800-238-7535. 
Our  Web  address  is  www.maabrethren.com. 


AlBkMutu 


al  Aid  Association 


CHURCH    OF 


A  ministry  of  sharing  to  secure  peace  of  mind. 


lurch    l\       / 
f  the    1  \  / 
thren    1     \/ 

BSSJ 

— 1^ 

N 

fG] 

1^ 

A/^ 


IMEW  VISIO 

RETHREN 
HOMES 


RAVES    FOR 


(2>4iare  the 
Experiences 

of  a  Lifetime! 

The  Brethren  Homes  of  the  Atlantic  Northeast  District  invite  you 
to  explore  the  care  and  refreshing  lifestyles  at  your  doorstep... 


"Life  as  good  as  it 
can  get!  -in  a  relaxed, 
care  -  free,  attractive 
environment  among 
congenial  contempo- 
raries, supported  by 
Christian  love  and 
sen/ice.  Praise  God! " 

-  FRANK  &  DOROTHY  HORST 


"  We  enjoy  living  at 
Brethren  Village  because 
it  provides  choices  for  us 
to  live  in  an  upbeat  well- 
managed,  caring,  Christ- 
centered  community  of 
persons  from  diverse 
backgrounds." 

-  CURTIS  &  ANNA  MARY  BUBBLE 


"Living  at  Peter  Becker 
Community  offers  us 
the  opportunity  to  meet 
new  Christian  friends 
with  similar  interests. 
We  have  peace  of  mind 
knowing  all  our  needs 
will  be  met." 

-  WILWIER  &  RUTH  HARTLEY 


Lebanon  Valley 
Brethren  Home 


1200  Grubb  Street 
Palmyra.  PA  17078 
(717)  838-5406 


^^m 


3001  Lititz  Pike 

PO  Box  5093 

Lancaster.  PA  17606 

(717)  569-2657 


fe 


Peter 

Becker 

Community 


800  IVIaple  Avenue 

Harleysville.  PA  19438 

(215)  256-9501 


t2j 


AUGUST  2000   VOL.149  N0.7   WWW.BRETHREN.ORG 


m 


MESSENGER 

Fletcher  Farrar  Wendy  McFadden       '  Walt  Wiltschek    Advertising:  Russ  Matteson     Subscriptions:  Peggy  Reinacher     Designer:  Paul  Stocksdale 


ION 


COVER 


Rita  Moyer,  therapeutic  services  coordinator  at 
Peter  Beclcer  Community,  Harleysviile,  Pa., 
gives  Lucy  Calvanese  a  hug  at  the  facility's 
Health  Care  picnic.  Rita  is  one  of  hundreds  of 
dedicated  workers  who  give  care  in  the  name  of  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  at  Brethren  Homes,  featured  in 
this  issue.  The  Homes  often  minister  to  the  workers  as 
well,  primarily  by  providing  a  spiritual  atmosphere  for 
work,  where  loving  care  comes  before  profit. 


10    Jubilee  tour 

When  Rosella  Wiens  Regier  went  on  the  road  to  pro- 
mote Jubilee  curriculum  in  Church  of  the  Brethren 
congregations,  she  found  an  enthusiastic  reception  in  all 
14  districts  she  visited.  She  also  found  concern  for  the 
future  of  Christian  education. 

12    Special  section:  Brethren  Homes 

Across  the  nation,  the  24  Church  of  the  Brethren  Homes 
provide  loving  care  in  spiritual  settings.  For  more  than  a 
century.  Homes  have  been  an  important  ministry  of  the 
church,  both  as  healthcare  facilities  and  retirement  com- 
munities. Now,  in  an  era  of  increased  competition  and 
regulatory  challenges,  they  are  clinging  to  their  roots  as 
faith-based  ministries,  nurturing  relationships  with  con- 
gregations, and  sharing  services  under  the  banner  of  the 
Fellowship  of  Brethren  Homes.  These  articles  were  pre- 
pared by  the  Association  of  Brethren  Caregivers. 


21  A  sister  church  in  India? 

A  group  called  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  in  India  has 
applied  to  the  US  church  for  official  recognition,  and  the 
situation  seems  ready-made  for  an  emerging  global 
church  structure.  But  it  is  complicated  by  30  years  of  his- 
tory, promises,  and  property.  Editor  Fletcher  Farrar 
provides  an  in-depth  background  report  to  help  readers 
decide  a  complex  issue  facing  the  church. 


DEPARTMENTS 

2  From  the  Publisher 

3  In  Touch 
6       News 


27     Letters 

30    Turning  Points 

32     Editorial 


Messenger  August  2000 


FROM  THE  PUBLISHER 


My  486  computer  at  home  is  a  hopeiess  relic.  On  the  information 
highway,  it  travels  like  a  bicycle.  I  use  it  mainly  to  exchange  e- 
mail,  though  even  that  downloads  slowly.  Our  household  pays  for 
the  bare  minimum  in  monthly  hours  of  Internet  usage,  and  we  never 
exceed  that  because  pedaling  from  page  to  page  is  too  boring  to  do  it  for  long.  It's  so 
slow  that  I  can  actually  do  laundry  at  the  same  time  I'm  surfing  the  Web.  Fortu- 
nately, the  high-speed  access  I  get  at  the  office  with  a  Tl  line  feels  more  like  driving 
a  sportscar. 

Sometimes  exploring  the  Internet  is  just  plain  fun.  Though  following  an  endless 
number  of  tangents  can  still  feel  disorienting  for  someone  steeped  in  linear  thinking, 
it's  fascinating  to  see  the  array  of  information  available  through  a  few  clicks. 

But  for  most  organizations  nowadays,  having  a  website  isn't  just  for  fun.  It's  an 
important  part  of  the  way  they  communicate  with  their  constituents.  It  might  even  be 
the  way  they  get  their  constituents. 

That  is  becoming  true  even  for  the  Church  of  the  Brethren,  which  has  not  usu- 
ally been  known  for  being  on  the  cutting  edge  of  technology.  An  increasing  number 
of  pastors  are  online  and  would  like  to  use  their  computers  to  enhance  their  min- 
istries. Congregations  are  designing  web  pages  in  addition  to  printed  brochures. 
Church  leaders  are  ready  to  receive  study  materials  and  worship  resources  by  down- 
loading them  from  the  Web.  Future  volunteers  are  finding  Brethren  Volunteer 
Service  via  the  Internet. 

The  folks  that  oversee  www.brethren.org  (it's  sponsored  by  seven  agencies  and 
is  an  example  of  successful  collaboration)  have  recognized  that  it's  time  to  take  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  website  to  the  next  level.  A  new  and  improved  website  made 
its  debut  last  month  with  sharper  graphics,  a  search  function,  and  better  links. 
Coming  soon  is  the  capability  to  find  congregations  by  state.  By  fall  an  e-commerce 
site  will  feature  Brethren  Press  and  ABC  stores.  And  before  long  people  will  be  able 
to  register  for  conferences  and  workcamps  online. 

Also  new  to  the  site  is  additional  information  about  who  the  Brethren  are.  We 
intend  to  continually  grow  this  section  of  the  site,  since  we  believe  one  of  its  most 
important  purposes  is  to  be  welcoming  and  helpful  to  those  who  know  nothing  about 
the  Brethren. 

Our  goal  is  to  use  the  tools  available  to  us  to  do  the  best  communication  we 
can,  to  widen  the  circle,  and  to  make  sure  our  message  can  be  heard  in  a  new  era. 
Like  the  main  page  of  the  website  says,  we're  continuing  the  work  of  |esus. 


^}:^^Ucy7Hi^A^^^ 


How  to  reach  us 

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Connect  electronically: 

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report,  write  cobnews@aol.com. 

To  view  the  official  Church  of 
the  Brethren  website,  go  to 
http://www.  brethren.org. 


Messenger  is  the  official  publication  of  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren.  Entered  as  periodical  postage  matter 
Aug.  20,  1918.  under  Act  of  Congress  of  Oct.  17, 
1917.  Filing  date,  Nov.  1,  1984.  Member  of  the 
Associated  Church  Press.  Subscriber  to  Religion 
News  Service  &  Ecumenical  Press  Service.  Biblical 
quotations,  unless  otherwise  indicated,  are  from 
the  New  Revised  Standard  Version.  Messenger  is 
published  1 1  times  a  year  by  Brethren  Press,  Church 
of  the  Brethren  General  Board.  Periodical  postage 
paid  at  Elgin,  111.,  and  at  additional  mailing  office, 
August  2000.  Copmght  2000,  Church  of  the  Brethren 
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Postmaster:  Send  address  changes  to  Messenger, 
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CTy  Printed  on  recycled  paper 


Messenger  August  2000 


IN  TOUCH 


From  devastation 
to  hope  in  Kansas 

Southeast  Kansas  will 
long  remember  April 
19,  2000  for  tornados. 

Vernon  and  Barbara 
Egbert,  members  of 
Osage  Church  of  the 
Brethren,  McCune,  Kan., 
had  spent  forty  years  on 
their  farm.  All  the  hopes 
and  dreams  of  a  young 
couple  were  put  into 
building  a  farm  business 
and  raising  two  boys. 
The  tornado  struck  about 
9  p.m.  and  every  build- 
ing on  their  place  was 
destroyed,  including 
their  house  and  barn.  It 
wasn't  long  before 
family,  friends,  and 
neighbors  started  pour- 
ing in  to  help  salvage 
what  could  be  saved. 

Morning  saw  at  least 
100  people  bringing 
cleaning  tools,  boxes, 
tractors,  and  grain-han- 
dling equipment.  The 
women  brought  food.  A 
lot  of  people  helped  to 
make  the  first  days 
bearable  after  the  tor- 
nado. 

As  some  of  the  neigh- 
bors visited  during  the 
cleanup,  they  laugh- 
ingly talked  about 
needing  a  "barn 


Symbolically 
ending  their 
family's  infamous 
feud.  Church  of  the 
Brethren  pastor 
Terry  Hatfield,  left, 
and  Bo  McCoy 
anoint  each  other 


raising."  Some  of  the 
younger  farmers 
thought  that  was  a 
good  idea  and  the 
moderator  of  the 
Osage  Church  of  the 
Brethren,  who  is  a 
retired  building  con- 
tractor, felt  that  was 
something  he  could 
do.  Within  three 
weeks,  supplies  had 
been  delivered  and  a 
day  was  set  for  this 
"barn  raising."  Thirty 
men  showed  up  that 
day  and  studding  and 
rafters  were  put  up 
before  dark.  That 
building  looked 
great  going  up 
amidst  so  much 
destruction.  It 
gave  everyone 
hope  that  life 
would  be  better. 

— Barbara  Egbert 


Tug  of  peace  between 
Hatfields  and  McCoys 


The  Brethren  ordinance  of  anointing  was  the  focal  point  of  healing  in  an 
historic  June  worship  service  on  the  Tug  River  at  the  border  of  West  Vir- 
ginia and  Kentucky. 

Pastor  Terry  Hatfield  of  the  Panora,  Iowa  Church  of  the  Brethren 
and  the  Rev.  Bo  McCoy,  a  Pentecostal  minister  from  Georgia,  anointed 
each  other  on  the  Matewan-Buskirk  bridge  in  a  symbolic  act  of  for- 
giveness and  healing. 

The  Hatfield  and  McCoy  Unity  Worship  Service  was  the  next  to  the 
last  event  of  a  week-long  celebration  of  the  "Reunion  of  the  Millennium: 
Hatfield  and  McCoy  2000,"  and  brought  a  new  dimension  to  the  ending 
of  this  famous  family  feud  of  the  1880s. 

Terry  Hatfield  was  asked  to  be  the  representative  preacher  for  the  Hat- 
field family  at  the  worship  service.  He  brought  the  Brethren  ordinance  of 
anointing  into  the  service  to  provide  a  spiritual  moment,  which  he  said, 
"will  hopefully  bring  the  light  of  the  Holy  Spirit  into  what  was  a  time  of 
darkness  for  the  families  involved  and  this  region  of  Appalachia." 

While  the  Hatfield  and  McCoy  feud  was  not  the  biggest  of  the  various 
family  feuds  in  the  19th  century,  it  was  the  most  publicized.  As  a  result, 
Terry  says,  "The  image  of  the  violent  and  ignorant  hillbilly  has  been  asso- 
ciated with  the  region  and  with  those  family  names  ever  since." 

While  a  tug-of-war  with  a  rope  across  the  river  ended  the  festivi- 
ties (the  Hatfields  lost!),  the  "tug-of  peace"  over  the  bridge  brought 
glory  to  God  and  made  everyone  a  winner. 


Messenger  August  2000  Pji 


INTOUCH 


Connecting 
Families  event 
draws  90 

Connecting  Families, 
an  annual  gathering 
of  Anabaptist  fami- 


lies and  friends  of 
gay  and  lesbian  per- 
sons enjoyed 
fellowship,  singing, 
sharing,  and  learning 
April  7-9  at  Anti- 
ochian  Village  near 


Ligonier,  Pa. 

This  annual  event, 
begun  in  1989  with 
seven  Brethren  and 
Mennonite  parents 
attending,  drew  90 
persons  this  year.  The 


Songs  help  children  to  "chatter  with  angels" 

A  disappointing  search  for  an  illustrated  children's  hymnbook  that  she  truly 
enjoys  has  finally  ended  for  Linda  Richer,  of  Skyridge  Church  of  the  Brethren 
in  Kalamazoo,  Mich. 

"I  grew  up  in  a  family  where  we  were  taught  not  to  complain,  but  to  do 
something,"  said  Linda.  And  so  she  did  something.  Working  with  her  friend 
Anita  Stoltzfus  Breckbill,  Linda  spent  much  of  the  last  five  years  reviewing 
hundreds  of  hymnals,  selecting  hymns  from  them,  winnowing  the  selec- 
tions, and  adapting  them  for  children.  Their  own  backgrounds  in  music  and 

education  helped  them  in  this 
process.  Then  Linda  and  Anita 
worked  with  an  illustrator,  a 
children's  music  teacher,  an 
arranger,  and  additional  musi- 
cians to  produce  Chatter  With 
the  Angels:  An  Illustrated 
Songbook  for  Children,  which 
has  just  been  published  by 
GIA  Publications. 

This  collection  of  90  hymns  adapted  for  children  accomplishes  several 
goals  Linda  finds  important.  The  book  was  planned  primarily  as  a  book  for 
parents  and  children  to  use  together,  but  it  includes  a  strong  core  of  songs 
and  aids  that  make  it  appropriate  for  children's  choirs  and  education  programs. 
Careful  consideration  was  given  to  ensuring  that  the  texts  of  songs  for 
the  book  in  order  to  portray  God  as  gentle  and  loving.  The  tunes  have  been 
adapted  to  suit  children's  voices,  and  represent  a  variety  of  cultural  traditions. 
"And,"  says  Linda,  "children  remember  things  better  if  they  have  an 
image  to  go  along  with  the  words."  So  Chatter  with  the  Angels  incorporates 
artwork  with  each  song. 

But  the  book's  main  goal,  as  the  introduction  says,  is  "to  introduce  our 
children  to  Christian  songs  that  they  would  find  enjoyable,  meaningful,  and 
enduring."  The  book  is  available  for  $29.95  from  Brethren  Press.— Ruth  wioerdyk 


Jeters  Ciiapei  dedicates  fellowship  h 


gatherings  are 
intended  to  provide  a 
safe  and  relaxing  set- 
ting in  which  to  share 
concerns  about  how 
homosexuality  affects 
families,  friends,  and 
churches. 

The  guest  speaker 
was  Ralph  Blair, 
founder  of  Evangelicals 
Concerned,  and  a  psy- 
chotherapist working 
primarily  with  gay  men 


in  New  York  City.  He 
spoke  on  "Lawless  Gay 
bashing  Churches," 
based  on  the  Ten  Com-  j 
mandments,  and  I 

"Law-Free,  Gay- 
Friendly  Churches," 
based  on  Galatians. 
Interested  persons  may 
learn  more  about  Con- 
necting Families  by 
contacting  Dick  and 
June  Blouch  at 
junedick@paonline.com 


Karen  Calderon,  center,  pastor  of  Koinonia 
Church  of  the  Brethren,  Grand  Junction,  Colo., 

recently  received  the  White  Ribbon  Award  from  the 
Human  Services  Council  of  Mesa  County,  Colo. 
Karen  was  cited  for  her  role  in  developing  a  mission 
statement  for  hIand-in-Hand  Ministries,  a  new 
ecumenical  agency  that  assists  families  making  the 
transition  from  public  assistance  to  self-sufficiency. 
Karen,  who  serves  as  president  of  the  board,  is 
joined  by  co-directors  Patty  Kester  and  Jill  Lacey. 
Hand-in-Hand  Ministries  has  been  a  recipient  of 
Global  Food  Crisis  Fund  grants  the  past  two  years. 


On  Sunday,  May  7,  more  than  175  attended  the 
dedication  of  the  new  Jeters  Chapel  Church  of  the 
Brethren  fellowship  hall  in  Bedford  County,  Va. 

The  new  addition  includes  a  baptistry, 
kitchen,  large  multi-purpose  room  and  addi- 
tional Sunday  school  space.  Valued  at 
approximately  $250,000,  only  $94,000  in  debt 
remains.  Paris  E.  "Pete"  Bain  is  pastor. 


n  Messenger  August  2000 


District  staff 
members  meet 
in  California 

On  March  30  nine  Dis- 
trict Administrative 
Assistants  and  Secre- 
taries (DAAS)  and 
their  Council  of  Dis- 
trict Executives 
(CODE)  liaison  met  at 
Brethren  Hillcrest 
Homes  in  La  Verne, 
Calif.,  for  their  bien- 
nial professional 
growth  event.  Repre- 
senting 10  of  the 
Church  of  the 
Brethren's  23  district 
offices,  participants 
were  able  to  share 
with  others  who  work 
in  district  offices. 

Dr.  Gene  Carper  of 
the  La  Verne  congrega- 
tion taught  the  group 
principles  of  classic 
design  for  publica- 
tions, information 


useful  for  production 
of  newsletters,  flyers, 
and  brochures. 

Margie  Paris  of  the 
Ministry  Office  in 
Elgin,  III.,  shared  in 
detail  the  "how"  and 
"why"  for  all  of  the 
information  that  dis- 
tricts keep  track  of  for 
licensed  and  ordained 
ministers. 

Neil  Fancher,  retire- 
ment counselor  for 
marketing  services, 
gave  the  group  an 
afternoon  tour  of  the 
Hillcrest  campus  and 
the  new  Southwoods 
Lodge,  followed  by 
refreshments  with  the 
Hillcrest  staff.  The  Hill- 
crest staff  took  care  of 
the  group's  needs, 
ranging  from  a  cane  to 
help  a  sore  knee,  to  a 
Brethren  ice  cream 
social.  -Joe  Vecchio  and 
Sandy  Adams 


Meeting  in  La  Verne,  Calif.,  the  DAAS  group 
included,  front  row:  Jeannette  Patterson. 
Georgia  Markey,  Suzie  Moss.  Second  row:  Pat 
Hopkins.  Linda  Williams.  Sandy  Adams.  Third 
row:  Mary  Ellen  Theriault.  June  Peters.  Dee 
Grindle.  Margie  Paris  (Ministry  Office).  Back: 
Joe  Vecchio.  Rick  Grindle 


BVS  Unit  238 — This  older  adult  unit  of  Brethren  Volunteer  Service 
participated  in  orientation  at  New  Windsor,  Md.  Work  projects  to  which  the 
volunteers  are  assigned  are  listed  by  their  names.  Front  row:  Sue  Grubb  (staff): 
Dorothy  Haner  (Gould  Farm,  Monterey,  Mass.);  Winifred  Toledo  (Community 
Mediation  Center.  Harrisonburg.  Va.):  Emily  Larson  (New  Windsor  Conference 
Center):  Cleo  Treadway  (Church  of  the  Brethren  Washington  Office).  Back  row: 
Alice  Petry  (guest  leader):  Larry  Petty  (guest  leader):  Lavonne  Grubb  (placement 
to  be  announced):  Joan  Campbell  (Gould  Farm):  Jim  Campbell  (Gould  Farm). 


MILESTONESI 


Three  couples 
celebrate  60  years 

Sixty  years  of  marriage 
and  a  lifetime  of  friend- 
ship were  celebrated 
recently  by  three  cou- 
ples in  Iowa — all 
members  of  the  Pan- 
ther Creek  Church  of 
the  Brethren  in  Adel. 
Friends  since  their 
childhood  at  Panther 
Creek,  Leonard  and 
Mable  Snyder,  Dale  and 
Ruth  Wicks,  and  Verle 
and  Eva  York  stayed  in 
the  area  to  farm  after 
their  marriages  in  1940 
and  have  continually 
supported  each  other 
and  their  families. 

Wed  within  eight 
days  of  each  other 

ay  29,  31,  and  June 
5,  respectively),  the 
three  couples  cele- 
brated their  60th 
anniversaries  with  a 
triple  open  house  at 
thechurchonJune  11. 

Not  knowing  a 
reception  announce- 
ment in  the  newspaper 
would  create  a  stir,  Eva 
gave  information 


about  the  open  house 
to  The  Des  Moines 
Register.  After  she 
relayed  the  details,  a 
reporter  called  to  set 
up  an  interview. 

On  May  29  the  Reg- 
ister printed  the  story, 
entitled  "180  years  of 
marriage:  3  couples 
celebrate  loyalty,"  and 
posted  it  on  the  news- 
paper's website.  The 
next  day  the  couples 
received  a  call  from 
CBS  television 
requesting  interviews. 

They  were  scheduled 
to  air  live  on  "The  Early 
Show"  Friday,  June  2, 
but  the  story  was  post- 
poned then  eventually 
canceled  due  to  sched- 
uling conflicts.  Later  in 
the  week,  by  invitation 
and  expense  of  CBS, 
the  friends  gathered  to 
spend  dinner  together 
at  a  restaurant  in  Des 
Moines. 

After  farming  and 
raising  children 
together  for  more  than 
45  years  within  a  mile 
of  each  other,  the  Sny- 


ders.  Wicks,  and  Yorks 
continue  to  live  in  the 
Adel  area  and  attend 
church  every  Sunday. 
"The  church  and  com- 
munity have  been  the 
center  of  our  lives," 
Eva  said.— Kendra  Flory 

Couple  marks  82 
years  of  marriage 

Harley  and  Sylvia  Utz 
marked  their  82nd 
wedding  anniversary 
June  15.  Residents  of 
The  Brethren's  Home, 
Greenville,  Ohio,  both 
are  101  years  old.  They 
are  longtime  members 
of  the  Pitsburg  Church 
of  the  Brethren, 
Arcanum,  Ohio. 

Son  Emerson  Utz  of 
Arcanum  said  his 
mother  is  in  good 
health  and  his  father 
has  suffered  the 
aftereffects  of  a 
recent  fall.  Both  say 
they  cherish  their 
wedding  covenant, 
though  Mrs.  Utz 
sometimes  complains 
jokingly  that  she  lives 
with  an  "old  man." 

Messenger  August  2000 


^ 


NEWS 


New  Windsor  stores 
•nges 

Changes  are  coming  at  the 
Brethren  Service  Center  in  rural 
New  Windsor,  Md.,  where  the 
two  stores  on  campus  have 
recently  announced  new  plans. 

On  Earth  Peace  Assembly 
said  its  Peace  Place  Bookstore 
and  Resource  Center,  located 
in  the  lower  level  of  Windsor 
Hall,  would  be  closing  as  of 


Sept.  30.  A  release 
cited  overall  low  sales 
volume  and  the  highly 
competitive  religious 
book  and  resource  market 
as  reasons  for  the  decision 

SERRV  International,  mean- 
while, has  decided  to  move  its 
gift  shop  in  the  lower 
level  of  the  Old  Main  building 
to  a  smaller  space  in  its  admin 
istration  building — still  on  the 
New  Windsor  campus — 


At  the  Ministry  Summer 
Service  orientation  are 

Beth  Rhodes,  left,  of 

Roanoke,  Va.,  interning 

this  summer  at  York 

Center  Church  of  the 

Brethren,  Lombard,  III.; 

Rochelle  Hershey,  center, 

of  Ephrata,  Pa.,  interning 

at  Wilmington  (Del.) 

Church  of  the  Brethren; 

and  Kendra  Flory  of 

McPherson,  Kan., 

interning  in  the  Brethren 

Press  Communications 

Office,  Elgin,  III. 


Ministry  Summer  Service 
begins  with  a  call 

One  by  one,  mentors  and  leaders  in  this  year's  Min- 
istry Summer  Service  program  shared  how  they 
had  received  their  call  to  the  ministry.  Most  of  them 
never  expected  their  path  would  lead  there.  A  few 
even  tried  to  head  as  far  away  from  it  as  possible. 

Now  each  one  is  helping  a  young  adult  explore 
that  same  call.  The  12  college  students  in  this 
year's  program  committed  to  spending  nine  weeks 
in  a  ministry  setting — 1 1  of  them  in  congregations 
and  one  in  the  communications  area  of  Brethren 
Press — following  a  week-long  orientation  in  Rich- 
mond, Ind. 

The  program,  now  in  its  fifth  summer,  is  a  joint 
effort  of  the  General  Board's  Youth/Young  Adult 
and  Ministry  offices  and  Bethany  Theological  Sem- 
inary. Orientation  included  lessons  on  leadership, 
church  polity,  discerning  a  call,  and  other  topics, 
hearing  from  a  variety  of  guest  speakers. 

Interns  also  took  and  examined  personality 


sometime  next  year.  Overall 
sales  for  SERRV  are  up  31  per- 
cent this  year,  but  sales  at  the 
center's  3,500-square-foot  gift 
shop  were  declining  for  a  10th 
straight  year,  according  to 
SERRV  president  Bob  Chase. 

"New  Windsor  does  not  fare 
well  for  retail  space,"  said  Stan 
Noffsinger,  director  of  the 
Brethren  Service  Center.  "It's  not 
where  people  from  the  metro- 
politan areas  are  going  to  shop." 

OEPA  said  the  core  mission 
of  the  Peace  Place  will  be  pre- 
served through  a  new  initiative 
called  the  "Peace  Basket," 
offering  peace  resources  to 
congregations  and  other 
groups  on  a  lending  basis. 
OEPA  board  chair  Dale  Brown 
said  the  decision  is  part  of  a 
continuing,  major  strategic 
planning  process  by  the  staff 


tests,  had  Bible  study,  toured  the  Bethany  campus, 
and  took  turns  leading  worship.  Mentors  joined 
the  interns  for  the  final  two  and  a  half  days,  which 
culminated  in  a  powerful  worship  service  of  bless- 
ing, anointing,  and  commissioning. 

Bob  Faus,  former  ministry  consultant  for  the 
General  Board,  served  as  volunteer  coordinator 
for  the  week.  Chris  Douglas  of  the  Youth/Young 
Adult  Office,  Allen  Hansell  of  the  Ministry  Office, 
and  numerous  Bethany  staff  members  providing 
additional  leadership. 

"You  had  choices  this  summer,"  Hansell  said  to 
the  interns.  "You  could  have  done  any  number  of 
things,  but  you  chose  to  be  here,  and  the  church 
thanks  you  for  that.  It  gives  me  tremendous  hope 
for  the  future.  The  church  is  blessed  by  having  you." 

Earle  Fike,  a  former  pastor  and  Bethany  teacher, 
urged  the  interns  to  be  open  to  the  process  of  explo- 
ration, just  as  the  mentors  once  were.  "God  does 
not  expect  persons  to  be  fully  prepared  at  the  time 
of  a  call,"  he  said.  "God  does  expect  people  to  use 
the  creative  gifts  God  has  given  them." 


Messenger  August  2000 


WORLDWATCH 


and  board  members,  seeking  to 
clarify  OEPA's  role  in  the 
denomination.  He  also  said  that 
the  OEPA  offices  will  remain  in 
New  Windsor,  at  least  for  now. 

SERRV  also  plans  to  stay  on 
the  campus.  Chase  said  SERRV 
has  "an  extremely  strong  com- 
mitment" to  the  center  and  is 
already  talking  about  renewal  of 
its  lease,  which  is  up  next  year. 

"We  are  very  pleased  about 
being  here,"  Chase  said.  "We  just 
need  to  make  sure  we  use  our 
resources  in  the  best  way  to  carry 
out  our  mission.  The  mission 
doesn't  change,  but  the  way  you 
carry  it  out  over  time  does." 

Noffsinger  said  he  will  be 
working  to  bring  in  new  part- 
ners to  fill  the  vacant  spaces. 
He  expects  those  to  be  offices 
rather  than  retail  outlets.  He 
said  he  hopes  for  a  Church  of 
the  Brethren  agency  or  another 
partner  that  shares  similar 
values  to  join  the  New  Windsor 
community. 

'This  is  a  vibrant  place  with  a 
lot  to  offer,"  Noffsinger  said. 
"This  is  an  opportunity  for  new 
ministry." 

Peace  Travel  Team 
makes  tour  of  camps 

The  2000  Youth  Peace  Travel 
Team  is  crisscrossing  the  east- 
ern half  of  the  country  this 
summer,  serving  for  eight 
weeks  at  six  Church  of  the 
Brethren  camps  and  Annual 
Conference.  Camps  in  Mary- 
land, Virginia,  Michigan,  and 
Pennsylvania  were  on  this 
year's  schedule.  The  group  held 
orientation  at  Camp  Swatara  in 
Bethel,  Pa.,  before  heading  out. 

Myra  Martin-Adkins,  Daniel 
Royer,  Meghan  Sheller,  Peter 
Dobberstein,  and  Marshall 
Camden  compose  the  team, 
which  leads  activities  related  to 
peace  education,  service,  and 
other  topics.  Several  agencies 
cosponsor  the  annual  effort. 


1.  Nigeria.  An  Emergency  Disaster 
Fund  grant  of  $20,500  will  be  used  to 
help  rebuild  the  Ekklesiyar  Yan'uwa  a 
Nigeria's  Badarwa  church  in  Kaduna, 
burned  during  riots  between  Muslims 
and  Christians,  and  for  medical 
expenses  and  other  costs  for  those 
affected  by  the  riots. 

2.  Korea.  North  and  South  Korea,  ene- 
mies for  half  a  century,  took  steps  toward 
peace  after  a  historic  summit  in  June. 
The  two  nations,  split  by  the  38th  paral- 
lel, promised  to  work  toward  reunification. 
Brethren  Witness  director  David  Radcliff 
called  it  "a  remarkable  turn  of  events." 

3.  Guatemala.  Two  new  grants  from 
the  Global  Food  Crisis  Fund  will  send 
aid  to  the  Central  American  nation,  with 
$10,000  going  toward  the  building  of 
wood-conserving  stoves  and  water-stor- 
ing cisterns  and  $5,000  toward  a  private 
school  for  poor  children  that  is  creat- 
ing a  "food  forest." 

4.  Afghanistan/Pai<istan.  Another 
Emergency  Disaster  Fund  grant,  for 
$25,000,  will  help  address  the  severe 
drought  in  central  Asia,  the  worst  since 
1971.  The  money  will  go  toward  a 
larger  appeal  by  Church  World  Ser- 
vice to  provide  food  packages,  water, 
and  livestock  fodder. 

5.  New  Windsor,  Md.  Brethren  Vol 
unteer  Service  Unit  239  gathered  at 
the  Brethren  Service  Center  June  11- 


July  1  for  orientation.  The  12  volun- 
teers joined  in  numerous  educational 
and  service  events  before  heading  out 
to  their  projects. 

Tijuana,  Mexico.  A  committee 
reported  that  it  is  developing  a  work- 
ing agreement  between  the  Church  of 
the  Brethren  General  Board  and  the 
Companeros  en  Ministerio  program  for 
mission  in  the  border  city  following 
Campaheros  severing  of  its  relation- 
ship with  Shalom  Ministries. 

,  Washington,  D.C.  Religious  lead- 
ers and  military  officials  joined  for  an 
interfaith  worship  service  June  21  at 
the  National  Cathedral,  calling  for  steps 
toward  nuclear  disarmament.  They  also 
issued  a  joint  statement,  with  General 
Board  executive  director  Judy  Mills 
Reimer  among  those  signing. 

8.  Honduras.  In  mid-June  a  Church 
of  the  Brethren  Faith  Expedition,  with 
15  people  from  eight  districts,  took  part 
in  reconstruction  efforts  following  1998's 
Hurricane  Mitch.  The  group  worked  in 
the  area  of  Las  Lajas. 

9.  Dominican   Republic.   Two 

Church  of  the  Brethren  YouthA'oung  Adult 
Workcamps  traveled  to  the  Caribbean 
nation  in  June.  These  were  a  young  adult 
workcamp  June  2-10  and  a  senior  high 
workcamp  cosponsored  by  Brethren 
Revival  Fellowship  June  25-July  5. 


Messenger  August  2000 


NEWS 


BRETHRENSPEAK 

Seeing  what 
helping  a 
person  can 
do  is  really 
awesonne....if 
you  show  the 
love  of  God 
through  faith 
and  actions, 
you  can  really 
seethe 
difference  in 
the  people  you 
help,  and  there 
will  be  a  change 
in  you,  too. 

Laura  Trausch  of 

Walbridge,  Ohio,  on 
her  youth  workcamp 
experience 


At  the  Young  Adult 

Conference,  Jenny 

Palmer  (Audubon,  Pa.), 

Jill  Deyarmin  (Windber, 

Pa.),  and  Jonathan 

Dunmyer  (Hooversville, 

Pa.)  look  for  Gummi 

Bears  in  a  bowl  of 

chocolate  pudding 

during  a  "Wacky 

Olympics"  free-time 

event. 


Pennsylvania 
home  hosts 
Forum  2000 

More  than  50  people 
from  13  Brethren  retire- 
ment communities. 
Southern  Pennsylvania 
District,  Mennonite 
Health  Services,  and 
the  Association  of 
Brethren  Caregivers 
gathered  for  the  Fel- 
lowship of  Brethren 
Homes'  Forum  2000, 
held  in  mid-June.  It 
was  the  fourth  straight 
year  for  the  event,  held 
at  The  Brethren  Home 
Community  in  New 
Oxford,  Pa.,  this  year. 
ABC  sponsored  the 
event,  which  included 
networking  sessions 
for  home  executives 
and  other  leaders, 
training  for  board 
members,  and  tours  of 
three  area  retirement 
facilities.  The  location 
of  the  2001  Forum  is 
expected  to  be  named 
soon. 

Personnel 
changes 

Jonathan  A.  Shively 

has  been  named  the 
new  coordinator  of  the 


Young  adults  meet,  seek  common  ground 

About  70  young  adults  and  leaders  gathered  at  Camp  Harmony  in  Hooversville, 
Pa.,  Memorial  Day  weekend  to  learn,  fellowship,  and  address  the  Young  Adult 
Conference  theme  "Finding  Common  Ground." 

A  team  of  three  Brethren  "elders"  joined  keynote  leader  Matt  Guynn  to 
help  the  group  explore  feelings  and  have  open  dialogue  on  issues  in  the 
church.  Worship  also  formed  a  central  part  of  the  conference,  and  numerous 
workshops  were  offered. 

The  Bittersweet  Gospel  Band  provided  an  evening  concert,  and  a  variety 
show,  "Wacky  Olympics,"  recreation  options,  and  informal  conversation 
rounded  out  the  weekend. 

"We  all  came  here  seeking  common  ground,"  Guynn  said  at  the  closing. 
"Yet  we  can  be  diverse  among  that.  That  excites  me  and  gives  me  hope." 


Brethren  Academy  for 
Ministerial  Leadership, 
effective  Sept.  1.  He 
succeeds  current  coor- 
dinators Harriet  and 
Ron  Finney,  who  will 
continue  to  serve  until 
Sept.  30. 

Shively  has  been 
serving  as  pastor  of 
the  Pomona  (Calif.) 
Fellowship  Church  of 
the  Brethren  since 


1993.  He  is  coordina- 
tor of  Pacific 
Southwest  District's 
Training  in  Ministry 
program  and  served 
as  music  coordinator 
for  the  1997  Annual 
Conference. 

Nancy  Klemm,  who 
has  been  serving  as 
copy  editor  for 
Brethren  Press, 
became  associate 


editor,  a  salaried  posi- 
tion, effective  June  5. 

Klemm  began  her 
employment  with  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren 
General  Board  in  1985. 
She  began  as  secre- 
tary for  the  People  of 
the  Covenant  program 
and  later  worked  with 
the  hymnal  project 
and  as  an  editorial 
assistant. 


Messenger  August  2000 


OU' 


D[  Ji  inAine,  the  right  continuing  care  retirement  community'  for 
J^you.  depends  on  the  choices  you  seek.  Among  the  many 
/     choices,  you  want  a  retirement  community  that  is  accredited 
"-'^       by  the  Continuing  Care  Accreditation  Commission  to 
enhance  your  decision. 

Hillcrest  offers  you  the  security  and  assurance  of  accreditation  in 
addition  to  all  of  the  services  and  amenities  available  on  campus. 
Our  active  lifestyle  allows  residents  freedom  from  household  chores, 
and  provides  ongoing  connections  to  our  surrounding  commvinit)'. 
Hillcrest  provides  distinct 
peace  of  mind  for  the 
fliture. 

Our  newest  development, 
the  Court)'ard  Homes, 
offers  you  homes  with  two 
bedrooms,  two  baths,  a  two- 
car  garage,  an  appliance 
package  and  an  enclosed 
court)'arci  within  a  range  of 
1200  to  1500  square  feet. 
There  are  three  large  floor 
plans  to  select  from,  and  three 
monthly  fee  service  package 


For  further  information,  call 

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or  (909)  392-4360 

Visit  our  website: 
www.seniorhousing.net/ad/hillcrestca 


options.  These  spacious  homes  are  so  well 
nestled  into  the  surrounding  community' 
that  it  gives  the  appearance  and  feeling  of 
living  in  a  neighborhood  setting. 

Phase  11  of  the  Courtyard  Homes  is 
scheduled  for  development  in  the  summer  of 
2000,  pending  approval  from  the 
Department  of  Social  Services.  The  next  13 
homes  will  be  built  in  a  series  of  phases. 

Make  time  to  visit  Hillcrest  for  one  of  our 
monthly  events,  or  an  individual  tour,  and 
see  the  possibilities  for  your  Riture 
retirement  lifestjde.  Hillcrest  is  a  successful, 
stable.  Continuing  Care  Retirement 
Community'  that  offers  you  many  choices. 


DSS  Continuing  Care 
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HILLCREST 


i  RETIREMENT  COMMUNITY  RELATED  TO  THE  CHURCH  OF  TME  BRETHREN 


2705  Mt.  View  Drive  •  La  Verne,  CA  91750 


'Teacher,  which  commandment  is  the  greatest?"  Jesus  said 

to  him,  "You  shall  love  the  Lord  your  God  with  all  your 

heart,  and  with  all  your  soul,  and  with  all  your  mind. 

This  is  the  greatest  and  first  commandment. " 

Matthew  22:36-38 


Giving  God  your  heart,  soul,  and  mind  is  central  to  the 
decision  to  be  baptized  as  a  Christian  and  become  a  member 
of  the  Church  oi  the  Brethren.  Heart,  Soul,  and  Mind  is  an 
adaptable  membership  curriculum  for  congregations  to  use 
with  youth  and  adults  who  are  exploring  a  deeper 
commitment  to  Christian  discipleship. 


Four  units  of  study  explore  what  Brethren  should  know  about  the  Bible,  church  history,  living  the  taith,  and  church 
membership.  The  Leader's  Guide  (#9922,  $24.95)  includes  reproducible  handouts  for  students,  ideas  tor  a  mentor 
program,  and  an  apprenticeship  program.  The  Membership  Handbook  for  students  (#9923,  $9.95)  contains 
readings,  exercises,  and  journal  starters,  and  is  valuable  as  a  keepsake  and  benchmark  of  faith  development.  A  video 
(#9924,  $19.95)  featuring  Brethren  youth  talking  about  faith  is  also  available  to  supplement  the  curriculum. 

Candidates  for  membership  will  be  engaged  — heart,  soul,  and  mind — to  love  God, 
love  their  neighbor,  and  join  in  the  community  of  faith. 

0 

Brethren  Press 

This  day. 

I45I  Dundee  Avenue,  Elgin,  Illinois  60120-1694 
phone  800-441-3712       fax  800-667-8188       e-mail  brethrenpress_gb(^brethren.org 


Class  of  2000  Bethany 

graduates  include,  first 

row:  Elizabeth  Bidgood 

Enders,  Karen  Cox, 

Janice  Fairchild.  Second 

row:  Gregory  Bidgood 

Enders.  Dean  Johnson, 

John  A.  Barr,  Ken 

Miller-Rieman,  Norman 

Wilson,  Brent  Driver, 

Patrick  Starkey.  Not 

pictured:  J.  Michael 

Schaadt-Patterson, 

Karla  Hignite,  Alan 

Tripp,  Karin  Davidson, 

Horace  Derr 


Fifteen  receive  degrees 
in  Bethany  Class  of  2000 

Fifteen  students  graduated  at  a 
May  9  ceremony  at  Bethany 
Theological  Seminary  in  Rich- 
mond, Ind.  Nine  received 
Master  of  Divinity  degrees, 
four  received  Master  of  Arts  in 


Ir^  i^jBfe-  ijt^t^i 

E- 

jAJaI- 

g 

Theology  degrees,  and  two 
received  Certificates  in  Theo- 
logical Studies. 

Kenneth  B.  Smith,  former 
president  of  Chicago  Theologi- 
cal Seminary,  spoke  at  the 
conferring  of  degrees  ceremony, 
and  General  Board  executive 


director  Judy  Mills  Reimer  spoke 
at  an  afternoon  worship  service 
held  the  same  day  at  the  Rich- 
mond, Ind.,  campus.  Graduates' 
future  plans  include  careers  in 
pastoral  ministry,  children's  and 
youth  ministry,  website  market- 
ing and  development,  and 
further  graduate  study. 


Colorado  wildfires 
affect  Brethren 

The  wildfires  burning  in  Colorado  brought  a  scare 
to  a  junior  high  camp  group  at  Camp  Colorado 
in  Sedalia.  One  of  the  largest  fires  in  the  state 
came  just  10-12  miles  west  of  the  camp  in  mid- 
June  before  favorable  weather  conditions  finally 
eliminated  the  danger. 

The  Prince  of  Peace  Church  of  the  Brethren 
in  Littleton,  Colo.,  stood 
ready  to  provide  shelter  for 
the  group  if  evacuation 
became  necessary,  as  some 
ash  fell  at  the  camp  early  in 
the  week,  and  some  activi- 
ties had  to  be  altered  due  to 
the  smoke  and  uncertainty 
of  the  fire's  direction. 

Camp     Colorado     head 


Forest  prayer.  Junior  high 

campers  at  Camp  Colorado 

gathered  in  a  circle  to  hear 

updates  on  nearby  forest 

fires  and  to  pray. 


trustee  Lynn  Clannin  said  that  the  cost  of  fight- 
ing the  fire  rose  to  $7  million,  and  58  structures 
were  burned  along  with  1 1,000  acres  of  trees.  A 
Disaster  Child  Care  team  from  Church  of  the 
Brethren  Emergency  Response/Service  Ministries 
was  summoned  to  an  evacuation  shelter  at  an 
area  high  school  to  assist  with  needs  of  uprooted 
families  for  several  days. 

For  more  information,  please  see  http:// 
www.cob-net.org/camp/colorado_news.htm. 


UPCOMINGEVENTS 

Aug.  10-12    Southern 
Plains  District  Con- 
ference, Nocona  (Tex.) 
Church  of  the  Brethren. 

Aug.  13-18  On  Earth 
Peace  Assembly 
Peace  Camp,  Camp 
Mardela,  Denton,  Md. 

Aug.  13-23  Brethren 
Volunteer  Service 
Unit  240,  Roxbury,  Pa. 

Aug.  18-20  Michigan 
District  Conference, 

Wesleyan  Campgrounds, 
Hastings 

Aug.  26  Area  1 
(Northeast)  Urban 
Ministry  Celebration 
and  Conference,  Har 

risburg  (Pa.)  First  Church 
of  the  Brethren 

Sept.  8-9  South/Cen- 
tral Indiana  District 
Conference,  Camp 
Alexander  Mack,  Milford 

Sept.  8-10  Missouri 
and  Arkansas  Dis- 
trict Conference, 

Windemere  Conference 
Center,  Roach,  Mo. 

Sept.  10  Bethany 
Emphasis  Sunday 

Sept.  11-15  National 
Older  Adult 
Conference,  Lake 
Junaluska,  N.C. 


Messenger  August  2000 


M 


Raves  f^^    y^g  Jubilee  toui 


l#lii 


"Rosella  was 

very  articulate, 

energetic,  and 

had  a  true  love 

for  the  Lord 

and  for 

children.  She 

knew  the 

importance  of 

instilling  good, 

sound  Christian 

nurture  in  the 

hearts  of  young 

children." 


Sunday  school  materials 

by  Walt  Wiltschek 


"Captivating." 

"Bubbly." 

"I  just  can't  say  enough." 

It  sounds  like  the  critics'  reviews  often  seen 
in  movie  ads.  These  reviews,  however,  were 
directed  toward  Rosella  Wiens  Regier,  who  is 
wrapping  up  a  year-long  tour  to  promote  the 
Jubilee  Sunday  school  curriculum  and  Christ- 
ian education  in  general. 

Regier  likely  won't  win  an  Oscar  for  her 
efforts,  but  she  has  won  the  hearts  of  Christian 
educators  and  others  across  the  denomination. 

"She  was  very  articulate,  energetic,  and  had 
a  true  love  for  the  Lord  and  for  children,"  said 
Roy  McVey,  pastor  of  the  Collinsville  (Va.) 
congregation  where  Regier  did  a  workshop  in 
May.  "She  knew  the  importance  of  instilling 
good,  sound  Christian  nurture  in  the  hearts  of 
young  children." 

McVey  said  he  wished  more  than  the  1  5 
who  came  could  have  attended,  and  he  would 
love  to  have  Regier  back  for  another  presenta- 
tion. He  especially  praised  her  way  of  drawing 
people  out  and  involving  them. 

Regier  did  manage  to  reach  many  people 
during  her  tour,  provided  as  a  free  resource  to 
the  church  by  Brethren  Press,  with  about  1,200 
participants  in  14  districts  and  approximately 
1 1  5  hours  of  events.  Nearly  100  people 
attended  individual  workshops  in  Ohio  and 
North  Carolina,  and  she  spoke  to  even  larger 
crowds  when  events  were  combined  with  wor- 
ship and  Sunday  school. 

Destinations  ranged  from  California  to 
Pennsylvania  to  Florida,  with  many  stops  in 
between.  Even  obstacles  like  flat  tires  and 
laryngitis  proved  unable  to  stop  her. 

"She  came  here  very  ill,  and  we  had  terrible 
rains  and  flooding,"  said  Linda  Gerber,  Christ- 
ian education  coordinator  for  Southern 
Pennsylvania  District,  "it  was  like  the  mail  ser- 


Cathy  Fulcher,  Betty  Franklin,  and  Donna 
Luther  from  the  Jones  Chapel  congregation 
(Martinsville,  Va.)  look  at  Generation  Why 
resources  during  a  session  in  Collinsville,  Va. 

vice,  neither  illness  nor  rain  nor  anything  could 
deter  her  workshop...  And  there  was  just  a  gen- 
uine love  and  joy  we  felt  all  the  way  through." 

Regier,  a  Mennonite  from  Newton,  Kan., 
said  she  never  likes  to  miss  an  opportunity  to 
talk  about  her  favorite  subject.  She  called  the 
invitation  by  Brethren  Press  director  Wendy 
McFadden  to  do  the  tour  "a  God-send."  Regier 
retired  from  working  with  the  jubilee  curricu- 
lum project  in  January  1999  and  was  itching 
for  something  to  do. 

It  didn't  take  long  for  her  to  get  her  wish.  A 
letter  to  congregations  and  districts  quickly 
generated  a  full  itinerary  for  her. 

"It  was  amazing,  just  amazing.  It's  been  a 
great  thing,"  said  Regier,  the  enthusiasm  that 
others  praised  quite  evident  in  her  voice.  "I 
wouldn't  trade  it  for  anything.  I  thought,  'What 
if  I'd  retired  into  nothing?'  The  issues  I  love 
and  have  a  passion  for  was  a  perfect  match,  an 
absolute  gift  when  Wendy  asked  me  to  do  this. 
To  be  65  and  have  this  opportunity  was  a  taste 
of  heaven." 

She  threw  herself  into  it  and  did  it  ere- 


IJQ 


Messenger  August  2000 


atively.  Those  who  heard  her  praised  the  drama 
and  creative  devotions  she  arranged,  her  story- 
teUing  ability,  and  her  abiUty  to  readily  connect 
with  people — both  adults  and  children. 

They  also  said  that  she  obviously  knew  her 
material  and  expressed  that  knowledge  clearly 
and  well,  making  her  a  good  ambassador  for 
the  product. 

"We  got  so  much  out  of  it,"  said  McPher- 
son  (Kan.)  Church  of  the  Brethren  Christian 
education  director  Jan  Diaz,  who  became 
hooked  on  jubilee  while  working  on  a  new 
church  start  in  Louisiana.  "What  was  nice  was 
her  way  of  showing  us  things  and  using  stories 
.  .  .  I  could  go  on  and  on." 

That  said,  it  doesn't  mean  that  everything  is 
rosy  when  it  comes  to  Christian  education  in 
the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  Several  people  said 
that  education  in  the  church  seems  to  be  get- 
ting less  and  less  emphasis  and  attention 
overall,  with  smaller  amounts  of  resources 
going  toward  it.  There  often  is  no  easy  place  to 
turn  to  for  advice  or  ideas. 

Even  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  Associa- 
tion of  Christian  Educators  has  struggled  to 
retain  its  mission  since  being  separated  from  the 
General  Board  during  redesign  in  the  1990s, 
losing  funding  and  organizational  support. 


Rosella  Wiens  Regier 
and  Joan  Barker  from 
Collinsville  (Va.) 
Church  of  the 
Brethren  discuss 
Joan 's  participation  in 
the  event  as  part  of  a 
continuing  education 
requirement. 


"When  we  lose  Christian  education,  we're 
losing  a  major  piece  of  growing  churches," 
Gerber  said.  "It's  not  just  Sunday  morning;  it's 
everything  in  the  teaching  ministry  of  the 
church.  If  we  don't  give  the  right  support  to 
that,  we  won't  keep  people." 

Regier  acknowledged  that  Christian  edu- 
cators often  work  out  of  the  spotlight  but  urged 
them  to  look  for  the  small  blessings  that  come 
through  their  ministry  each  week.  She  also 
encouraged  others  to  give  them  a  "pat  on  the 
back"  and  let  them  know  they're  appreciated. 

As  for  herself,  Regier  isn't  sure  what  lies 
ahead.  She  joked  that  she's  always  wanted  to  be  a 
florist,  but  for  now  speeches,  three  grandchil- 
dren, and  work  that  she's  doing  with  a  support 
group — plus  a  few  lingering  assignments  on  the 
Jubilee  tour — are  keeping  her  busy.  Whatever 
comes  next,  she  knows  it  will  be  something 
enjoyable. 

"The  way  my  life  has  gone,  it's  like  God 
has  a  surprise  around  every  corner,"  she  said. 
"There's  always  something  new  and  good 
that  emerges,  and  that's  true  for  the  ¥^B 

church  as  well."  ^^ 


Walt  Wiltschek  is  manager  of  news  services  for  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren  General  Board. 


"The  way  my 
life  has  gone, 
it's  like  God 
has  a  surprise 
around  every 
corner.  There's 
always  sonne- 
thing  new 
and  good  that 
ennerges,  and 
that's  true  for 
the  church 
as  well." 


Messenger  August  2000 


This  special  section  of 
articles  on  Church  of 
the  Brethren  homes 
was  prepared  by  the 
Association  of 
Brethren  Caregivers 
in  cooperation  with 
Messenger.  Primary 
editors  for  the  project 
were  ABC  staff  mem- 
bers Roger  Golden, 
coordinator  of  shared 
services,  and  Mary 
Dulabaum,  director  of 
communication. 


Napoleon 

Lemieux  puts 

some  finishing 

touches  on  his 

project  at  Palms 

of  Sebring's 

wood  craft 

workshop. 


Daisy  McCleer  talks  to  middle  school 

students  during  an  intergenerational 

event  at  Peter  Becker  Community. 


THE  LOVE 
CONNECTION 

Why  there  are 
Brethren  homes 

by  Tavia  Ervin 

I  am  the  chaplain  at  Pleasant  Hill  Village,  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren  nursing  home  at  Girard,  III.  The 
people  I  serve  are  old  and  weak  and  need  assis- 
tance with  life's  basic  activities.  They  possess 
rich  personal  histories,  many  talents,  wisdom, 
and  a  sense  of  humor.  They  are  women  and  men 
with  shortcomings,  regrets,  and  fears.  Some  have 
great  faith  and  compassion,  while  others  are  fear- 
ful and  self-absorbed.  In  short,  in  most  ways,  they 
are  just  like  you  and  me.  i  invite  you  to  read  about 
them  in  the  words  that  follow,  not  with  sadness 
or  dread,  but  in  gratitude  for  the  long  lives  they 
have  led  and  in  awe  at  God's  call  to  all  of  us  to 
serve  them  in  our  Brethren  Homes. 

She  never  misses  Friday  devotions,  so  when 
her  usual  front  row  seat  was  empty  one  week 
I  went  to  find  her  as  soon  as  we  were  finished.  "li 
missed  you,"  I  said  simply  as  I  stood  in  her  door-i 
way  and  she  smiled.  I  count  on  seeing  that  smile 
as  part  of  my  day.  It's  a  silent  "amen"  to  my  min- 
istry here,  even  when  I  doubt  the  worth  of  my 
presence  in  the  building.  She  does  the  same  for 
others,  both  residents  and  staff,  by  gifting  them 
with  a  word  of  encouragement  at  every  turn.  Her 
faith  literally  shines  from  her  face. 

"I'm  sorry  1  couldn't  be  with  you  this  morn- 
ing. This  foot  of  mine  is  giving  me  such  trouble 
and  they  told  me  to  sit  with  it  propped  up.  I'm 
afraid  I  fell  asleep  here  in  my  chair,"  she  explained. 
We  talked  for  a  long  time  and  she  told  me  about 
her  days  as  a  missionary  in  the  Philippines.  "You 
know,"  she  said,  "I'm  not  sure  why  God  keeps 
me  here  in  this  world  anymore.  I  feel  like  I've  done 
everything  I  can  do  here.  I  really  am  ready  to  die." 
Who  can  say  why  God  chooses  to  keep  us  in  this 
world  when  we  ourselves  find  it  difficult  to  see 
what  purpose  we  may  have  here?  I  did  not  know 
what  to  say  to  her.  It  was  not  until  later  that  evening 
as  I  was  thinking  of  our  conversation  and  about 
our  friendship  that  I  knew  at  least  part  of  the 
answer.  I  couldn't  wait  to  see  her  on  Monday. 

"I've  been  thinking  about  what  you  said  yes- 
terday and  I  think  I  understand  why  you  are  here!" 
I  blurted  out  after  we  had  greeted  each  other  on 
Monday  morning.  She  laughed.  I  went  on,  "It's 
your  ministry.  With  your  gift  of  encouragement 


il^  Messenger  August  2000 


you  help  me  to  minister  here.  You  help  so  many 
people  to  see  that  each  day  holds  something  good 
in  it  because  your  faith  tells  you  it  is  so." 

She  smiled  that  smile  and  patted  my  hand. 
"Thank  you,  dear."  We  spent  our  time  together 
talking  and  we  prayed.  In  that  time  together  we 
helped  one  another  find  the  courage  of  faith  that 
comes  when  God's  people  are  simply  there  for 
one  another. 

We  all  minister  here  in  unique,  individ- 
ual ways.  Many  days  through  my  office 
door  1  can  hear  one  of  our  residents  calling  out, 
"Help."  1  go  to  sit  with  him.  "What  can  I  do  for 
you?"  I  ask  him,  but  very  seldom  is  he  able  to 
name  anything  specific  that  is  troubling  him.  He 
curses  at  me  and  at  anyone  else  walking  by  and 
each  time  he  apologizes  to  me. 

He  suffers  from  damage  to  his  brain  from  a 
series  of  strokes,  and  the  normal  inhibitions  that 
keep  our  behavior  in  check  do  not  function  for 
him.  One  of  his  former  neighbors  works  here  at 
the  home  and  tells  stories  of  his  kindness  and 
friendly  spirit  when  she  knew  him  as  a  child.  Here 
he  is  restless  and  uncomfortable  as  he  sits  in  his 
wheelchair  and  he  is  frustrated  because  he  cannot 
articulate  any  of  those  feelings  to  me;  his  lan- 
guage abilities  are  diminished.  "Stay  with  me," 
he  says,  and  pats  my  hand.  I  do  and  he  curses  at 
me  again,  and  then  pats  my  hand  and  apologizes. 
Then  he  looks  into  my  face  and  says,  "1  love  you." 

"I  love  you  too,"  1  say,  and  tears  come  to  my 
eyes.  His  words  humble  me  and  lift  me  up  at  the 
same  time.  There  is  healing  here  in  the  way  that 
love  can  connect  us,  in  spite  of  the  boundaries  that 
disability  and  sickness  would  put  in  our  way.  We 
sit  together  quietly  after  that,  and  when  he  is  feel- 
ing better  1  leave  him  to  visit  with  other  residents. 

At  Pleasant  Hill  Village  I  care  for  the 
spiritual  needs  of  the  residents,  but  some- 
thing else  happens  along  the  way.  The  residents 
care  for  my  spirit  as  well.  We  become  part  of  one 
another  and  in  turn  we  are  a  part  of  the  Body  of 
jesus  Christ.  And  that  is  as  it  should  be  because 
our  ministry  in  the  homes  is  the  same  as  that  of 
our  denomination:  Continuing  the  work  of  Jesus. 
Peacefully.  Simply.  Together. 

That's  why  the  homes  are  among  nine  min- 
istries that  come  under  the  aegis  of  the  Association 
of  Brethren  Caregivers.  It  is  not  a  ministry  of  the 
24  separate  Brethren  homes  alone,  but  of  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  as  a  whole.  Ministering 
in  these  homes  is  to  walk  with  women  and  men 
through  a  stage  in  their  development  as  human 
beings  that  can  be  frightening,  lonely,  painful, 
and  frustrating.  Our  ministry  can  make  it  one  of 
fellowship,  security,  and  spiritual  growth  instead. 


Ministering  in  long-term  care  means  embody- 
ing God's  love  for  people  by  providing  the  basics 
of  daily  living,  including  nutritious  food,  secure 
housing,  good  health  care,  dignified  surround- 
ings, and  spiritual  comfort. 

These  needs  are  essentially  no  different  than 
those  of  any  of  us,  but  our  elders'  ability  to  see 
to  those  needs  by  themselves  is  diminished.  The 
ministry  we  have  undertaken  as  the  Church  of 
the  Brethren  honors  |esus  by  caring  for  those 
members  of  God's  family  who  are  in  need  of  our 
special  attention. 

Over  the  past  few  decades,  the  ministry  of 
the  homes  has  grown  as  the  homes'  physical  facil- 
ities have  expanded  to  include  upscale  retirement 
communities  and  modernized  long-term  care 
facilities.  The  scope  of  our  ministry  in  the  decades 
to  come  depends  on  how  deeply  we  are  willing 
to  challenge  ourselves  as  the  church.  Continued 
ministry  to  the  elderly  who  cannot  afford  basic 
housing  and  health  care,  and  to  those  elders  with 
mental  and  emotional  illness  whose  care  is  dif- 
ficult and  specialized  will  be  challenging  and  will 
require  serious  commitment  from  all  of  us  in  our 
districts  and  as  a  denomination. 

How  will  we  respond  to  the  call? 

"I  love  you,"  He  said.  ^fjj 

"I  love  you  too."  ■■& 

Tavia  Ervin,  of  Sherman,  III.,   is  a  licensed  Church  of  the 
Brethren  minister  and  is  chaplain  at  Pleasant  Hill  Village. 

BRETHREN  HOMES  DIRECTORY 

Brethren  Village,  3001  Lititz  Pike,  Lancaster  PA  17606 

Lebanon  Valley  Brethren  Home,  1200  Grubb  St.,  Palmyra  PA  17078 

Peter  Becker  Community,  800  Maple  Ave.,  Harleysville  PA  19438 

The  Palms  Estates,  P.O.  Box  364,  Lorida  FL  33857 

The  Palms  of  Sebring,  725  S.  Pine  St.,  Sebring  FL  33870 

Pinecrest  Community,  41 4  S.  Wesley  Ave.,  Mt.  Morris  IL  61 054 

Pleasant  Hill  Village,  1 01 0  W.  North  St.,  Girard  IL  62640 

Timbercrest  Retirement  Community,  2201  East  St.,  North  Manchester  IN  46962 

Fahrney-Keedy  Memorial  Home,  8507  Mapleville  Rd.,  Boonsboro  MD  21713 

Spurgeon  Manor,  1204  Linden  St.,  Dallas  Center  lA  50063 

Good  Shepherd  Home,  725  Columbus  Ave.,  Fostoria  OH  44830 

West  View  Manor,  1715  Mechanicsburg  Rd.,  Wooster  OH  44691 

Brethren  Retirement  Community,  750  Chestnut  St.,  Greenville  OH  45331 

Garden  Terrace,  500  N.  Emerson  Ave.,  Wenatchee  WA  98801 

Northaven  Retirement  Residence,  1 1 045  8th  Ave.,  Seattle  WA  981 25 

Brethren  Hillcrest  Homes,  2705  Mountain  View  Dr.,  La  Verne  CA  91750 

Casa  De  Modesto,  1 745  Eldena  Way,  Modesto  CA  95350 

Long  Beach  Brethren  Manor,  3333  Pacific  PL,  Long  Beach  CA  90806 

Morrisons  Cove  Home,  429  S.  Market  St.,  Martinsburg  PA  16662 

The  Brethren  Home  Community,  2990  Carlisle  Pike,  New  Oxford  PA  1 7350 

Church  of  the  Brethren  Home,  1005  Hoffman  Ave.,  Windber  PA  15963 

Bridgewater  Retirement  Community,  302  N.  2nd  St.,  Bridgewater  VA  22812 

John  M.  Reed  Home,  124  John  Reed  Home  Rd.,  Limestone  TN  37681 

The  Cedars,  1021  Cedars  Dr.,  McPherson  KS  67460 


Messenger  August  2000 


NURTURING  THE  MINISTRY 
OF  BRETHREN  HOMES 

Is  vour  church  ''hor '  -  rss"?  Get  involved. 


Delbert 

and  Louise 

Blickenstaff  are 

residents  of  The 

Brethren  Retirement 

Community  in 

Greenville,  Ohio. 


by  Edie  Kirk 

>n  a  rainy  Saturday  this  spring,  my  hus- 
band and  !  visited  a  local  nursery  looking 
for  a  bush  to  plant  beside  the  garage.  As  we  walked 
among  the  potted  bushes,  1  spotted  the  rhodo- 
dendrons. 1  remembered  the  beautiful  "rhodies" 
my  father  raised  at  our  home  in  Connecticut,  and 
wondered  how  well  they  would  grow  in  Ohio.  I 
asked  one  of  the  nursery  staff  if  rhododendrons 
grow  well  in  Ohio,  and  she  answered,  "It  depends." 

She  went  on  to  say  they  would  need  proper 
moisture,  rich  soil,  protection  from  harsh  weather, 
the  right  amount  of  sun,  and  loving  attention. 
Some  of  the  needs  I  could  provide,  and  others 
were  beyond  my  control. 

There  is  a  corollary  between  the  bloom  or 
doom  of  growing  rhododendrons  in  Ohio  and  the 
"love  'em  or  leave  'em"  relationship  of  Church  of 
the  Brethren  congregations  with  Brethren  homes 


and  retirement  communities.  In  both  situations, 
success  depends  on  nurturing  from  many  sources, 
with  an  understanding  that  some  of  the  nurtur- 
ing and  connectedness  is  within  our  control,  and 
some  is  beyond  our  control. 

Historically,  the  birth  of  a  Brethren  home  was 
often  the  decision  of  one  district,  as  was  the  case 
with  the  opening  of  Honey  Creek  Home  in  the 
early  1880s.  Founded  by  Southern  Indiana  Dis- 
trict as  a  home  for  orphans  and  the  elderly.  Honey 
Creek  Home  was  built  near  Sulphur  Springs,  Ind. 

Brethren  homes  also  came  to  life  as  the  result 
of  one  determined  individual,  as  was  the  case  with 
Levi  Miller  and  the  founding  of  the  home  in 
Mexico,  Ind.,  recognized  today  as  Timbercrest  in 
North  Manchester,  Ind.  In  the  years  since  the 
opening  of  Honey  Creek  home,  3 1  Brethren  homes 
were  established  to  meet  the  needs  of  children 
and  aging  adults. 

Over  the  past  50  years,  needs  have  changed 
and  services  for  both  children  and  the  elderly  are 
now  available  through  a  growing  number  of  pri- 
vate and  local,  state,  and  federal  agencies  and 
organizations.  Today,  24  Brethren  homes  con- 
tinue to  serve  more  than  7,000  residents 
throughout  the  United  States. 

Asking  if  Brethren  homes  have  been  forgot- 
ten by  Church  of  the  Brethren  congregations  brings 
a  variety  of  responses.  Pastor  Fred  Bernhard  of 
the  Oakland  Church  of  the  Brethren  in  Gettys- 
burg, Ohio,  answers  the  question  passionately. 
"Seventeen  members  of  the  Oakland  congrega- 
tion are  residents  at  the  Brethren's  Home  in 
Greenville  (Ohio) ,  and  we  give  a  significant  amount 
from  our  budget  to  the  home.  In  addition,  mem- 
bers of  the  Oakland  congregation  give  countless 
hours  every  week  in  service  to  this  home.  When 
that  kind  of  human  investment  is  realized,  how 
can  it  be  a  forgotten  ministry?" 

For  many  congregations  with  no  existing  con- 
nection to  the  homes  no  residents  in  the  Brethren 
home,  no  volunteers  giving  time  and  service,  no 
nurturing  from  Brethren  the  question  may  be  dif- 
ferent. For  these  congregations,  the  question  may 
be.  What  benefit  is  there  for  our  congregation  to 
be  connected  to  a  Brethren  home? 

"Leaders  within  Brethren  homes,  such  as  the 
president,  board  members,  auxiliary  leadership. 


Messenger  August  2000 


cind  key  .staff,  should  take  a  lead  in  edueating  and 
reminding  members  of  congregations  that  the 
mission,  vision,  and  ministry  of  Brethren  homes 
is  and  always  has  been  an  important  ministry  of 
the  church, "  comments  Robert  Cain,  president 
and  CEO  of  Brethren  Retirement  Community  in 
Greenville,  Ohio. 

Leaders  who  develop  and  nurture  relation- 
ships with  congregations  and  help  church  members 
understand  the  challenges  facing  retired  adults, 
today  and  in  the  future,  provide  important  infor- 
mation, regardless  of  the  age  of  the  member. 

"Aging"  is  "ageless"  in  terms  of  who  it  affects. 
Every  child,  teenager,  adult,  and  older  adult  has 
an  older  adult  he  or  she  loves.  Being  a  part  of 
assuring  a  safe  and  secure  future  for  our  loved 
ones  is  a  mission  and  ministry  every  person  can 
relate  to  and  take  part  in. 

Kay  lones,  director  of  public  relations  at  The 
Brethren  Home  Community  in  New  Oxford,  Pa., 
believes  the  ministry  of  Church  of  the  Brethren 
congregations  and  The  Brethren  Home  Com- 
munity is  alive  and  well. 

"The  Brethren  Home  Community  is  a  min- 
istry of  the  Southern  Pennsylvania  District  Church 
Df  the  Brethren,  and  certainly  not  forgotten  by 
Dur  district,"  Jones  comments.  As  proof  of  the 
relationship,  She  lists  the  district's  financial  dona- 
:ions,  the  willingness  of  congregation  members 
:o  volunteer,  the  placement  of  key  persons  in  all 
district  churches  to  support  the  home's  auxil- 
ary,  and  invitations  she  receives  to  speak  about 
:he  home  to  Sunday  school  classes,  church  boards, 
and  from  the  pulpit. 

"The  Brethren  Home  Community's  Foun- 
dation is  our  parent  organization  and  annually 
Dresents  a  report  to  the  district  at  its  conference, 
in  addition,  loe  Detrick,  district  executive,  is  an 
active  member  of  our  advancement  committee 
and  attends  our  board  meetings,"  [ones  adds. 
'We  are  currently  exploring  our  92-year  heritage 
vith  the  help  of  several  members  of  the  Hunts- 
dale  Church  of  the  Brethren.  The  original  Old 
-oiks  Home  was  established  by  the  district  in 
1908  in  Huntsdale,  Pa." 

Auxiliary  leaders,  key  workers,  and  other  vol- 
inteers  nurture  and  strengthen  relationships 
Detween  churches  and  Brethren  homes.  Key  work- 
■;rs  seem  to  easily  bridge  the  transition  from 
ministering  to  the  elderly  in  the  church  family  to 
ninistering  to  the  elderly  residing  in  a  Brethren 
lonie.  These  volunteers  recognize  that  minis- 
ering  with  older  adults  is  a  mission  of  the  Church 
)f  the  Brethren  and  needs  to  be  nurtured  in  both 
he  church  family  and  in  the  Brethren  home  in 
heir  district  or  area. 


District  executives,  some  of  whom  serve 
Brethren  homes  in  volunteer  leadership  roles, 
can  strengthen  the  relationship  between  con- 
gregations and  the  area  Brethren  home. 
Reinforcing  the  commitment  of  the  church  to 
minister  with  the  elderly,  district  executives  can 
help  pastors  and  congregations  recognize  oppor- 
tunities to  work  with  homes  to  enhance  the 
mission  of  service  to  the  elderly. 

Chaplains  who  are  staff  members  in  Brethren 
homes  and  members  of  Brethren  congregations 
also  nurture  the  relationship  between  the  congre- 
gation and  the  Brethren  home.  Chaplains  have  the 
opportunity  to  share  news  from  members  of  the 
church  back  to  residents  of  the  home,  and  also 


Jerry  Walker  of 
Peter  Becker 
Community 
shows  his  "voice 
box"  to  a  middle 
school  student 
during  an 
intergenerational 
event. 


Clowning 
around  at  Casa 
de  Modesto. 

Alma  Satterlee 
gets  dressed  up 
for  the  1999 
Halloween  Party. 


L 


U} 


Messenger  August  2000 


Virginia  Crim  paints 

watercolor 

landscapes  at 

Brethren  Retirement 

Community  in 

Greenvilie,  Otiio. 


Claude 

Moyer,  plant 

operations 

employee  at 

Peter  Becker 

Community, 

drives  tlie 

tractor  for  an 

October 

hayride. 


share  news  of  the  home  with  the  congregation. 

Occasionally,  relationships  weaken  because 
people  misunderstand  or  have  incorrect  infor- 
mation. If  we  understood  that  rhododendrons 
never  needed  to  be  watered,  they  would  not  sur- 
vive. The  relationship  between  a  congregation 
and  a  home  can  be  damaged  or  destroyed  if  people 
believe  that  Brethren  homes  have  become  "big 
business"  and  no  longer  need  the  nurturing  rela- 
tionship of  Church  of  the  Brethren  congregations. 

Broken  relationships  can  occur  when  finan- 
cial issues  are  not  viewed  within  a  larger  context. 
Some  Brethren  homes  have  budgets  of  $  1 0  mil- 
lion or  more,  numbers  that  may  seem 
overwhelming  to  an  individual  or  congregation. 
Yet  the  schools  our  children  attend  and  the  hos- 
pitals we  depend  upon  have  budgets  this  high 
and  higher.  In  the  context  of  providing  quality 
education  and  adequate  health  care,  these  fig- 
ures are  not  so  overwhelming  that  we  turn  our 
backs  on  them.  Brethren  homes  are  no  different, 
regardless  of  the  size  of  the  budgets.  They  still 
need  nurturing  to  continue  the  mission  of  ser- 
vice to  older  adults. 

The  need  for  strengthened  relationships 
between  congregations  and  Brethren  homes  is 


Messenger  August  2000 


more  important  today  than  it  has  been  for  manj 
years.  Today  Brethren  homes,  like  other  provider: 
of  health  services,  face  dramatic  increases  in  tht 
cost  of  providing  care  to  residents.  There  are  thret 
reasons  for  this  increase  in  costs:  First,  reim 
bursement  paid  to  nursing  homes  for  Medicaic 
and  Medicare  services  continues  to  lag  behind  tht 
cost  of  providing  the  services;  second,  liabilitj 
insurance  costs  have  increased  drastically;  anc 
third,  qualified  and  caring  staff  continue  to  be  dif- 
ficult to  recruit  and  retain  as  growth  in  industrj 
jobs  continues. 

Perhaps  just  as  compelling  a  reason  for  con- 
nections between  congregations  and  Brethren 
homes  is  cited  in  the  1 972  report  of  the  Annua' 
Conference  Study  Committee  on  Health  and  Wel- 
fare Concerns  (commissioned  by  the  1970  Annual 
Conference): 

"The  institutionalization  of  persons,  even  ir 
adequate  facilities,  means  isolation  from  famil> 
and  friends  and  fosters  feelings  in  the  residents 
of  dehumanization  and  loneliness.  Congrega- 
tions need  to  maintain  interest  in  and  fellowship 
with  members  who  are  separated  from  their  local 
church  and  restricted  to  a  .  .  .  geriatric  center. 
The  congregation  which  breaks  fellowship  with 
a  member  who  is  removed  from  the  community 
because  of  physical  or  emotional  crisis,  aging., 
is  not  fulfilling  its  Christian  commitment  to  those 
in  need." 

The  report  recommends  that  a  home  repre- 
sentative be  designated  in  each  congregation  to 
coordinate  programs  designed  to  "meet  the  spir- 
itual, educational,  recreational,  emotional,  and 
social  needs  of  older  persons  on  the  local  and  dis- 
trict levels.  Even  when  older  people  are  cared  for 
in  institutional  homes,  they  should  remain  related 
to  their  local  congregations,  and  their  'home'  con- 
gregations should  keep  actively  related  to  them." 

Pastors,  district  executives,  CEOs  and  admin- 
istrators, deacons,  auxiliary  workers,  and  residents 
who  also  are  members  of  Church  of  the  Brethren 
congregations  can  all  help  provide  proper  mois- 
ture, rich  and  fertile  soil,  warmth  and  caring. 
However,  each  congregation  will  make  the  deci- 
sion whether  or  not  to  nurture  a  relationship  with 
the  Brethren  home  in  their  area.  Whatever  that 
decision,  it  is  important  to  realize  that  the  rela- 
tionship does  need  to  be  nurtured  from  many 
sources.  And  when  asked  what  it  takes  to 
nurture  and  grow  this  relationship,  the  best  WfM 
answer  is  "it  depends  on  us."  ■■■ 


Edie  Kirk  is  vice  president  of  marketing  and  development, 
Bretliren  Retirement  Community,  and  vice  president  of  Mill 
Ridge  Village,  Union,  Ohio, 


A  NEW  VISION  FOR 
SENIOR  SERVICES 


by  Roger  Golden 

As  with  many  industries,  the  service  of  pro- 
viding long-term  care  is  seeing  an 
evolutionary  shift  in  the  way  it  conducts  business. 
The  only  constant  element  is  summed  up  in  one 
word  "change." 

Change  is  so  constant,  in  fact,  that  Brethren- 
affiliated  retirement  homes  and  communities  have 
pooled  their  resources  to  create  a  new  program 
to  seek  out  common  solutions  and  faith-based 
responses  to  events  and  trends. 

In  recent  years,  long-term  care  providers  have 
experienced  new  trends,  such  as  expanded  regu- 
latory mandates,  healthcare  reform  issues, 
aggressive  growth  in  the  for-profit  sector,  chang- 
ing consumer  patterns,  reimbursement  method 
changes,  and  greater  need  for  subacute/chronic 
care  services.  To  cope  with  these  changes,  retire- 
ment facilities  are  experiencing  a  call  for  strong 
leadership  and  affiliations. 

Alongside  these  industry  changes  are  the  day- 
to-day  internal  demands  of  providing  the  highest 
quality  of  care  for  residents.  This  is  a  crucial  time 
for  Brethren  homes  to  come  together.  For  many 
homes,  the  move  to  collaborate  more  fully  may 
enable  them  to  survive  in  an  increasingly  com- 
plex and  competitive  environment. 

The  Fellowship  of  Brethren  Homes,  a  min- 
istry of  the  Association  of  Brethren  Caregivers, 
has  a  long  history  of  affiliation  and  collabora- 
tion, which  supports  Brethren  facilities  as  they 
carry  out  their  ministries  with  older  adults.  By 
becoming  members  of  the  Fellowship,  the  retire- 
ment facilities  establish  an  important  link  to 
the  larger  church  and  are  eligible  to  partake  of 
member  services  such  as  the  development  of 
the  new  shared  services  program.  This  multi- 
level program  was  created  to  provide  a 
faith-based  approach  to  services,  a  facet  of  care- 
giving  that  no  other  association  or  alliance 
provides. 

The  mission  statement  of  the  Shared  Ser- 
vices proposal  summarizes  the  direction  of  the 
new  Fellowship  of  Brethren  Homes  program: 
"By  joining  together  in  shared  services,  the 
Brethren  homes  will: 

•  strengthen  their  common  mission  and  values, 

•  provide  proactive  programs  and  services  that 


meet  the  needs  of  their  rapidly  changing 

industry,  and 

reaffirm  their  faith-based  ministries. 


Developing  the  shared 
services  program 

In  1998,  the  steering  committee  of  the  Fellow- 
ship of  Brethren  Homes  created  a  Collaboration 
Core  Group  of  representatives  from  member  facil- 
ities to  begin  formulating  a  proposal  for  new 
programs  and  services.  The  Collaboration  Core 
Group  and  ABC  staff  conducted  on-site  visits, 
participated  in  Forums  on  Collaboration,  and  held 
phone  interviews  and  meetings  as  a  process  for 
envisioning  a  new  era  of  working  together  through 
a  shared  services  program.  Their  vision  was  to 
provide  resources  for  a  group  of  geographically 
diverse  facilities  with  a  common  mission  of  serv- 
ing the  senior  population  of  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren  and  their  local  communities. 

After  testing  the  new  program  and  services, 
the  shared  services  proposal  was  presented  to  Fel- 


h 


lowship  members  at  a  forum  of  retirement  home 
administrators,  staff,  and  board  members  in  August 
1999.  During  the  fall,  facilities  contemplated  join- 
ing the  shared  services  program  at  different 
levels — partners,  associates,  or  members — which 


John  T.  Fike  enjoys  a 
variety  of  volunteer 

duties  on  his  computer  at 
The  Palms  of  Sebnng. 


Messenger  August  2000 


Bl 


IMorman  and 
Margaret  Drew 

are  residents  of  The 

Brethren  Retirement 

Community  in 

Greenville,  Ohio 


Forest  Jobe  and  Morton  Brann 

enjoy  a  friendly  game  of  pool  at  The 
Palms  of  Sebring  Activities  Center 

would  allow  facilities  to  select  the 
level  of  services  they  receive  accord- 
ing to  the  level  of  financial 
commitment  they  made  to  the  pro- 
gram. Of  the  24  Brethren-affiliated 
homes,  nine  joined  the  plan  as  part- 
ners, seven  as  associates,  and  eight 
as  members. 

During  the  developmental  and 
testing  process,  priorities  for  needed 
services  surfaced  and  resurfaced. 
The  top  priorities  are  leadership 
development,  board  training  and 
development,  corporate  compliance,  technology 
services,  and  Brethren  values.  Through  staff  work 
and  newly  created  volunteer  committees,  these 
areas  are  being  considered  and  programs  are 
being  developed  to  meet  the  needs  of  the  mem- 
bership. 

Another  stepping  stone  in  providing  services 
came  in  April  this  year,  when  the  Association  of 
Brethren  Caregivers  announced  becoming  co- 
owners  of  a  High  Performance  Board  Series  with 
Mennonite  Health  Services  of  Goshen,  Ind.  This 
board  training  resource  is  available  to  the  mem- 
bers of  both  agencies,  other  agencies  within  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  and  Mennonite  churches, 
and  other  not-for-profit  organizations. 

Bent  on  interconnections 

Over  the  years,  the  Fellowship  of  Brethren  Homes 
has  provided  many  opportunities  for  Brethren- 
affiliated  homes  to  interact  and  connect.  In  1997, 


the  Fellowship  hosted  a  forum  on  Collaboration 
to  bring  church  leaders  and  homes  administra- 
tors and  staff  together  to  discuss  common 
concerns  and  envision  a  new  way  of  working 
together. 

Since  that  time,  the  Fellowship  has  hosted  a 
forum  each  year.  This  year's  forum  was  held  June 
16-18  at  New  Oxford,  Pa.  The  High  Performance 
Board  Series  was  highlighted  at  the  Forum  with 
board  members  being  trained  in  "The  Basics- 
Roles  and  Responsibilities,"  one  of  the  modules 
of  the  series. 

The  Fellowship  also  relates  to  other  ecu- 
menical groups  to  work  on  issues  of  leadership 
development,  board  training,  and  alliance 
building.  Results  from  these  affiliations  often 
take  place  behind  the  scenes.  These  interde- 
pendent and  ecumenical  relationships  represent 
the  value  and  necessity  of  connecting  with  one 
another. 

Fellowship  of  Brethren  Homes  members, 
and  their  districts,  have  served  older  adults  and 
their  communities  for  more  than  100  years  with 
autonomy  and  independence.  Each  of  these  facil- 
ities felt  a  strong  calling  and  provided  effective 
caring  ministries.  These  services  were  recog- 
nized several  years  ago  when  a  review  of  reports 
prepared  by  the  Health  Care  Financing  Admin- 
istration rated  Church  of  the  Brethren  homes 
third  among  43  for-profit  and  not-for-profit 
long-term  care  providers. 

The  next  100  years  will  call  for  continued 
excellence  in  Brethren-affiliated  retirement  homes, 
along  with  an  interdependence  that  will  reflect 
vision,  renew  the  call,  and  strengthen  the  common 
mission.  The  7,000-plus  residents  of  Brethren- 
affiliated  facilities  live  daily  in  the  rich  legacy  of 
the  call,  the  future  vision  of  current  lead- 
ership, and  the  common  mission  of  the  WfM 
Fellowship  of  Brethren  Homes.  ■■■ 


Roger  Golden  of  Elgin,  III.,  is  coordinator  for  shared  services  on 
the  staff  of  the  Association  of  Brethren  Caregivers. 


Messenger  August  2000 


STILL  GROWING  AT 
BRETHREN  VILLAGE 

by  Franklin  K.  Cassel 

My  wife  and  I  moved  to  Brethren  Village 
of  Lancaster,  Pa.,  well  before  retirement 
ige,  knowing  that  when  and  if  something  hap- 
pened to  either  of  us,  we  would  get  the  care  we 
needed  and  avoid  the  risk  of  not  being  able  to 
inter  the  facility  when  retirement  time  came.  For- 
unately,  we  were  here  when  Peggy  developed 
Alzheimer's  disease.  She  needed  home  health 
:are  and  later  moved  into  the  Health  Care  Center. 

Many  things  come  to  my  mind  as  I  reflect  on 
low  my  needs  are  being  met  at  Brethren  Village. 
peggy  is  gone,  since  July  1997,  after  almost  six 
/ears  in  the  nursing  center.  During  that  time  1 
resided  in  a  cottage  at  Brethren  Village  and  was 
ible  to  help  the  nurses  and  aides  give  her  the  good 
:are  and  love  she  needed. 

Living  alone  in  our  cottage  has  not  been  bad, 
IS  I  have  felt  that  life  has  real  meaning  and  Brethren 
tillage  has  provided  all  1  need  to  achieve  my  goals. 

My  spiritual  life  and  needs  are  anchored  still 
n  the  Lititz  Church  of  the  Brethren,  but  nicely  sup- 
alemented  by  the  fine  spiritual  life  program  provided 
by  the  retirement  facility.  Each  day  morning  devo- 
tions, transmitted  through  the  television,  provide 
nspiration  and  opportunity  for  residents  to  pray 
"or  one  another.  Many  opportunities  for  Bible  study 
are  available  for  those  who  have  the  time  and  inter- 
est. The  weekly  chapel  service  is  an  uplift  for  those 
who  attend  or  watch  it  through  the  television. 

Small  group  associations  are  available  for  res- 
dents  to  foster  greater  community  spirit  and 
orovide  opportunities  to  get  better  acquainted. 
\11  sorts  of  activities  are  available  for  exercise, 
un,  fellowship,  and  life  enrichment.  Many  people 
/olunteer  and  help  to  make  Brethren  Village  be  a 
;ompassionate,  caring  community. 

For  myself,  I  have  used  the  land  at  my  cot- 
:age  and  a  large  garden  space  provided  by  the 
v'illage  to  grow  flowers  to  share  with  others  and 
/egetables,  berries,  and  fruit  for  my  kitchen.  My 
daily  food  bill  for  1997  was  only  $2.17.  Busy  in 
Tiy  garden,  I  do  not  need  to  participate  in  the 
exercise  activities. 

Since  Peggy  died,  I  have  no  trouble  keeping 
ousy  helping  other  caregivers  deal  with  Alzheimer's. 
1  have  written  a  little  book  and  had  two  videos 
produced  about  what  1  have  learned  about 
Alzheimer's.  1  am  sharing  this  information  far 
ind  wide  on  the  Internet.  Also,  I  am  supporting 


the  Caregivers  Army  in  its  campaign  to  petition 
Congress  to  appropriate  $500  million  each  year 
to  Alzheimer's  research  until  a  cure  is  found. 

I  am  so  grateful  for  the  opportunity  to  live 
in  a  church-related  retirement  community  where 
all  of  my  needs  will  be  met  and  where  I  can  con- 
tinue to  be  in  mission  helping  others.  I  can  relax 
here  knowing  that  no  matter  what  hap- 
pens to  me,  I  am  in  good  hands  and  will  WfM 
be  cared  for  with  compassion.  ■■■ 

Franklin  Cassel's  Internet  ministry  to  Alzheimer  caregivers  was 
featured  in  the  September  1999  Messenger.  He  may  be  reached  at 
fkcassel@mciworld.com. 


The  Interior  of 
Fieldcrest  Cottage  at 
Brethren  Village.  The 

cottages  feature  two 
bedrooms,  two  baths, 
living  and  dining  areas, 
eat-in  l<itchen,  laundry 
room,  sunroom,  and 
attached  garage. 


The  indoor  pool  at 
The  Brethren  Village 

IS  the  place  for 
aquacize,  exercise, 
therapy,  and  water 
volleyball. 


Messenger  August  2000 


A  1930  John 

Deere  tractor 

owned  by 

resident  Ed 

Schmell  was 

driven  into  tiie 

building  to  sit  in 

a  field  display 

surrounded  by 

residents' 

plants 


Linda  Landis  shows  104- 
year-old  IMancy  Mason 

a  plant  at  the  Flower  Show. 
Linda  Landis  works  in  the 
activity  department  at  Peter 
Becker  Community. 


FLOWER  POWER 

Peter  Becker  Community  draws  thousands 
to  its  annual  bloomfest 


by  M.  Therese  Page 

Every  spring,  residents  of  Peter  Becker 
Community  host  an  annual  Flower  Show, 

which  typically  draws  8,000  visitors  to  the 
Harleysville,  Pa.,  facility.  This  weekend  event 
offers  many  things  to  everyone  involved — oppor- 
tunities to  contribute  time  and  talents,  to  create 
somethincr  beautiful,  and  to  interact  and  connect 


with  people  normally  absent  from  the  halls  and 
walkways  of  the  home. 

"Charlotte's  Web"  was  the  theme  of  this  year's 
show,  held  March  1  7  and  18.  The  show  evoked 
memories  of  the  book  by  E.B.  White  by  includ- 
ing details  and  little  touches  from  the  book  in  the 
display.  Visitors  saw  the  farm  where  Wilbur  lives 
and  where  Charlotte  spins  her  magic  web.  The 
barn  and  tractor,  toolshed  and  farmhouse,  with 
its  ever-present  laundry  drying  on  the  line,  were 


just  a  few  of  the  show's  splendors.  A  kaleido- 
scope of  flowers  surrounded  Wilbur  in  his  pigsty, 
the  sheep  built  by  the  activity  department,  and 
the  country  fair.  Young  and  old  alike  enjoyed  a 
scavenger  hunt  to  find  the  details  of  the  book 
hidden  throughout  the  3,000-square  foot  display 
located  in  the  home's  multipurpose  room. 

To  reach  out  to  the  community,  part  of  the 
flower  show  includes  hosting  several  competi- 
tions and  inviting  entries  from  older  adults  living 
in  the  surrounding  area.  Senior  Activity  Center 
artists  entered  paintings  of  farm  scenes  for  the 
art  competition. 

Community  members  who  are  over  60  years 
of  age  were  invited  to  participate  in  an  essay  con- 
test entided  "Perspective  on  Farm  Life."  In  it  they 
describe  what  they  remember  about  the  farm, 
such  as  where  they  grew  up,  bought  produce, 
worked,  or  visited.  Residents  of  area  retirement 
homes  were  encouraged  to  enter  a  special  com- 
petition for  container  gardens.  To  round  out  the 
display  area,  several  area  businesses  provided 
services  and  plants. 

Guests  attending  an  evening  fund-raiser 
for  the  Peter  Becker  Community  were  able  to 
preview  the  gardens  and  stroll  through  the  farm- 
yard viewing  the  animals  and  flowers. 

The  flower  show  also  raises  funds  for  the 
Peter  Becker  Community  Auxiliary.  Throughout 
the  weekend,  $12,340  was  raised  from  donations 
and  the  sales  of  items  donated  by  local  merchants, 
artists,  Peter  Becker  Community  crafters,  wood- 
workers, and  a  stamp  club.  Quality  bedding  plants 
and  house  plants  also  were  available  for  purchase. 
From  proceeds  of  this  event,  the  auxiliary  is  able 
to  donate  to  the  home's  benevolent  fund  and  to 
purchase  large  gifts  for  the  facility. 

The  residents  of  Peter  Becker  Community  are 
the  backbone  of  the  show's  success,  spending 
coundess  hours  painting  backdrops,  construct- 
ing displays,  and  caring  for  the  plants  that  they 
entered  into  a  competition.  There  is  a  project 
available  for  everyone  at  every  skill  level  if  they 
choose  to  participate.  Many  residents  help  con- 
struct and  paint  the  three-dimensional  displays. 

The  whole  community  is  involved, 
knowing  that  this  is  a  time  for  fellowship    yfM 
with  people  of  all  ages  and  all  areas.  ■■■I 


M.  Therese  Page  is  comn 
Becker  Community, 


iity  relations  coordinator  for  the  Peter 


A  united  church  was  supposed  to  be  the  legacy  of  Brethren  missions.  But  now 
there  is  division  and  distrust.  Can  the  mother  church  help  once  again? 


by  Fletcher  Farrar 

The  ink  was  barely  dry  on  the  minutes  of 
Annual  Conference  in  July  1998  when  a 
letter  arrived  in  Elgin,  111.,  from  Gujarat,  India. 
Church  leaders  here  weren't  yet  sure  how  they 
would  implement  the  "World  Mission  Philosophy 
and  Global  Church  Mission  Structure"  paper  that 
had  just  been  approved.  But  the  letter  from  India 
was  sure  and  eager:  "This  letter  is  our  formal 
request  to  the  Mission  and  Ministries  Planning 
Council  for  recognition  of  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren  in  India  as  a  sister  Church  in  the  glob- 
alization program  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren." 


The  letter  explained  that  Emmanuel  P.  Bhagat, 
a  member  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  church 
in  India,  had  been  present  at  the  Annual  Confer- 
ence in  Orlando,  Fla.,  and  had  brought  back  the 
news  that  approval  of  the  global  church  paper 
"opens  the  way  for  us  to  become  a  partner  with 
the  global  Church  of  the  Brethren." 

The  way  had  begun  to  open  a  year  before, 
when  Merv  Keeney  took  over  as  the  new  direc- 
tor of  the  General  Board's  Global  Mission 
Partnerships  office  following  General  Board  staff 
redesign.  He  decided  to  take  a  new  stab  at  achiev- 
ing reconciliation  between  the  two  quarreling 
churches  that  had  descended  from  Church  of  the 
Brethren  missions  in  India.  In  |une  1998  he  assem- 
bled an  India  Advisory  Group,  which  included 


Messenger  August  2000  ^Uj 


The  inauguration  of  the 

Church  of  North  India 

was  welcomed  by  the 

Church  of  the  Brethren 

in  the  US.  Some  of  the 

bishops  of  the  church 

pose  for  a  picture  in  1970. 


"If  we  give 

official 

recognition  to 

the  breakaway 

group,  we 

break  the 

covenant  with 

the  Church  of 

North  India." 

-H.  Lamar  Gibble 


former  India  missionaries  Glen  Campbell  and 
Wendell  Flory,  General  Board  member  Wayne 
ludd,  LaVon  Rupel,  former  chair  of  the  World 
Ministries  Commission,  and  Judy  Keyser,  trea- 
surer. That  group  recommended  going  ahead  with 
new  efforts  to  make  peace. 

"We  seek  to  release  the  energies  and  resources 
that  have  been  heretofore  unavailable  for  building 
God's  church  in  India,"  he  later  explained  to  the 
General  Board.  Political  conditions  in  India,  with 
Christians  facing  persecution  from  a  fervent  Hindu 
nationalist  movement,  might  motivate  Indian  Chris- 
tians to  put  away  their  differences.  New  leaders, 
who  might  be  open  to  fresh  approaches,  were 
emerging  in  both  churches.  Another  factor  moti- 
vating a  new  India  effort,  Keeney  explained,  was 
"the  availability  of  a  staff  person  of  Indian  eth- 
nicity, Shantilal  P.  Bhagat,  who  could  work  at  these 
issues  in  a  different  way.  .  .  ." 

Bhagat,  longtime  General  Board  staff  member 
who  now  works  as  a  volunteer  consultant,  had 
been  assigned  to  India  matters  as  the  General 
Board's  Asia  representative  from  1974  to  1977. 
But  he  had  not  been  involved  officially  in  India 
again  until  20  years  later,  when  Keeney  asked 
Bhagat  to  become  his  adviser.  "I  asked  him  to 
bring  me  recommendations,"  Keeney  said. 

One  of  Bhagat's  first  recommendations, 
adopted  by  the  General  Board  during  a  closed 
session  June  29  last  year,  was  to  authorize  the 
General  Board  staff  to  appoint  new  trustees  to 


the  trusts  that  oversee  millions  of  dollars  wortj 
of  former  mission  property.  The  board  was  tolt 
the  action  was  urgent  because  the  two  remaining 
active  trustees  on  the  principle  trust  were  old,  am 
if  one  of  them  died  the  property  would  be  taker 
over  by  the  government.  Following  the  boar< 
action,  the  staff  appointed  property  trustees  rec. 
ommended  by  the  group  that  calls  itself  the  Churcl 
of  the  Brethren  in  India. 

This  was  sure  to  please  Emmanuel  Bhagat,  thi 
trust's  unpaid  but  influential  administrator,  whc 
is  known  as  Emu.  For  years  he  has  been  the  unof 
ficial  leader  of  the  group  that  is  sometimes  calle( 
the  "separated  Brethren,"  seeking  recognition  b; 
the  US  church  and  control  of  the  disputed  prop 
erty.  He  is  also  the  brother  of  Shantilal  Bhagat. 

The  General  Board's  action  also  rescinded  ; 
1991  board  action  that  had  been  intended  to  trans 
fer  to  the  Church  of  North  India  the  authority  tc 
name  the  property  trustees.  Putting  the  propert; 
trust  clearly  in  the  hands  of  its  rival  infuriatec 
leaders  of  the  Church  of  North  India  when  the; 
found  out  about  it  weeks  later.  "We  are  now  con 
vinced,"  a  CNI  official  wrote  to  Keeney  las 
September,  "that  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  no 
only  believes  in  dividing  the  church  but  also  sup 
ports  activities  that  are  contrary  to  the  interest; 
of  the  Church  of  North  India." 


It  was  with  great  hope  and  fanfare  that  th( 

llformer  Church  of  the  Brethren  missioi 
churches  in  India  united  with  five  other  denom 
inations  to  form  the  Church  of  North  India  ii 
1970.  Togetherness  offered  the  best  chance  fo 
survival  and  growth  in  a  nation  where  Christian; 
comprise  only  two  percent  of  the  population. 

S.  Loren  Bowman,  then  general  secretary  o 
the  Church  of  the  Brethren  General  Board  in  th< 
US,  was  at  the  opening  ceremonies  in  Nagpur  3( 
years  ago,  along  with  General  Board  staff  mem 
bers  Shantilal  Bhagat,  Howard  Royer,  and  tht 
late  Joel  Thompson.  "The  Church  of  North  Indi; 
should  offer  an  increased  sense  of  security  and  ; 
stronger  voice  of  courage  as  Indians  speak  of  thei: 
faith  to  their  neighbors  and  to  their  nation,' 
Bowman  said  at  the  time. 

But  by  the  mid-1970s,  cracks  appeared  in  th( 
hope  for  unity.  After  a  dispute  over  CNI's  nev 
constitution,  the  former  Brethren  congregatioi 
at  Bulsar  (now  Valsad)  seceded  from  the  unior 
in  1978,  and  several  other  congregations  followec 
it  out  the  door.  Though  most  former  Brethrei 
remained  loyal  to  the  united  church,  the  new  grouj 
called  itself — illegally  in  the  eyes  of  its  CNI  broth 
ers  and  sisters — the  Church  of  the  Brethren. 

In  the  intervening  years  this  group  has  growi 
to  include  1  5  churches  and  2 1  preaching  points 


:-i  Messenger  August  2000 


:hiiming  an  estimated  membership  of  3,700. 
Though  tiny  by  comparison  with  the  Church  of 
North  India,  which  has  about  one  million  mem- 
oers,  the  rebel  group  is  self-supporting  and 
growing,  in  the  past  20  years  it  has  built  eight 
:hurch  buildings  with  more  underway,  and  oper- 
ates three  high  schools  with  900  students  total. 

Now,  after  22  years  of  backing  the  Church 
o\'  North  India  in  this  dispute,  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren  in  the  US  has  made  a  dramatic  shift  in 
its  position.  A  proposed  timetable  calls  for  Annual 
Conference  in  200!  to  officially  recognize  what 
ivas  earlier  described  as  the  "breakaway  group." 
If  recognized,  the  group  calling  itself  Church  of 
:he  Brethren  in  India  would  no  longer  be  regarded 
as  a  schismatic  movement  whose  leaders  have 
questionable  motives.  Instead  it  would  be  a  full 
sister  — alongside  Brethren  churches  in  Nigeria 
and  the  Dominican  Republic — to  the  Church  of 
:he  Brethren  in  the  US.  Already  there  is  a  com- 
mittee working  on  how  to  include  such  partner 
;hurches  in  Annual  Conference  deliberations. 

The  prospect  of  adopting  a  sister  from  India 
las  considerable  appeal.  In  an  Internet  age  that  is 
earning  the  meaning  of  globalization  in  commu- 
nication and  commerce,  US  churches  are  exploring 
A/ays  to  span  the  globe  without  the  paternalism  that 
Tiarred  noble  mission  efforts  of  the  past.  Annual 
Conference  polity  changes  of  recent  years  have 
opened  the  way  for  "close  partnership"  with  Brethren 
croups  outside  the  US.  The  vision  of  the  1  998 
global  church  structure  paper  is  for  "two-way  mis- 
sion" between  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  in  the 
US  and  churches  in  other  countries.  The  cross- 
fertilization  that  can  occur  when  Christians  of 
different  cultures  share  their  faith  with  each  other 
:an  enhance  ministry  on  both  sides  of  the  dialog. 

The  presence  of  a  self-supporting  church  in 
India  that  already  carries  our  name,  our  history 
and  traditions,  even  our  logo,  seems  ready-made 
■'or  recognition.  There  has  been  little  opposition 
3n  the  General  Board,  and  the  move  would  please 
1  strong  interest  group  of  US  Brethren,  many  with 
•elatives  in  India.  Church  members  in  the  US  and 
n  India  may  wonder  why  it  has  taken  so  long  for 
he  denomination  to  come  around  to  this  posi- 
ion.  The  reasons  involve  promises  and  property. 

"If  we  give  official  recognition  to  the  break- 
away group,"  said  Lamar  Gibble,  who  strongly 
apposes  the  current  direction,  "we  break  the 
;ovenant  with  the  Church  of  North  India.  I  think 
:hat's  the  bottom  line."  Gibble,  of  St.  Charles, 
II.,  was  for  10  years  the  General  Board's  World 
Ministries  staff  member  assigned  to  Asia,  until 

Feetwashing  remains  an  integral  part  of  the 

Brethren  tradition  in  India.  Several  hundred 

attended  this  love  feast  at  Pervad. 


he  retired  in  1997. 

The  "covenant"  to  which  he  refers  is  the 
Covenant  of  Church  Union,  signed  by  officers  of 
the  Church  of  the  Brethren  in  India  Nov.  29,  1970. 
It  says  in  part  that  the  "rights,  title,  claims,  estates, 
and  interests  of  this  Church  [Church  of  the  Brethren 
in  India]  together  with  the  privileges  and  obliga- 
tions shall  as  from  the  date  of  inauguration,  vest 
in  the  Church  of  North  India  as  its  legal  heir." 

In  the  US,  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  Gen- 
eral Board  recommended  to  the  1  969  Annual 
Conference  that  "the  Annual  Conference  respond 
to  the  emergence  of  the  Church  of  North  India 
with  gratitude  and  rejoicing  and  that  it  pledge  the 
Brotherhood's  continuing  prayers,  support,  and 
love."  Thus,  the  year  before  church  union.  Annual 
Conference  adopted  the  resolution  of  support  for 
the  emerging  Church  of  North  India.  But  appar- 
ently that  is  the  only  official  action  taken  by  the 
US  church  on  the  matter.  Research  has  so  far 
uncovered  no  official  ratification  of  the  merger  by 
either  the  General  Board  or  Annual  Conference. 

Despite  this  lack  of  official  action  by  Brethren 
in  the  US,  Gibble  and  others  say  the  US  church 
was  understood  to  be  a  part  of  the  covenant  at 
the  time,  and  still  is  morally  bound  to  support  it. 


"It  was  their 
decision  to  go 
in  to  church 
union,  and  we 
said,  'Blessings 
on  you.'  It  was 
their  decision 
to  come  out, 
and  we  can 
say,  'Welconne 
back.'" 

-Shantilal  Bhagat 


"Recognition 

will  be  used 

for  different 

purposes  and 

reasons  than 

anybody  in  the 

Annual 

Conference 

thinks." 

-Roger  Schrock 


rather  than  recognizing  those  Indian  churches 
that  broke  from  the  agreement  in  1978. 

"In  the  whole  process  leading  toward  church 
union,  the  mission  agencies  were  the  ones  who 
indeed  were  very  much  a  part  of  that  commitment 
process,"  Gibble  recalls.  "Everyone  knew  that  if 
the  mission  agencies  were  not  committed  to  the 
covenant,  it  wouldn't  last.  Even  though  no  state- 
side Brethren  signatures  were  on  the  covenant, 
the  assumption  was  always  clearly  that  we  were 
partners  to  the  covenant." 

Roger  Schrock,  who  was  the  General  Board's 
World  Ministries  Commission  executive  from  1985 
to  1990,  agrees  that  the  US  church  is  morally  bound 
to  uphold  the  church  union  agreement.  "The  union 
happened  with  our  blessing,"  he  said.  "It  wasn't 
an  action  of  Annual  Conference,  but  about  90  per- 
cent of  the  things  that  happen  in  world  ministries 
do  not  go  before  Annual  Conference.  In  my  under- 
standing, we  entered  into  a  covenant.  And  we 
Brethren  say  that  our  word  is  as  good  as  our  bond." 

Backers  of  recognition  say  their  research  shows 
that  even  though  the  US  church  supported  the 


covenant  made  between  churches  in  India  becausd 
it  wanted  to  be  a  good  partner  to  CNI,  there  neveij 
was  a  covenant  binding  the  US  church.  "It  was  theiii 
decision  to  go  in  [to  church  union],  and  we  saicj 
'Blessings  on  you.'"  says  Shantilal  Bhagat  about  the: 
Church  of  the  Brethren  in  India.  "It  was  their  deci-| 
sion  to  come  out,  and  we  can  say,  'Welcome  back."'] 

Related  to  the  covenant  discussion  is  the  issuei 
of  the  use  of  the  name.  Church  of  the  Brethren  \v 
India.  As  early  as  1983,  World  Ministries  Com- 
mission executive  Ruby  Rhoades  explained  in  £\ 
letter,  "1  have  no  problem  in  recognizing  the  sep- 
arated CNI  members  as  a  legitimate  church.  I  dc 
have  a  problem  in  their  taking  the  name  of  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  when  that  church  was  dis- 
solved in  order  to  become  a  part  of  the  CNI." 

A  1988  Annual  Conference  study  committee 
reaffirmed  that  view:  "In  respect  to  the  use  of  the 
'Church  of  the  Brethren  in  India'  name,  we  believe 
it  is  clearly  indicated  in  the  signed  Covenant  oi 
Union  that  the  Church  of  North  India  was  tc 
become  the  full  legal  successor  to  all  the  respective 

continued  on  page  25 


TRAVELING  TOWARD  RECONCILIATION 


Nearly  a  decade  after  the  last  Annual  Con- 
ference action  on  India  with  seemingly 
no  movement  toward  resolving  the  con- 
flict, in  1997  the  Global  Mission 
Partnerships  office  began  a  series  of  con- 
tacts by  staff  consultant  Shantilal  Bhagat 
in  an  attempt  to  bring  both  parties  to  the 
table.  An  ad  hoc  India  advisory  commit- 
tee pulled  together  in  lune  1 998  supported 
renewed  initiatives  toward  reconciliation. 
By  mid- 1 998  there  was  agreement 
for  a  joint  meeting,  but  two  planned 
meetings  that  fall  collapsed  as  one  or 


both  parties  backed  out  as  the  dates 
neared.  Both  sides  suggested  separate 
meetings  with  US  Brethren  in  early  1999 
to  build  toward  a  joint  meeting. 

Global  Mission  Partnerships  direc- 
tor Merv  Keeney  went  to  India  in  March 
1 999,  taking  along  Bob  Gross,  an  expe- 
rienced mediator  and  leader  of  the  Ministry 
of  Reconciliation.  In  separate  meetings 
the  two  sides  agreed  to  a  joint  meeting  in 
August  1999.  But  when  Keeney  and  Gross 
went  back  in  August  as  planned,  CNI  had 
just  learned  about  the  General  Board's 


Indian  congregations  welcomed  a 
US  delegation  in  March.  Christy 
Waltersdorff  (center)  and  Ernest  Thakor 
meet  a  church  leader.  Shantilal  Bhagat 
(behind)  facilitated  communications  and 
travel  for  the  group. 

appointment  of  property  trustees  fron^ 
the  separated  group,  so  they  did  not  showi 
up.  Keeney  and  Gross  met  with  thej 
trustees  and  urged  that  the  properties  bei 
used  for  the  benefit  of  both  churches,  then 
met  privately  with  CNI  leaders. 

On  Jan.  31  this  year,  a  delegation 
including  General  Board  chair  Mary  Jo 
Flory-Steury,  executive  director  Judy 
Mills  Reimer,  former  India  missionary 
Wendell  Flory,  and  Keeney  met  with  CNI 
leaders  in  Toronto,  Canada,  where  they 
primarily  listened  to  CNI  concerns.  Then 
in  March  a  committee  appointed  by  the 
General  Board  to  "continue  the  conver- 
sation about  recognition  with  the  Indian 
Brethren"  went  to  India  and  visited  1 1 
of  the  1 5  congregations  in  the  separated 
group.  In  spite  of  prior  requests  to  meet 
with  CNI  pastors  in  the  areas  visited,  no 
CNI  pastors  met  with  the  committee. 

A  conversation  with  CNI  leaders  i^ 
scheduled  to  take  place  in  Elgin,  111., 
this  month. 


^^1  Messenger  August  2000 


The  Bretlireji  Home 

Cornmunity 

since  1908 


JOINING  HANDS 


Recent  expansion  at  The 
Brethren  Home  Community  has 
made  possible  more  residential 
options,  a  Meeting  House  and  a 
wonderful  Community  Center. 
Through  it  all,  the  same  unified 
commitment  we've  had  for  our 
resident's  personal  dignity  since 
1908  has  prevailed.  It  is  our  pur- 
pose to  encourage  independent 
living  and  provide  choices  that 
ensure  quality  of  life  in  the 
retirement  years.  These  purposes 
are  nurtured  by  a  strong  92  year 
history  of  Christian  compassion. 
Of  all  the  things  we're  doing  at 
The  Brethren  Home 
Community,  perhaps  what  we  do 
best  is  care! 


Scheduled  Transportation 
On-Campus  Banking 

Special  Care  Unit 
Medical  Center  Nearby 
Assisted  Lfving  Center 


CROSS  KEYS  VILLAGE 
COTTAGES   •    HARMONY  RIDGE  APARTMENTS 


2990  Carlisle  Pike 
1-88 


Medicare 
Medicaid 
Aooroved 


EO.  Box  128,  New  Oxford,  PA  17350-0128 
?-624-TBHC  or  717-624-2161 
www.brethrenhome.org 


•Therapeutic  Recreational 
Activities 

•  Health  Care  Facility 
Staffed  by  Highly- Qualified 
AND  Caring  Nurses 

•  Adult  Day  Services 


>         There's 
^       an  easier 
way  to 
\       share 
A  Messenger 
\^     with 
^%p,  a  friend 


gO^^-^*s 


iSSENGER  tor  JUS1 


cenrs  an  issue. 


Introducing  Messenger... 

...at  half  the  price! 

Introductions  are  sometimes  awkward. 

But  those  who  get  to  know  Messenger  find  it  is  a  great  way  for  Christians  to  expand 
their  local  Christian  witness  by  becoming  acquainted  with  the  global  mission  and 
ministry  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren. 

More  congregations  are  learning  that  providing  new  or  prospective  members  with  a  sub- 
scription to  Messenger  introduces  them  quickly  to  the  exciting  work  of  the  Brethren. 

This  introduction  just  got  easier.  Because  it  is  half-price.  Please  help  introduce 
Messenger  to  those  in  your  congregation  who  don't  receive  Messenger. 

For  details  call  800-323-8039,  ext.  247. 

*  The  only  requirement  for  the  introductory  rate  is  to  subscribe  through  a  local  congregation. 


continued  from  page  24 
joining  churches.  In  light  of  the  covenant 
given  to  the  Church  of  North  India,  we  do  not 
beheve  we  have  the  right  to  reinstate  the  name  of 
the  'Church  of  the  Brethren'  to  any  group  in  India." 
Merv  Keeney,  the  Global  Mission  Partner- 
ships director,  said  he  has  urged  the  group  seeking 
recognition  to  find  a  new  name,  because  doing  so 
would  be  a  "tension  reliever"  in  negotiations  with 
the  Church  of  North  India.  In  some  of  his  official 
correspondence  with  CNI  leaders  Keeney  refers 
to  the  group  as  "Bhaioni  Mandali,"  which  is  Gujarati 
for  Church  of  the  Brethren.  But  it  may  be  unlikely 
the  group  will  give  up  Church  of  the  Brethren  in 
India,  because  that  is  the  name  still  on  the  valu- 
able properties  Brethren  missionaries  left  behind. 

The  property  is  the  thorn  in  the  flesh,"  says 
Roger  Schrock,  in  a  statement  that  might 
win  more  agreement  than  most  generalizations 
about  the  dispute. 

Merv  Keeney  says  the  issue  of  church  prop- 
erty in  India  has  been  overrated,  and  he's  fond  of 
quoting  an  India  advisory  committee  member  who 
said  that  property  is  seldom  the  cause  of  divorce, 
but  when  a  couple  decides  to  separate,  fights  about 
property  are  common. 

Even  so,  if  it  weren't  for  the  existence  of  sub- 
stantial real  estate  accumulated  over  75  years  of 
Church  of  the  Brethren  mission  in  India,  the  dis- 
pute in  India  might  have  been  settled  years  ago. 
The  most  important  properties  are  in  two  public 
trusts,  one  in  the  state  of  Gujarat  where  most  of 
the  former  Brethren  are,  and  one  in  neighboring 
Maharashtra  state  (see  "Mission  properties"  p.  26). 
Official  estimates  place  the  value  of  the  Gujarat 
State  properties  at  $4.5  million  and  the  Maha- 
rashtra properties  at  $1.2  million,  though  some 
who  are  familiar  with  the  properties  rate  their 
value  much  higher.  The  fact  that  the  Church  of 
the  Brethren  General  Board  in  the  US  still  has 
some  legal  authority  over  the  property  compli- 
cates the  issue  all  the  more. 

Lamar  Gibble  asserts  that  the  desire  to  con- 
trol former  mission  properties  is  the  driving  force 
behind  the  separated  group's  use  of  the  name 
Church  of  the  Brethren  in  India,  and  its  desire 
for  recognition  by  the  US  church.  "It  hasn't  been 
tested,"  he  said,  "but  if  we  recognize  officially, 
that  gives  them  the  status  in  the  courts  that  they've 
been  fighting  for  all  these  years." 

Roger  Schrock  agrees:  "If  the  breakaway 
group  is  recognized,  that  just  gives  them  one  more 
leg  up  in  the  courts.  Recognition  will  be  used  for 
different  purposes  and  reasons  than  anybody  in 
the  Annual  Conference  thinks." 

Keeney  affirms  that  official  recognition  would 
give  the  separated  group  a  better  chance  in  the 
court  system  to  win  property  disputes.  But  that 


may  not  be  all  bad  if  the  properties  end  up  being 
put  to  better  use  in  the  work  of  the  church.  He 
points  out  that  following  the  General  Board's 
appointment  of  Indian  Brethren  as  property  trustees 
a  year  ago,  a  government  overseer  of  the  Voca- 
tional Training  College  in  Ankleshvar  departed 
voluntarily,  saying  that  his  services  were  no  longer 
needed  because  the  trust,  which  had  been  in  a 
stalemate,  was  functioning  properly  once  again. 
Keeney  is  willing  to  try  to  arrange  a  compromise 
on  property  issues,  but  so  far  neither  side  has 
shown  much  interest  in  compromise. 

Church  of  the  Brethren  mission  properties 
were  placed  in  trusts  prior  to  birth  of  the  Church 
of  North  India  in  1970,  with  the  idea  that  they 
would  be  amalgamated  into  the  Church  of  North 
India  once  it  was  ready  to  receive  them.  But  for 
various  reasons  the  transfer  didn't  take  place 
before  the  group  broke  away  from  CNI  in  1978, 
and  then  it  was  too  late.  In  July  1979,  CNI  filed 
suit  against  the  separatist  group,  asking  the  court 
to  stop  it  from  using  the  Church  of  the  Brethren 
name  and  claiming  property  under  that  name. 
That  suit  has  never  been  fully  resolved.  Over  the 
years  more  suits  and  countersuits  have  been  filed 
between  the  two  churches,  and  now  more  than 
30  cases  are  pending.  India's  notoriously  slow 
court  system  hasn't  resolved  the  issues,  and  the 
legal  tangle  has  preoccupied  both  sides,  keeping 
them  from  the  real  mission  of  the  church. 

Legal  challenges  have  also  thwarted  past 
attempts  by  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  in  the  US 
to  appoint  property  trustees  from  CNI,  or  to  turn 
over  the  appointing  power  to  CNI.  It  turns  out 
that  sitting  trustees  also  have  to  approve  new 
appointees  before  they  can  be  officially  seated  by 
the  charity  commissioner.  So  in  the  past  the  sit- 
ting trustees  from  the  separated  group  would 
refuse  to  forward  the  names  of  CNI  trustees  to 
the  charity  commissioner  for  approval.  As  the 
stalemate  continued,  properties  deteriorated. 


Bread  and  cup  in 
India — chapatis  and 
juice  from  cool<ed 
raisins,  shown  here 
with  a  pastor's  stole 
imprinted  with  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren 
denominational  logo. 


Backers  of 
recognition  say 
that  even 
though  the 
US  church 
supported  the 
covenant 
between  the 
churches  of 
India,  there 
never  was  a 
covenant 
binding  the 
US  church. 


Messenger  August  2000 


"Can  we  as  the 

mother  church 

now  help  these 

two  daughter 

churches  to 

reconcile  a 

hateful  past 

and  receive 

grace  from 

God,  and  each 

other?" 

-Merv  Keeney 


Seeking  a  way  around  this  legal  Catch-22,  in 
the  mid-1990s  Lamar  Gibble  went  to  India  where 
he  testified  for  three  days  before  the  charity  com- 
missioner to  clarify  the  General  Board's  wishes 
that  CNI  trustees  be  seated.  When  he  returned  to 
the  US  he  thought  he  had  been  successful,  only 
to  find  out  later  that  the  CNI  trustees  hadn't  been 
seated  after  all. 

Gibble  says  that  at  the  center  of  each  court  ini- 
tiative that  has  frustrated  attempts  by  the  church 
in  the  US  to  transfer  property  to  CNI  is  the  name 
of  Emu  Bhagat.  Supporters  of  recognition  for  the 
separated  group  acknowledge  that  Bhagat  is  a  con- 
troversial figure,  but  point  out  that  even  George 
Washington  was  considered  a  rascal  by  the  British. 
According  to  one  source,  he  is  highly  respected  by 
members  of  his  church  for  his  ability  to  use  the  court 
system  in  the  separated  group's  quest  for  property 
control,  and  to  stand  up  to  the  leaders  of  CNI. 

Lamar  Gibble,  who  struggled  with  the  India 
problem  for  nine  years  as  a  General  Board  staff 
member,  has  sent  strongly  worded  letters  to  Keeney, 
insisting  that  the  current  move  toward  recogni- 
tion is  the  wrong  course.  It  will  "serve  to  fuel  the 
hope  of  the  breakaway  group  in  its  primary  effort, 
which  is  to  secure  the  valuable  former  mission 
properties  of  the  General  Board  for  their  narrow 


and  to  some  extent  personal  gain,"  he  wrote. 

Keeney  responds  that  there  have  been  instances 
of  individual  corruption  and  less-than-Christian 
behavior  on  both  sides  of  the  India  dispute.  And, 
though  property  often  takes  center  stage,  there  are 
other  issues  between  the  two  sides  in  India.  The 
separated  group  has  told  US  church  officials  that 
they  are  being  mistreated  by  a  heavy-handed  CNI, 
which  prevents  their  church  from  being  recognized 
by  other  Indian  churches  and  keeps  their  members 
out  of  the  ecumenical  seminary.  They  say  CNI  has 
an  Anglican-style  hierarchy,  while  they  prefer  a 
more  egalitarian  Brethren-style  structure,  and  that 
CNI  has  refused  some  requests  to  use  church  buOd- 
ings  which  are  supposed  to  be  shared. 

"Some  persons  find  parallels  between  the 
CNI-Brethren  relationship  and  the  state  church 
oppression  of  the  early  Brethren  in  Europe," 
Keeney  said  in  a  report  to  the  General  Board. 

Evidence  of  the  deteriorating  relationship 
between  US  Brethren  and  their  former  ally  CNI 
came  during  a  March  visit  by  a  General  Board 
delegation  when  a  rock  was  thrown  and  narrowly 
missed  the  Americans.  After  learning  of  the  inci- 
dent, a  CNI  official  wrote  in  a  letter  to  Keeney: 
"The  anger  it  seems  had  been  directed  to  Mr.  E. 
P.  Bhagat  and  Mr.  Shantilal  Bhagat  and  not  to  the 


THE  MISSION  PROPERTIES  BEHIND  THE  FUSS 


The  Church  of  the  Brethren  General 
Board  is  related  to  two  public  trusts  in 
India.  One  is  the  Church  of  the  Brethren 
General  Board  (CBGB)  Trust,  which  is 
registered  in  the  State  of  Gujarat.  The 
second  is  the  General  Brotherhood 
Board  Church  of  the  Brethren  (GBB) 
Trust,  which  is  registered  in  the  State 


of  Maharashtra. 

The  estimated  value  of  properties 
in  the  first  trust,  which  is  within  the 
geographical  boundaries  of  what  had 
been  the  First  District  of  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren  in  India,  is  $4.5  mil- 
lion (US).  Officials  cautioned  that 
professional  appraisals  would  be 


needed  to  get  an  accurate  market 
value.  According  to  Shantilal  Bhagat, 
most  of  these  properties  are  in  direct 
possession  of  the  Church  of  North 
India,  and  have  been  since  CNI  was 
formed  in  1970. 

The  only  properties  in  direct  pos- 
session and  management  of  the  trustees 
of  the  CBGB  trust  are  the  ones  located 
in  Ankleshvar  and  Valsad  (Bulsar).  Prop- 
erties in  these  two  places  together 
represent  a  major  share  of  the  overall 
value  of  all  CBGB  Trust  properties  in 
Gujarat  State.  The  trust  currently  oper- 
ates the  Vocational  Training  College  in 
Ankleshvar,  a  high  school  in  Valsad 
(Bulsar),  and  owns  three  properties 
that  are  presently  used  as  hostels  by 
other  groups.  It  also  manages  proper- 
ties at  a  number  of  locations  in  the 
southern  part  of  Gujarat  State.  Most 

The  verandah  of  the  Dahanu  hospital 
in  1927.  The  property,  still  being 
operated  as  a  hospital,  is  valuable  today. 


/isiting  team.  I  have  been  assured  that  these  feel- 
ngs  were  not  expressed  against  the  visitors  from 
USA.  and  you  must  beheve  us  on  this." 

Keeney  shot  back  a  reply:  "We  were  surprised 
hat  your  letter  included  so  little  in  the  way  of 
apologies  about  the  violent  behavior  of  CNI  mem- 
bers during  this  visit.  The  stone  flew  within 
;entimeters  of  several  heads  of  committee  mem- 
Dcrs  and  damaged  the  car  we  rode  in,  so  we  are 
ouzzled  at  your  assertion  that  the  anger  was  not 
directed  at  the  delegation.  By  pointing  out  that 
[he  anger  was  not  directed  against  the  visitors 


u 

)     1   ii'S^nm. 5 r;: 

BombayJK  i-' 

1                           ,.-••     ,^'       PRADCsn    I, 

\ 

''<r~^"-\^r^^"\'^-^\"\ 

\ 

"—^  GUI    RAT"               MADHVA  PRAOtSH         '-           \ 
^^^S              •BhopaJ 

\ 

enlarged     yz.,n  un           ./   "■;  "•      '.            ,■■ 
map  l^J           ./         -',     .'j.yy 

Areas  of  Brethren 

churches  and 

properties  are 

designated  on  the 

above  map  by  a  star. 

from  USA,  but  only  at  the  Bhagats,  1  hope  that 
you  are  not  implying  that  it  was  acceptable  for 
CNI  members  to  use  violence  against  E.  P.  and 
S.  P.  Bhagat.  This  attitude,  and  the  behavior  we 
experienced,  do  not  reflect  the  mind  of  Christ." 


D: 


jesplte  physical  and  verbal  rock-throwing, 

Keeney  insists  that  the  goal  is  for  the  US 
church  to  serve  as  a  reconciler  of  differences,  and 
to  end  up  with  both  churches  in  India  as  partners 
of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  in  the  US.  "Can  we 
as  the  mother  church  now  help  these  two  daugh- 
ter churches  to  reconcile  a  hateful  past  and  receive 
grace  from  God,  and  each  other?"  he  writes. 

"Can  the  American  church  find  our  way 
through  the  deep  feelings  on  both  sides  of  these 
issues  and  regain  footing  on  the  values  that  we 
believe  are  central  to  the  church?  Christ  calls  us 
to  love  the  enemy  and  to  recognize  God  in  the 
enemy.  God  calls  us  to  to  be  about  God's  work 
in  the  world.  Christians  should  work  together  as 
one,  even  if  the  church  cannot  yet  be  structurally 
integrated  into  one  body.  Just  as  spokes  on 
a  wheel,  as  we  move  toward  Christ  as  the 
center,  we  move  closer  to  each  other." 


2! 


The  Vocational 
Training  College  in 
Anklesvar,  founded 
by  Brethren  mission 
efforts  in  1924,  trains 
elementary  school 
teachers.  A  visiting 
US  delegation  is 
pictured  with  the 
college's  staff. 


Df  them  are  in  Ankleshvar,  Vyara,  and 
Valsad  (Bulsar),  including  a  former 
hospital  at  Valsad.  Over  the  years,  some 
af  the  properties  were  acquired  by  the 
Gujarat  government  for  public  pur- 
poses and  some  were  sold  to  individuals. 
The  second  trust,  in  what  was  the 
old  Second  District  of  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren,  has  properties  worth  an  esti- 
mated $1.2  million  (US).  This  trust  has 


properties  in  two  locations — one  in 
Dahanu  Road,  about  7.5  acres  and  a 
number  of  buildings  used  by  the  Brethren 
Mission  Hospital,  and  the  other  is  about 
seven  acres  of  land  in  Palghar. 

There  are  two  other  trusts,  one  in 
the  old  First  District  and  one  in  the  old 
Second  District  of  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren.  The  Church  of  the  Brethren 
General  Board  has  no  responsibility  for 


appointing  trustees  to  these  trusts,  but 
they  have  not  been  amalgamated  into 
the  Church  of  North  India.  These  trusts 
own  and  manage  church  buildings,  par- 
sonages, and  in  some  cases  land  given 
to  the  church.  The  properties  of  the  First 
District  Church  of  the  Brethren  Trust 
registered  in  the  State  of  Gujarat  have 
been  in  the  possession  of  CNI  congre- 
gations since  1970. 


Messenger  August  2000 


ILETTERS 


Pass  along  forgiveness 

Your  editorial  in  June  on  forgiveness 
strikes  me  as  extremely  important  right 
now  as  I  relate  personally,  and  as 
others  share  with  me  in  their  relating  to 
one  another.  Thank  you. 

I  hope  other  publications  pick  up  on 
it  and  "recycle"  your  (and  I  believe 
God's)  message.  I  made  photocopies  to 
use  in  Sunday  school  class  and  to 
share  with  friends. 

Clyde  Carter 
Daleville,  Va. 


What  to  do  Memorial  Day? 

I  am  writing  this  letter  on  Memorial  Day, 
the  holiday  when  our  country  remem- 
bers its  war  dead  and  in  general 
celebrates  its  manliness  in  the  making  of 
war.  It  is  a  difficult  time  for  the  historic 
peace  churches  to  know  how  to  handle. 
What  do  we  do  with  Memorial  Day? 

I  know  of  one  Church  of  the  Brethren 
congregation  that  uses  Memorial  Day  to 


remember  all  the  people  who  have  died 
in  the  past  year.  But  this  is  more  prop- 
erly done  on  All  Saints  Day. 

At  another  Brethren  congregation,  the 
pastor  took  vacation  on  Memorial  Day 
Sunday,  so  he  would  not  have  to  be  pre- 
sent when  the  congregation  did  the 
Memorial  Day  thing.  It  is  hard  for  a  pastor 
to  know  what  to  do.  Too  many  members 
feel  their  church  owes  them  the  worldly 
approach  to  Memorial  Day,  and  to  take  it 
away  from  them  feels  like  an  insult  to 
their  dearly  departed  loved  ones. 

All  we  need  to  do  is  designate  the 
Memorial  Day  weekend  as  "Brethren 
Peace  Witness  Sunday." 

My  father,  a  retired  Brethren  pastor, 
remembers  the  period  after  World  War  I, 
when  the  peace  position  of  the  church 
was  allowed  to  slide.  Then  another  war 
came  along,  and  the  church  was  unpre- 
pared. Since  Vietnam  it  seems  we  have 
done  the  same.  We  need  to  have  a 
Peace  Witness  Sunday. 

Dad  actually  did  this  on  his  own  in  the 
late  1950s.  A  local  veterans  organization 
had  asked  whether  they  could  come  as  a 


group  and  worship  on  Memorial  Day 
Sunday.  Dad  said,  "Sure."  Close  to  two 
dozen  showed  up  for  worship  and  took 
up  several  pews.  And  then  Dad 
preached  a  sermon  about  peace:  "There 
is  nobody  who  wants  peace  more  than 
those  who  have  gone  through  the  hor- 
rors of  war."  Each  and  every  veteran 
thanked  him  for  his  message. 

Bill  Bowsei: 

Martinsburg,  Pa 


Jesus  and  the  death  penalty 

I  do  not  see  how  the  person  who  wrote 
the  letter  in  your  May  issue  came  to  the 
conclusion  that  Jesus  recommended 
capital  punishment.  Jesus  did  not 
believe  in  taking  anyone's  life  for  any 
reason  or  in  any  circumstance.  "You 
shall  not  kill." 

We  don't  kill  someone  we  love  and 
God  says  we  must  love  our  enemies  and 
do  good  to  them.  Jesus,  in  speaking  to 
Peter,  was  expressing  how  foolish  it  is  to 
take  up  arms  against  anyone. 


Our  Doors  Are  Open, 
Please  Drop  In... 


Mill  Ridge  Village,  Dayton's  newest  retirement 
community,  is  bursting  with  excitement  as  we 
showcase  our  four  spacious  cottage  home 
designs!   We'll  do  the  cottage  maintenance 
and  yard  care,  while  you  enjoy  the  retirement 
lifestyle  of  your  dreams.  And  our  beautiful 
Community  Center  is  like  frosting  on  the 
cake  -  it's  yours  to  use  for  family  reunions  and 
other  special  occasions  when  you  need  lots  of 
space!    And  enjoy 


Tours  are  available  today! 
Stop  in  Monday  -  Friday 
from  10:00  -  4:00; 
orcall937'832'6303.  We  also 
invite  you  to  visit  our  web  site  at 
www.millridgevillage.org   /^ 


the  events  and  activities 
planned  by  the  staff  -  for  fun,  for 
education,  and  for  good  health. 


owned  and  operated  by    ■  r 

Brethren  r 
Retirement  ■ 
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Union,  OH  45322 


Messenger  August  2000 


^^  Jesus,  in  speaking  to  Peter,  was 

expressing  how  foolish  it  is  to  take  up  arms 

against  anyone.  Please,  brother,  take 

another  look  at  Jesus!  God  is  the  only  judge 

who  can  pronounce  death.  ^^ 


Please,  brother,  take  another  look  at 
Jesus!  God  is  the  only  judge  who  can 
pronounce  death. 

G.  Richard  Radcliff 

Blue  Ridge,  Va. 


Violence  begets  violence 

I  disagree  with  the  May  letter  which 
suggests  that  Jesus  advocated  the 
death  penalty.  The  statement  in 
Matthew  26:52,  "All  who  take  up  the 
sword  will  perish  by  the  sword,"  was 
Jesus's  way  of  saying,  "Never  use  vio- 
lence against  one  person  to  protect 
another  person,  for  violence  begets 


violence." 

Jesus  set  aside  the  "eye  for  an  eye 
and  a  tooth  for  a  tooth"  requirement 
of  the  Mosaic  legal  code  and  said  to 
turn  the  other  cheek  instead.  He  said, 
"Love  your  enemies"  (Matt.  5:44).  He 
rebuked  James  and  John  when  they 
wanted  to  emulate  Elijah  by  calling 
down  fire  on  their  enemies  (Luke  9:52- 
55).  He  stopped  the  stoning  of  a 
woman  caught  in  adultery  by  saying, 
"Let  anyone  who  is  without  sin  cast 
the  first  stone"  (John  8:3-11). 

It  seems  very  clear  that  Jesus 
opposed  the  death  penalty. 

Jerry  C.  Stanaway 

Lombard,  111. 


From  the 

Office  of  Human  Resources 

Coordinator, 
Disaster  Child 
Care 

A  full-time  position  based  in 
New  Windsor,  Md.   Oversight 
and  administration  of  all  activi- 
ties and  funds  related  to  the 
operation  of  Disaster  Child  Care 
program.   Interviews  will  con- 
tinue until  the  position  is  filled. 


For  more  information 

and  application  form  contact: 

Elsie  Holderread  at 
800-742-5100  or  e-mail 
eholderread_gb@  brethren,  or^ 


Siwoulina  Jiipem/'  6W 
for  i/on/'  Seace  oft  fJimi 

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ON-CAMPUS   BANKING  &   MEDICAL   FACILITIES 


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•  Sheltered  neighborhood 

•  Private  Rooms  with  Bath 


•  Health  Care  Center 

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Everything  You  Need 

Support  services  •  Adult  Day  Services 

Home  health  services  •  Special  care  unit 

Special  Care  (Alzheimer's)  Unit*   Nursing  care 
Cross  Keys  Subacute  Center         •   Respite  Care 

MEDICARE/MEDICAID  APPROVED 

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2990  Carlisle  Pike  -  P.O.  Box  1  2f 

New  OXFORD.  PA    17350-0128 

1  -888-624-8242 

www.  BRET  MR  EN  HOME.ORG 


TJw  Brethren  Home 

ConmiUfiity 


Messenger  August  2000 


From  the 

Brethren  Benefit  Trust 

Director  of 

Information 

Systems 

Elgin, IL 

(available  immediately) 

Managing  and  Directing  the 
Information  Systems  operations 
including  the  WWW  and  the 
design,  maintenance  and  admin- 
istration of  ail  information 
systems  platforms;  Novell,  Win- 
dows NT,  Linux,  and  Windows 
95,  with  specific  knowledge  of 
Microsoft's  SQL,  Oracle  Access 
and  Pick's  03  Databases.  Applica- 
tion deployment  methods  across 
LAN,  WAN,  VPN  are  also  essen- 
tial to  this  position.  Manage  staff 
and  departmental  capital  and 
operational  budgets.  Oversee 
arrangements  with  other  agencies 
for  systems,  services  and  support. 

Requirements: 

•  BS  in  Computer  science,  MS 
preferred 

•  Proficient  in  Novell  and  Linux 
with  strong  database  design 
and  management  background 

•  7-10  years  information  sys- 
tems management 
responsibilities/  5  years 
managerial  background 

•  Strong  background  in  the 
implementation  of  software 
solutions  and  a  proven  level  of 
accomplishments  related  to 
systems  design,  upgrade  and 
maintenance 

•  Strong  verbal  and  written  com- 
munication skills 

Interested  and  qualified  persons 
may  apply  by  sending  letter,  resume, 
and  salary  history  to  Claudia  Sheets, 
1505  Dundee  Avenue,  Elgin,  IL 
60120  or  FAX  to  847/742-0135 


CLASSIFIED 


Christian  Family  Practice  group  is  seeking  a 
family  piiysician  to  join  our  growing  practice.  We 
are  located  in  North  Central  Indiana,  near  Goshen. 
We  provide  obstetrics  with  many  deliveries  done 
at  an  Amish  Birthing  Center  near  Shipshewana. 
Opportunities  for  short-  or  long-term  missions.  Inde- 
pendently owned  (six  physicians  &  one  PA)  and 
committed  to  remaining  sensitive  to  the  needs  of 
the  local  community.  Option  to  buy  in.  Contact  Steve 
Wendler,  Administrator,  at  Middlebury  Family  Physi- 
cians, PO  Box  459,  Middlebury,  IN  46540.  Day 
telephone:  219-825-2900  Evening:  219-825-7506. 

Good  Shepherd  Home  is  seeking  a  full-time 
chaplain  for  this  rural  100-bed  nursing  home  and 
licensed  50-bed  rest  home  located  in  Fostoria,  Ohio. 
This  position  will  provide  spiritual  care  to  the  resi- 
dents, families  and  employees.  If  willing,  the  chaplain 
may  assist  the  executive  director  and  Board  of 
Trustees  with  fund  raising  and  development  pro- 
jects. Good  Shepherd  Home  prefers  candidates 
who  are  licensed  or  ordained  ministers  with  strong 
written  and  verbal  skills.  Send  or  fax  resumes  to 
Chris  Widman,  executive  director,  phone  (419)  435- 
1801;  fax  (419)  435-1594. 

Travel  with  a  purpose.  Visit  the  "Cradle  of  Civi- 
lization," March  16-29, 2001.  Featuring:  crossing  the 
Red  Sea,  visiting  Mt.  Sinai,  cruising  on  the  Sea  of 
Galilee,  cable  car  ride  to  Massada.  Visit  Petra,  the 
rose  city,  Jerusalem,  The  Holy  Land,  St.  Catherine 
Monastery  on  Mt.  Sinai.  Full  breakfast  and  dinner 
throughout.  For  information  write  Wendell  and  Joan 
Bohrer,  8520  Royal  Meadow  Drive,  Indianapolis,  IN. 
46217.  Tel/fax  317-882-5067.  E-mail  rdwboh(5)aol.com. 

Visiting  Washington,  D.C.?  Come  worship  with 
us  at  the  Arlington  Church  of  the  Brethren,  300  N. 
Montague  St,  Arlington,  Virginia.  Phone  703-524- 
4100.  Services:  Sunday  School  9:45  -  10:45  a.m. 
Worship:  11:00a.m.  Summer  Hours:  June  4  thru 
September  3.  Worship  10:00  a.m.  No  Sunday  School. 
Nursery  Services  Provided.  Roseann  B.  Cook,  Pastor. 

The  Association  of  Brethren  Caregivers  is  seek- 
ing a  full-time  Coordinator  of  Shared  Services 

to  assist  the  Executive  Director  with  programming 
and  services  to  the  association  and  the  Fellowship 
of  Brethren  Homes,  a  ministry  with  Brethren  retire- 
ment communities.  Ideal  candidates  will  demonstrate 
the  following  qualifications:  working  knowledge  of 
the  mechanisms  and  processes  which  impact  ser- 
vices to  the  aging;  experience  in  retirement 
community  management;  understanding  of  Church 
of  the  Brethren  heritage;  bachelor's  degree  in  a 
related  field;  proficiency  in  interpretation  and  con- 
sensus building;  comfort  providing  leadership  in 
an  environment  with  diverse  interests;  excellent 
communication,  organization  and  computer  skills. 
The  position,  located  in  Elgin,  Illinois,  is  available 
on  January  1, 2001.  Direct  inquiries  or  send  letters 
of  application  with  resume  and  three  references  to 
Steve  Mason,  Executive  Director,  ABC,  1451  Dundee 
Avenue,  Elgin,  IL  60120. 


Come,  experience  the  warm  hospitality,  carinc 
witness,  and  Spirit-filled  worship  of  th( 
Church  of  the  Brethren  in  the  Dominicar 
Republic.  Participate  in  a  travel  seminar  offeree 
by  Bethany  Theological  Seminary  and  led  by  Dar 
Ulrich,  Jerry  Crouse,  and  Becky  Baile  Crouse  or 
January  2-16,  2001.  Cost  is  $785  plus  air  fare 
Tuition  is  extra  for  those  seeking  academic  credit 
Spanish  is  helpful  but  not  required.  For  more  infor 
mation,  call  765-983-1800. 

Walk  where  Jesus  walked  with  Pastor  Rogei 
Forry  November  13  thru  20,  2000,  This  is  a  pil- 
grimage of  a  lifetime!  Breakfast  and  dinner  are 
included  daily.  Bus  transportation  is  provided  fron" 
the  Somerset,  Pennsylvania  area  or  passengers  car 
meet  the  group  at  J  F  K  airport  for  their  journey  tc 
Israel.  Visit  this  historical  area  from  a  Christian  per 
spective  with  an  emphasis  on  Protestantism 
Professional  bilingual  guide  service.  A  bargain  price 
for  an  excellent  trip!  Call  800-462-1592  for  details 

Goshen  College  invites  applications  for  a  tenure 
track  appointment  in  Bible  and  religion  begin- 
ning July  2001,  Qualifications:  Ph.D.  in  biblica 
studies  with  a  concentration  in  Hebrew  Bible  (ABC 
considered);  secondary  competence  in  religious  stud- 
ies or  theology  required.  Responsibilities;  teach  eight 
undergraduate  courses,  including  Biblical  Literature 
(multiple  sections),  upper  division  course  in  area  o1 
specialization,  and  other  courses  within  interdisci- 
plinary general  education  program  of  liberal  arte 
college.  The  successful  candidate  must  be  willing  tc 
accept  Goshen  College's  mission  statement  and  stan- 
dards and  affirm  Anabaptist  perspectives.  Womer 
and  people  from  underrepresented  groups  are  espe- 
cially encouraged  to  apply.  Goshen  College  is  ar 
affirmative  action  employer.  Send  letter  addressing 
qualification,  curriculum  vitae,  undergraduate/grad- 
uate transcripts,  and  three  current  letters  of  reference 
to  Provost  John  Yordy,  Goshen  College,  1700  Mair 
Street  S.,  Goshen,  IN  46526.  Deadline  for  applica- 
tion is  August  31, 2000.  E-mail:  provost(5)goshen.edu. 
Telephone:  (219)  535-7501  Fax:  (219)  535  -7060. 

The  Olive  Tree  Community  has  been  a  source  o1 
food,  fuel,  furnishings  and  oil  for  anointing  for  over 
6,000  years.  Because  it  matures  very  slowly  —one 
tree  can  live  for  over  a  thousand  years— parents  ano 
grandparents  plant  olive  trees  for  their  children, 
leaving  a  valuable  legacy  for  the  next  generation. 
Bethany's  Olive  Tree  Community  joins  together  a 
special  group  of  friends  who  have  a  similar  com- 
mitment to  the  Seminary.  Through  deferred  and 
estate  gifts,  they  are  leaving  a  legacy  for  future  gen- 
erations to  nurture  the  leadership  needed  for  our 
children,  grandchildren  and  new  children  in  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren.  We  invite  you  to  become  a 
member  of  the  Olive  Tree  Community.  When  you 
make  your  will,  purchase  life  insurance,  start  a  retire- 
ment plan  or  review  your  current  estate  plan,  why 
not  consider  including  Bethany  as  a  beneficiary  for 
part  or  all  of  the  proceeds.  Contact  Lowell  Flory  at 
800-287-8822  for  more  information. 


Um  Messenger  August  2000 


TURNING  POINTS 


This  month's  Turning  Points 
includes  all  listings  received 
prior  to  6/1 1/00  not  previously 
published.  Forms  for  submitting 
Turning  Points  information  are 
available  by  calling  Peggy 
Reinacher  at  800-323-8039. 

New  members 

Alloona  28lh  StrccI,  Alloona, 
Fa.:  Eric  Flunierlell.  Kris 
Hoovler.  Megan  Hoovler, 
Wesley  McConnell.  Katie 
Muccitelli.  lason  Wilson 

Bethany.  New  Paris.  Ind.:  Stan 
and  Nancy  Gurka,  Scott  and 
Cam!  Wakley.  Desmond 
Schoonover.  Stephanie 
Dowty.  Brad  Dowty,  Amanda 
Burger.  Nathan  Abshire. 
Hollv  Abshire,  Amanda  Bover, 
Mike  Reuter.  Whitney  Gall', 
lohn  Gall,  lustin  Conrad 

Big  Creek.  Cushing.  Okla.: 
Nancy  Chipukites.  Chip 
Chipukites.  Rita  Hendrix. 
lessie  Hendrix.  Allen 
Harmon.  Dale  Wolff.  Cindy 
Wolff,  Roxanne  Lease.  Jen- 
nifer Mattingly 

Bridgewater.  Va.:  Wilmer  and 
Thelma  Crummett.  Charles 
and  Mary  Miller.  Gerri 
Rigney.  Mary  C.  Detrick.  Mal- 
lory  Custer.  Maria  Partlow. 
Lori  Racca.  Mary  Beahm. 
lames  and  Anita  Beckman 

Cedar  Creek.  Garrett.  Ind.:  Skip 
Sineltzer.  Shelley  Smeltzer 

Dixon,  111.:  Suzanne  Crossland. 
Carol  lackley 

Ephrata.  Pa.:  Mary  Cable.  Paul 
Hosier.  David  and  Michele 
Mummau.  Christel  Follz. 
Charles  and  Mary  Garrett 

Harper  Woods.  Mich.:  Paul 
Filzpatrick.  Erica  Fitzpatrick 

Heidelberg.  Reistville.  Pa.: 
Sarah  Bucher.  Carl  Hoff- 
man. Donna  Hoffman. 
Tiffany  Hoffman 

Independence.  Kan.:  Revenna 
Eikenberry.  Wayne  Eiken- 
berry.  Dana  |.  Hart,  layson 
McMaster.  Meagan  McMas- 
ter.  Ernest  H.  Newton,  Scott 
Reimer.  Betty  May  Twilley 

Lansing.  Mich.:  [esse  Baker- 
Ferenchick.  Philip 
BrunDelRe.  Matthew  Curtis- 
Walkins.  lustin  Ernst. 
Chelsea  Marr.  Tara  Herrold 
I  Lewiston.  Minn.:  Brent 

Risser,  Shawn  Sanders.  |ef- 
frey  Peckover,  Angela 
Pospichal-Heublein.  Lisa 
Mundt.  Lynda  Mundt, 
Ulrike  Schorn-Hoffert 
I  Lower  Claar.  Claysburg.  Pa.: 

Dorothy  Helsel.  Chelsea  Oakes 
'  Marsh  Creek.  Gettysburg. 
Pa.:  Breanna  MacDonald. 
Olivia  Orndorfl.  Raquel 
Wocrner.  Storm  Woerner. 
Catherine  L.  Dick 
'  Moxham.  lohnstown.  Pa.:  Joyce 


Mahon.  Gregory  lacoby. 
Steven  Wilson 

Painter  Creek.  Arcanum.  Ohio: 
Helen  Morris.  Mildred  Rout- 
zong 

Peace.  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa: 
Abby  Barritt,  lillian  Brooks, 
Lynsi  Brooks,  Cathy  Cun- 
ningham, Ian  Forbes, 
Amanda  Frazier.  Zach  Fra- 
zier,  Wayne  Lewis.  Ashley 
Watson.  |osh  Watson 

Petersburg  Memorial.  Peters- 
burg. W.Va.:  Bill.Mt.  Bill  Alt. 
Ir.,  Mary  Lou  Alt 

Philadelphia.  Pa.:  Lisa  and 
lohn  Dutterer 

Pleasant  View.  Fayetteville. 
W.Va.:  Susan  Osborne 

Unionlown.  Pa.:  Brad  Balsley. 
Eric  Gottheid.  Lauren  Knox. 
Seth  McElroy.  lane  McShane. 
Penny  McShane.  Chelsea 
Smitley.  Oscar  Verbus 

Wenalchee.  Wash.:  Linda 

Davis.  Eugene  lordan.  Deda 
Preston.  Lois  Russell.  |im 
and  Evelyn  Weimer 

West  Green  Tree,  Elizabeth- 
town,  Pa.:  loann  and  David 
Hoppman,  Mindy  and  Steve 
Smith,  Kirsten  Flowers, 
Kelsey  Hollinger.  Ellen  and 
Richard  Bowers 

Westernport.  Md.:  Charles 
Barnard,  Lurene  Barnard, 
Matthew  Shimer 

York,  Pa.:  S.  Alexander  Cinder. 
Daniel  Vuono 


Wedding 
anniversaries 

Bender.  Kermit  and  Dorothy. 

Elizabethtown.  Pa..  50 
Goodenberger.  Melvin  and 

Thelma.  Canton.  Ohio.  60 
Groth.  iohn  and  Esther,  Inde- 
pendence, Kan..  60 
Hinds.  William  and  Mildred. 

Hartville.  Ohio,  60 
Kaylor,  Dalton  and  Helen, 

Danville.  Ohio.  50 
Ledgerwood,  Olin  and  Helen, 

Hartville.  Ohio,  50 
Miller.  Herman  and  Frances. 

Bridgewater,  Va.,  65 
Quay,  Clarence  and  Mary, 

Bridgewater,  Va..  50 
Rogers.  David  and  Shirley.  N. 

Manchester.  Ind..  50 
Ross.  Wayne  and  Mary 

Elizabeth.  N.  Manchester, 

Ind..  50 
Shankster,  Owen  and  Celia. 

Roann,  Ind..  50 
Showalter.  Luther  and  Alverta, 

Edgewood,  Md.,  50 
Statler.  Harold  and  Ruth, 

Keyser.  W.Va..  50 
Stern.  Irven  and  Pattie. 

McPherson,  Kan..  50 
Veno.  Francis  and  Lorraine. 

Uniontown.  Pa.,  50 
Wolfe.  Hugh  and  lune.  Glen 

Burnie.  Md..  60 


Deaths 

Allison,  Grace.  85.  Claysburg. 

Pa..  Dec.  50 
Anderson.  Roman,  74.  Goshen. 

Ind.,  Ian.  7 
Andrews.  Harold  L..  80.  Dixon. 

111..  May  30 
Anglemyer.  Gladys,  Sebring. 

Fla..  Ian.  4 
Anstine.  Florence  H..  94. 

Hartville,  Ohio.  Ian.  4 
Applegate,  E.  Wayne.  82. 

Norton.  Kan..  Sept.  22 
Armey.  Irene.  94,  Fresno, 

Calif.,  April  8 
Artman,  Dorothy.  85,  Red 

Lion,  Pa,,  Feb,  6 
Ballaron,  Florence.  96,  St. 

Petersburg.  Fla..  lune  6 
Banwart.  Harold.  Avon  Park, 

Fla.,  March  22 
Barber.  Robert  E.  Lee.  66, 

Keyser.  W.Va..  |an.  3 
Beery.  Irene.  N.  Manchester, 

Ind..  lune  20 
Boland,  S.  Katharyne.  90. 

Altoona,  Pa..  April  25 
Brandenstein.  Kenneth. 

Miamisburg.  Ohio.  April  1  5 
Brumbaugh.  Florence,  97, 

Martinsburg.  Pa.,  Feb.  14 
Byrd,  Doris,  96,  Bridgewater, 

Va.,  May  18 
Campbell,  Violet,  86,  Western- 
port,  Md.,  Feb.  7 
Cannon.  Harry  L..  83.  Keyser. 

W.Va.,  Nov.' 13 
Carey,  Bernetta,  N.  Manches- 
ter, Ind.,  April  1  3 
Chadwell,  Arthur,  Sebring. 

Fla..  .April  15 
Claar.  lohn  E..  77,  Claysburg. 

Pa.,  Dec.  27 
Clay,  losephine.  79.  Hartville. 

Ohio.  Ian.  18 
Cobaugh,  Florence  M.,  89, 

Linwood.  N.|..  May  20 
Coffey.  Max  O.,  84.  Lookout, 

W.Va..  May  29 
Cosllow,  Mary.  88.  iohnstown. 

Pa.,  lune  6 
Curran.  Audrey.  77,  Norton, 

Kan.,  Nov.  2 
Dilling.  Sophia  V,  85,  Martins- 
burg, Pa..  Feb.  23 
Eller.  Henry  C.  100.  Bridge- 
water.  Va..  May  28 
Esbensen.  Edwin  R.,  San  lose. 

CaliL.  March  21 
Eshenour.  Lloyd.  87.  Olney. 

Md..  May  3' 
Pahs.  Eldon  Eugene.  Milford. 

Ind.,  Feb.  8 
Fairbanks,  Clarence  S..  84. 

Greenville.  Ohio.  April  19 
Fazenbaker.  Harry.  72.  West- 
ernport. Md..  March  25 
Fuhrman.  Earl  S..  77.  Spring 

Grove.  Pa.,  May  21 
Carbcr,  Leland  F..  62.  Emmits- 

burg.  Md..  May  18 
Gleim.  William  A.,  71. 

Williamsburg.  Pa..  March  1 
Goodwin.  Arthur.  86.  Union- 
town.  Pa..  Feb.  2 
Gosnell.  |oe.  79.  Greenville. 


Ohio.  April  1 

Gross.  Philip  H..  Sr..  96. 
Dover.  Pa..  May  12 

Hagerty.  lames.  Sr..  65. 
Altoona.  Pa..  April  10 

Hangey.  Kathryn.  90.  Sell- 
ersville.  Pa..  May  1  3 

Harlman,  Daniel  M.,  74,  York, 
Pa..  May  19 

Heidlebaugh.  Raymond  E.,  75. 
Hellam,  Pa.,  May  6 

Hunter.  Nettie.  98,  Atlanta, 
Ind.,  May  25 

Isenberg,  Frank  W..  lohnson 
City.  Tenn.,  April  1  1 

lohnson.  Frank  E..  Colorado. 
May  5 

Klucher,  Robert.  75,  York.  Pa., 
•March  9 

Leckrone,  Ida  B..  91 ,  Martins- 
burg. Pa..  Feb.  27 

Lininger.  Geraldine.  74.  La 
Verne.  Calif..  March  19 

Mishler,  Naomi.  N.  Manches- 
ter. Ind..  Feb.  8 

Moyer,  Mabel,  98,  Greenville. 
Ohio,  lune  5 

Moyer.  Melvin.  Linthicum. 
Md.,  May  6 

Myers.  Virgil  E..  78,  North 
Canton,  Ohio.  April  18 

Wenninger.  William  A.,  65. 
Fayetteville.  Pa..  May  6 

Papke.  Angela.  Winchester.  Va., 
lune  5 

Petry,  Elden  M.,  Bowmansville. 
Pa..  April  17 

Ringgold.  Paul  E..  80.  Har- 
risonburg. Va..  May  8 

Rinier.  Roberta.  79.  Akron.  Pa.. 
Dec.  6 

Robinson.  Mary,  Sebring,  Fla., 
April  16 

Royer,  |.  Herman,  83.  Lan- 
caster, Pa.,  April  30 

Sell,  lames  Matthew.  |r..  73, 
Duncansville,  Pa.,  May  8 

Shaffer,  Dorothy,  82,  Pomona, 
CaliL,  March  19 

Sbelton,  Susan  ].,  Tipp  City, 
Ohio,  May  20 

Shonk.  lohn  W..  81,  Lafayette. 
Ind..  April  14 

Smith,  lack,  7 1 .  La  Verne. 
Calif..  April  23 

Snider,  Eileen  N.,  Manchester. 
Ind..  April  7 

Spangle.  Blanche  M..  97.  N. 
.Manchester.  Ind..  May  14 

Stark.  William  R..  85.  Ship- 
pensburg.  Pa..  Feb.  9 

Steele.  Florence.  87.  Martins- 
burg. Pa..  Feb.  21 

Waechler.  .Max.  81.  St.  Peters- 
burg. Fla..  May  16 

Washinger.  William.  Sr..  90. 
Shippensburg.  Pa..  Nov.  8 

Weekly.  Lucille  A..  78. 
Hartville.  Ohio.  March  8 

Werner.  Raymond.  84, 
Hanover.  Pa.,  lune  6 

Wersller,  Dawn  M..  78.  Green- 
town.  Ohio.  March  27 

Weyant,  Mary  E..  88,  Orbiso- 
nia.  Pa..  April  22 

Will.  Harper  S..  N.  Manches- 
ter. Ind..  May  23 


Wineland.  Mary,  Martinsburg, 

Pa..  April  23 
Zook.  Edward,  Verona,  Va.. 

May  27 


Licensings 

Beasley.  Sterling  Ray.  April  30. 

Fostoria.  Ohio 
Brunk,  lames.  May  21,  Union 

City,  Ohio 
Carroll,  James  U.,  |une  4,  East 

Nimishillen,  North  Canton, 

Ohio 
Cassidy,  Michael  |,,  May  28, 

White  Branch.  Hagerstown, 

Ind. 
Cox.  limmie  B.  Jr.,  May  14, 

Stonelick.  Pleasant  Plain, 

Ohio 
Guisewite,  Kathy  Fuller,  May 

28.  West  Flichmond.  Rich- 
mond, Va. 
Junkins,  Carroll  Glen,  April  30, 

Knobley,  Martin,  W.Va. 
Sell,  [anet,  lune  1 1, 

Woodbury,  Pa. 
Smith,  Alan  Marshal. 

May  21.  Longmeadow. 

Hagerstown,  Md. 

Ordinations 

Donohoo.  B.  Douglas.  May  28, 
West  Milton,  Ohio 

Grimes.  David.  April  30.  Poca- 
hontas. Green  Bank,  W.Va. 

Princell,  Pamela  S.,  May  7, 
Mexico.  Ind. 


Pastoral 
placement 

Bidgood  Enders.  Elizabeth  and 
Greg,  from  Richmond.  Ind.. 
to  co-pastors.  Mack  Memor- 
ial. Dayton.  Ohio 

Boleen,  Kevin  D..  to  Harris 
Creek.  Bradford.  Ohio 

Deardorff.  Tim,  to  Pyrmont. 
Delphi.  Ind. 

Frederick.  Stafford.  C,  from 
Olathe.  Kan.,  to  Sum- 
merdean,  Roanoke.  Va. 

Heck,  Dewayne.  to  co-pastor. 
White  Cottage.  Ohio 

Hyre.  Greg  Allen,  from  Eaton. 
Ohio,  to  Arcanum,  Ohio 

Maclay.  Connie,  from  interim 
to  permanent.  Beech  Run. 
Mapleton  Depot.  Pa. 

Merritt.  Russell,  to  co-pastor. 
White  Cottage,  Ohio 

Norris,  Victor,  from  Center 
Hill.  Kittanning.  Pa.,  to 
Shippensburg.  Pa. 

Satvedi.  Valentina.  from  North 
County,  San  Marcos,  Calif., 
to  South  Bay  Community, 
Redondo  Beach,  CaliL 

Schrock.  |.  Roger,  from  mis- 
sion administrator,  to 
Cabool,  Mo. 

Whitten.  David,  to  Moscow, 
Mount  Solon.  Va. 


Messenger  August  2000 


EDITORIAL 


Let's  talk  about  race 


We  never 

got  these 

issues 

resolved,  of 

course.  But 

in  the  course 

of  grappling 

with  them 

week  after 

week  we  got 

plenty  of 

opportunity 

to  listen  to 

each  other, 

and  to 

appreciate 

each  other 

more. 


How  do  you  react  to  this:  "A  white  man 
who  wants  to  be  on  the  poiice  force  is 
not  hired,  while  several  minority  applicants 
with  equal  scores  on  the  qualifying  test  are  hired." 

How  do  you  react  to  this:  "An  Asian  Ameri- 
can woman  has  cosmetic  surgery  on  her  eyes  so 
that  they'll  have  a  more  'Anglo'  look,  feeling  that 
she'll  be  more  attractive  this  way." 

Or  this:  "My  company  would  like  to  hire  more 
minorities,  but  we  don't  get  qualified  applicants." 

These  are  all  included  in  the  case  studies  our 
study  circle  was  asked  to  consider,  as  we  began 
one  small  step  toward  healing  the  problem  of 
racism.  The  town  I  live  in  has  begun  a  commu- 
nity conversation  on  race,  part  of  a  national 
program  coordinated  by  the  Study  Circles 
Resource  Center  of  Pomfret,  Conn.  (www. study- 
circles. org).  As  Americans  by  the  thousands  are 
doing  all  over  the  country,  we  Study  Circles  par- 
ticipants gathered  in  mixed-race  groups  of  10-14 
two  hours  weekly  for  six  weeks  to  talk  about  race. 
Much  like  a  Sunday  school  class,  we  discussed 
a  workbook  that  some  of  us  had  read  and  some 
of  us  had  not,  and  we  were  encouraged  to  share 
our  feelings,  or  questions,  and  our  fears.  When 
so  many  of  us  have  been  taught  not  to  talk  about 
race,  the  opportunity  for  honest  and  open 
exchange  was  refreshing. 

In  the  first  session  we  discussed  our  own 
family  backgrounds  and  how  they've  contributed 
to  our  attitudes  about  race.  In  another  we  dis- 
cussed the  roots  of  racial  inequities.  Is  the  history 
of  slavery  at  the  root  of  the  problem?  Or  is  it  that 
people  of  color  lack  economic  opportunity?  What 
role  is  played  by  institutional  racism,  in  which 
power  in  our  government,  schools,  and  churches 
continues  to  be  used  in  a  way  that  favors  whites 
and  works  against  people  of  color? 

We  never  got  these  issues  resolved,  of  course. 
But  in  the  course  of  grappling  with  them  week 
after  week  we  got  plenty  of  opportunity  to  listen 
to  each  other,  and  to  appreciate  each  other  more. 

A  young  black  woman  who  lives  in  a  nearly 
all-white  wealthy  bedroom  community  com- 
plained that  her  parents  were  being  racist 
because  they  wouldn't  let  her  go  out  running 
at  night.  Several  of  us  the  age  of  her  parents 
told  her  no,  they  were  being  smart.  She  is  smart 
too,  heading  for  medical  school.  She  explained 
minorities  can't  expect  to  succeed  in  academia 
if  they  are  naive  about  how  racial  attitudes  can 


work  for  them  or  against  them. 

A  middle-aged  white  man  in  our  group  kept 
saying  that  the  instruction  of  scripture  is  the  only 
solution  to  racism.  He  had  "proved"  to  friends  that 
the  Bible  says  racism  is  wrong,  and  they  had  changed 
their  views.  When  some  of  us  told  him  Bible  proof 
doesn't  convince  everyone,  he  seemed  to  consider 
other  forms  of  persuasion  for  the  first  time. 

When  some  of  us  expressed  cynicism  about 
government  efforts,  a  participant  who  works  for 
the  city  personnel  office  convinced  us  that  her 
office  is  doing  everything  it  can  to  recruit  qual- 
ified minority  applicants  for  police  and  fire 
department  openings. 

An  older  black  man,  retired,  enjoyed  telling 
us  about  the  white  man  who  moved  in  next  door 
and  saw  him  cutting  his  grass.  The  new  neigh- 
bor, assuming  he  was  talking  to  the  hired  help, 
asked  our  friend  what  he  gets  for  mowing  a  yard. 
He  answered  that  he  gets  to  have  dinner  with  the 
lady  who  lives  in  the  house. 

These  sessions  didn't  accomplish  much.  But 
they  introduced  us  to  others  who  care.  They  made 
us  all  more  aware  of  race  problems  and  progress 
in  the  news.  And  they  reminded  us  that  bridging 
racial  and  cultural  boundaries  is  a  joy,  not  a  chore. 
Some  of  our  churches  are  sponsoring  similar 
dialog  and  explorations  of  racial  issues,  and  expe- 
riencing blessings  from  doing  so. 

Racism  is  such  a  daunting  problem  it  is 
easy  to  not  do  anything  about  it,  or 
remember  that  we  did  something  once  and 
think  we've  done  our  part.  We  can  take  comfort ; 
knowing  that  somebody  else  is  doing  something 
and  decide  to  let  them  handle  it  for  now.  We  can 
pretend  that  racial  problems  were  solved  in  the 
sixties,  or  that  youth  are  the  only  ones  who  need 
to  be  educated  about  racism. 

Or  we  can  begin  by  talking  about  race  more, 
and  listening  more.  Now  is  the  time  to  move  ahead 
on  race  relations  in  our  communities  and  in  our 
churches.  As  far  back  as  1963,  Annual  Confer- 
ence approved  a  statement  titled,  "The  Time  is 
Now  to  Heal  our  Racial  Brokenness."  That  was 
true  then,  and  it  is  true  today.  Now  is  always  the 
time.  Yes,  we  should  have  done  it  long  ago,  and ! 
we  should  have  done  more.  But  it  isn't  as  help- 
ful to  ask  "What  have  we  done?"  as  it  is  to  ask 
"What  can  we  do?" 

We  can  begin.  — Fletcher  Farrar 


a 


Messenger  August  2000 


(ImovdFmp'' 


m^^mmmmmif 


V  /  jhe  lovi 


Compiled  by  FRANK  RAMIREZ 


vhe  love  feast  is  based  on  a  simple  premise:  disciples  do  as  Jesus 
commands.  We  examine  our  lives,  wash  feet,  eat  a  simple  meal, 
and  take  communion.  Through  stories,  memories,  scriptures, 
and  photographs,  the  love  feast  is  remembered  and  renewed, 
extending  the  invitation  to  all  to  come  to  the  Lord's  table. 


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church 


CONGREGATIONAL  LIFE  TEAMS 
MINISTRY  OFFICE 
YOUTHA'OUNG  ADULT  OFFICE 


JL 
"~ic^ 


1451  Dundee  Avenue 
Elgin,  Illinois  60120 
(847)  742-5100 


MESSENGER 


SEPTEMBER  2000  WWW.BRETHREN.ORG 


KB. 


Annual  Conference  2000 

Chamiftp  the  way  we  do  business 


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[  e  insure  members  of 
The  Church  of  the 
Brethren  and  member 
churches  exclusively...and  we 
want  to  transform  the  way  you 
and  your  fellow  church 
members  think  about 
insurance.  That's  because  we 
try  to  follow  the  practices  and 
teachings  of  the  church  in  the 
way  that  we  reach  out  and 
care  for  our  policyholders 
both  materially  and 
emotionally.  Here  are  two 
examples  of  how  we  work. 


Camp  Woodland  Altars,  in  southwestern  Ohio,  is  a  recreational 
and  educational  camp  serving  schools,  churches,  families,  and 
other  groups.  Over  fifty  Church  of  the  Brethren  congregations 
support  the  work  of  the  camp. 

People  of  all  ages  and  faiths  have  been  coming  to  this  thickly 
forested  450-acre  camp  for  more  than  35  years  -  in  part  for  the 
serenity  and  peaceftihiess  that  places  of  natural  beauty  provide. 
That  serenity  was  shattered  on  Tuesday  evening,  November  9,  1999. 
Burglars  entered  the  grounds  under  cover  of  night  and  stole  camp 
equipment  worth  thousands  of  dollars.  They  left  with  expensive 
tools,  generators,  horse  saddles,  a  six-wheel  all-terrain  John  Deere 
Gator,  and  a  1985  Chevy  pickup. 

Camp  Maintenance  Director,  Charlie  Little,  discovered  the  loss  and 
had  the  sheriff  and  Mutual  Aid  Association  notified.  Some  of  the 
stolen  tools  are  needed  every  day  to  keep  the  camp  operating.  MAA 
responded  promptly  and  sent  a  check  overnight  that  allowed  the 
camp  to  buy  essential  items.  According  to  camp  officials.  Mutual 
Aid  Association's  fast  action  enabled  their  camp  to  stay  open. 
The  faithfial  old  Chevy  truck  was  found  abandoned  within  a  few 
days.  However,  law  enforcement  officials  have  so  far  been  unable  to 
find  any  productive  leads.  But  Camp  Woodland  Altars  has  long  since 
replaced  its  tools,  its  John  Deere  Gator,  and  its  saddles  so  that  its 
guests  can  once  again  fully  enjoy  the  camp's  beauty  and  serenity. 


In  some  ways  Steve  Flora  of  Sawyer,  Kansas,  was  lucky. 
Miraculously,  the  gasoline  cans  in  his  shop  didn't  explode 
,        and  the  20-gallon  propane  tank  didn't  become  a  bomb.  The 
\    wood-frame  bam  next  to  his  40-fbot  by  72-foot  metal  building 

didn't  catch  fire.  Nor  did  his  nearby  house.  But  Steve  Flora's 
;    business  was  a  total  loss.  In  the  middle  of  the  night,  when  Steve, 
\    a  volunteer  fireman,  awoke  and  saw  his  life's  work  going  up  in 
I    flames,  he  sped  to  the  local  fire  station,  opened  the  doors,  and 
'    started  the  engines  on  the  fire  trucks  so  they  would  be  ready  to 
i    roll  when  the  other  firefighters  arrived. 

Steve's  business  consisted  of  sales  and  service  for  lavramowers, 
trimmers,  chainsaws,  and  the  like.  Despite  the  good  efforts  of  the 
Sawyer  firefighters  the  building  was  completely  destroyed.  What 
was  left  after  the  fire  on  Friday  morning,  April  30,  1999,  had  to 
be  torn  down.  But  by  Tuesday  morning  things  were  looking  up. 

A  team  from  Mutual  Aid  Association  arrived  from  Abilene  with 
\    a  check  in  hand  to  cover  rebuilding.  Steve's  Mutual  Aid 

Association  fire  policy  covered  the  business,  and  his  MAA 

liability  policy  covered  the  damage  to  customer-owned 
■    equipment.  Team  members  pitched  in  to  help  sort  through  the 
!;    debris.  They  got  their  hands  dirty  to  lift  Steve's  spirits  and  to 

begin  the  healing  as  well  as  the  rebuilding.  In  just  five  months, 
'    Steve  had  a  new  home  for  his  business. 


Enjoy  Peace  of  Mind 
The  Mutual  Aid  Association  has  been 
faithfully  meeting  the  property  insurance 
needs  of  Brethren  Churches  and  Church 
members  for  over  a  century. 


Call  1-800-255-1243  Day  or  Night 
You  can  also  reach  us  by  e-mail  at 
maa@maabrethren.com  or  over  our 
toll-free,  24-hour  tax  line  at  1-800-238-7535. 
Our  Web  address  is  www.maabrethren.coni 


[utual  Aid  Association 


C  l-l  U  R  C  H    01- 


©  Copyright  2000F  Mutual  Aid  As 


//  ministry  of  sharing  lo  secure  peace  of  mind. 


SEPTEMBER  2000   VOL.149  N0.8   WWW.BRETHREN.ORG 


rMESSENGER 

}r:  Fletcher  Farrar     Publisher  Wendy  McFadden     News:  Walt  Wiltschek    Advertising:  Russ  Matteson     Subscriptions:  Peggy  Reinacher    Designer:  Paul  Stocksdale 


lON^  :3':^covER 

This  month's  cover  features  photos  by  Kendra  Flory,  a 
Ministry  Summer  Service  intern  in  the  Brethren  Press 
Communications  Office  who  also  served  as  lead  photog- 
rapher for  this  year's  Annual  Conference.  Flory,  from 

McPherson,  Kan.,  will  be  finishing  up 
studies  at  Bridgewater  (Va.)  College  this 
fall  and  then  expects  to  enter  Brethren 
Volunteer  Service.  She  has  assisted  with 
Agenda,  Newsline,  Messenger,  the  web- 
site, and  other  communications  outlets 
this  summer. 


Her  Annual  Conference  photos  show, 
clockwise  from  top  left:  people  wait- 
ing to  speak  to  the  query  on  "Personal 
Evangelism  and  Church  Growth"  during 
business  sessions;  2000  Conference 
moderator  Emily  Mumma  sharing  her 
"fuzzies"  of  love;  conferencegoers  joining  in  the  motions  of 
a  drama  during  Monday  evening  worship;  and  the  flowing 
movements  of  interpretive  dancer  Sally  Carlson  Crowell,  a 
member  of  Washington  City  Church  of  the  Brethren,  Wash- 
ington, D.C.,  in  the  Wednesday  morning  closing  worship 
service. 


10    Annual  Conference  2000 

Coverage  of  the  Kansas  City  Annual  Conference  includes 
news  of  business  and  elections,  compiled  by  News  Ser- 
vice manager  Walt  Wiltschek  and  his  Conference  team  of 
writers,  named  on  page  10.  In  addition  we  feature  spe- 
cial articles  on  other  subjects.  Ed  Poling  writes  a  profile 
of  the  Conference  delegates  (p.  10).  Erin  Matteson 
covers  music  and  worship  (p.  14).  Tavia  Ervin  contributes 
an  essay  on  Conference  conversations  (p. 16).  Eddie 
Edmonds  reports  on  children's  activities  (p.  18).  Fletcher 
Farrar  writes  about  notable  speeches  (p.  20). 


Insert:  A  theme  of  grace 

"How  Wondrous  the  Grace"  is  the  theme  of  this  year's 
General  Board  annual  report,  included  as  a  supplement  to 
Messenger.  In  addressing  its  partners  who  are  both  par- 
takers and  dispensers  of  God's  grace,  the  report  is  in  a 
largely  pictorial  format.  But  note,  too,  how  the  text  attests 
to  the  many  facets  of  grace  at  work  within  the  church. 
Review  especially  the  fresh  interpretation  of  financial  data 
on  pages  14-15.  The  report  was  prepared  and  written  by 
Howard  Royer,  General  Board  staff  for  interpretation. 


Keepers  of  histories 

For  the  past  64  years,  the  Brethren  Historical  Library  and 
Archives  has  been  keeping  the  Brethren  faith  heritage  alive 
by  serving  as  a  repository  for  documents  of  the  church's 
past  as  well  as  library  of  nearly  9,000  volumes.  Learn  here 
what  is  available  and  how  you  might  use  it.  And  meet  Ken 
Shaffer,  the  12-year  veteran  director  of  BHLA. 


DEPARTMENTS 

2  From  the  Publisher 

3  In  Touch 
6       News 


27 
30 
32 


Letters 

Turning  Points 
Editorial 


Messenger  September  2000 


FROM  THE  PUBLISHER 


^^fter  Annual  Conference  in  Kansas  City,  our  family  headed  out  to 
/   ^  encounter  the  Southwest.  Our  visits  to  the  Grand  Canyon,  Zion  Canyon, 
/      %     and  Bryce  Canyon  turned  out  to  be  a  memorable  course  of  study, 

JL.       Jl     as  we  absorbed  the  five  million-year  geological  history  of  the  Colorado 
Plateau.  While  I've  traveled  in  almost  ail  of  the  50  states  and  have  seen  places  of 
great  beauty,  nothing  compares  to  this  area.  The  passage  of  time  engraved  on  the 
canyon  walls  and  the  incomprehensible  scale  of  the  rock  formations  demand  a  cer- 
tain humility  from  the  tiny  humans  who  come  to  observe  this  grandeur. 

While  at  the  Grand  Canyon,  the  bottom  step  in  the  "Grand  Staircase"  of 
this  plateau,  I  noticed  two  small  signs  on  old  buildings.  One  was  at  the  western- 
most point  we  could  visit,  and  the  other  was  at  the  easternmost.  Both  were 
verses  from  the  Psalms.  How  appropriate  the  Psalms  seem  when  standing  on  the 
rim  of  God's  handiwork. 

I  noticed  also  that  the  eastern  site  offered  three  gift  shops,  each  with  a  differ- 
ent focus.  I  must  confess  that,  in  this  final  stop  in  the  park,  our  family  spent  more 
time  in  gift  shops  than  gazing  at  the  canyon.  The  national  parks  apparently  have 
learned  to  navigate  today's  marketing-saturated  environment. 

While  we  have  now  seen  the  Grand  Canyon,  I'm  fully  aware  that  we  have  not 
truly  experienced  the  Grand  Canyon.  We  have  viewed  it  from  a  safe  vantage  point, 
seen  it  in  IMAX  format,  read  about  it,  photographed  it.  But  we  have  not  hiked  to 
the  bottom,  nor  have  we  rafted  the  Colorado  River.  The  writings  of  the  early 
explorers  of  this  natural  wonder  carry  the  passion  and  awe  of  those  who  have  been 
more  than  tourists. 

The  Psalmist  writes  about  God  in  the  same  way.  He  writes  as  one  who  has 
experienced  both  heights  and  depths,  who  has  ventured  into  the  wilds.  Through  it 
all  he  could  say,  "Those  who  trust  in  the  Lord  are  like  Mount  Zion,  which  cannot 
be  moved,  but  abides  forever.  As  the  mountains  surround  Jerusalem,  so  the  Lord 
surrounds  his  people,  from  this  time  on  and  forevermore"  (Psa.  125:1-2). 

At  Annual  Conference  we  come  together  to  give  substance  to  our  commitment 
to  community.  We  gather  at  sunrise  for  the  panoramic  view,  we  share  our  different 
experiences  traversing  the  trails,  we  act  as  guides  for  one  another.  We  listen  to  the 
ranger  talks,  buy  trail  maps,  and  take  in  plenty  of  food  and  water.  And  we  do  the 
same  in  our  smaller  communities  back  home. 

But  at  some  point  we  each  decide  whether  to  remain  admirers  of  the  view  or  to 
enter  the  canyon.  I  hope  my  sisters  and  brothers  continually  compel  me  to  be  an 
explorer,  not  just  a  spiritual  tourist. 


How  to  reach  us 

Messenger 

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Elgin,  IL  60120 

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Fax:  217-525-9269 

Subscription  rates: 

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the  above  address.  Allow  at  least 
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Connect  electronically: 

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report,  write  cobnews@aol.com. 

To  view  the  official  Church  of 
the  Brethren  website,  go  to 
http://www.  brethren.org. 


Messenger  is  the  official  publication  of  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren.  Entered  as  periodical  postage  matter 
Aug.  20,  1918.  under  Act  of  Congress  of  Oct,  1 7, 
1917.  Filing  date.  Nov.  1,  1984.  Member  of  the 
Associated  Church  Press.  Subscriber  to  Religion 
News  Service  &  Ecumenical  Press  Service.  Biblical 
quotations,  unless  otherwise  indicated,  are  from 
the  New  Revised  Standard  Version,  Messenger  is 
published  1 1  times  a  year  by  Brethren  Press,  Church 
of  the  Brethren  General  Board,  Periodical  postage 
paid  at  Elgin,  111.,  and  at  additional  mailing  ofnce. 
September  2000,  Copyright  2000,  Church  of  the 
Brethren  General  Board,  ISSN  0026-0355, 
Postmaster:  Send  address  changes  to  Messenger, 
1451  DundeeAve,,  Elgin,  IL  60 120, 

Qm  Printed  on  recycled  paper 


Messenger  September  2000 


IN  TOUCH 


A  steward  and  his 
spirituality  of  dayiiiies  ^ 


/  it  is  a  religious  experience  for  Gary  \^fc^ 

jorne  to  spend  hours  among  the  vVw^ 

'lilies  in  his  garden.  They  include  vv^ 

ape  Love,  Amazing  Grace,  Damascus  vv 


The  names  of  his  varieties  help  explain 

why  it  is  a  religious  experience  for  Gary 

Osbc 

dayli 

Agaf 

Road,  God  is  Listening,  Gentle  Shepherd, 

and  Pray  for  Peace. 

Gary  and  his  wife,  Carol,  are  the  owners  of  Glebe 
Hill  Gardens  in  Daleville,  Va.  Tending  over  1,000  varieties 
of  dayiiiies,  500  varieties  of  hostas,  75  varieties  of  ornamental 
grasses,  75  different  conifers,  and  a  water  garden  may  seem  like 
a  lot  of  work.  But  after  being  a  high  school  coach  for  13  years  and  a 
stockbroker  for  28,  Gary  is  content  to  spend  time  working  with  these 
beautiful  plants. 

Gary's  mother  specialized  in  growing  dayiiiies  and  irises;  his  father 
grew  dahlias.  Aunts  and  uncles  owned  greenhouses  and  raised  bedding 
plants.  So  it  is  appropriate  that  Gary  would  spend  over  30  years — the 
last  13  at  his  Glebe  Hill  home — cultivating  these  lovely  flowers. 

"It's  great  to  be  outside  and  listen  to  the  sounds  of  nature,"  he 
says.  "Others  in  my  office  used  to  work  long  hours.  I  would  leave  work 
land  hurry  home  to  work  with  my  plants.  Gardening  is  a  part  of  my  spiri- 
tuality." 

Each  year  more  than  1,000  people  visit  during  a  three-week  open 
'house.  Church  groups,  garden  clubs,  and  seniors  groups  spend  hours 
walking  through  the  beautiful  gardens  and  sensing  the  calmness  and 
peace  of  their  surroundings. 

When  not  tending  his  garden,  Gary,  a  Bridgewater  College  alum- 
nus, serves  on  various  committees  focused  on  funding.  He  has  also 
been  chair  of  the  church  board  and  associate  moderator  at  Williamson 
Road  Church  of  the  Brethren,  Roanoke,  Va.,  and  is  currently  a  trustee. 
Whether  financial  or  horticultural,  stewardship  is  a  lifestyle  for  Gary 
Osborne.— Julie  M.  Hostetter 


The  family  of 
God  in  black 
and  white 

On  May  7,  2000,  the 
Mount  Pleasant 
church.  North  Canton, 
Ohio,  visited  the  Love 
Center  Interdenomi- 
national Church  in 
Cleveland  for  a  joint 
afternoon  worship 
service. 

The  Love  Center 
Church  will  be  visiting 

ount  Pleasant  on 
October  15  for  a  recip- 
rocal experience.  The 
two  congregations 
worshiped 
Ji       together  once 
Wr        before  at  Mount 
Pleasant. 
Pastor  Reid 
Firestone  from 
Mount  Pleasant  (an 
entirely  white,  sub- 
urban/ rural 
congregation)  had 
met  Elder  Paul  Car- 
rington  from  Love 
Center  (an  inner-city 


black  congregation)  in 
1997,  while  Reid  was 
interim  pastor  at  the 
Brook  Park,  Ohio, 
congregation  in  sub- 
urban Cleveland.  It 
was  an  "instant 
match"  as  these  two 
brothers  in  Christ 
became  immediate 
friends.  They  both 
recognize  that  culture 
and  race  need  not  be 
segregating  factors, 
especially  in  the 
family  of  God. 

The  congregations 
enjoy  uniting  in  wor- 
ship and  fellowship, 
and  plan  to  continue 
this  shared  relation- 
ship on  an  ongoing 
basis. 


Breaking  down  racial 
and  cultural  barriers. 

Members  of  Mount 
Pleasant  church  begin 
an  ongoing  relationship 
with  an  Inner-city 
church  In  Cleveland. 


Messenger  September  2000 


INTOUCH 


Nigerian  churchman. 


Jabani  P.  Mambula,  who  died  Jan.  18  in  Maiduguri,  Nigeria, 
was  one  of  the  prominent  sons  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  in 
Nigeria.  More  than  10,000  people  from  different  wall<s  of  life 
were  in  attendance  to  say  their  final  final  farewell  to  him.  A 

seven-day,  24-hour  wake 
keeping  praise  and  worship 
was  also  held  in  his  honor. 
The  final  stage  of  the  cele- 
bration was  a  packed 
Sunday  morning  worship  at 
the  EYN  LCC  in  Maiduguri 
and  Lassa  EYN  Church. 

Mambula  is  known  forthe 
30  Christian  songs  he  com- 
posed, one  of  which  is  number 
351,  "Our  Father  who  art  in 
heaven"  in  Hymnal:  A  Worship 
Book.  He  was  one  of  the  1 2 
founding  members  of  the  EYN 
Church  in  Maiduguri,  which 
began  in  his  house  in  1979. 
That  Maiduguri  church  now 
has  many  branches  across 
Nigeria  with  nearly  12,000 
members. 

Jabani  Mambula  was 
ordained  in  1968  with  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  in 
Nigeria  (EYN).  Between 
1979  and  1999,  Mambula 
served  in  many  offices, 
including  as  trustee  of 
Northern  Nigerian  Educa- 
tional Advisory  Board,  and 
national  executive 
member  of  the  Christian  Association  of  Nigeria. 

Mambula  held  educational,  political,  and  government 
positions  in  Nigeria  and  has  the  traditional  title  of  the 
Makama  of  Uba  in  the  Margiland.  He  was  the  first  indige- 
nous principal  of  Waka  Teachers  Training  College  after  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  mission  handed  over  schools 
administration  to  Nigeria. 

At  the  time  of  his  death,  Mambula  was  completing  a 
doctoral  program  in  missions  from  Fuller  Theological  Semi- 
nary in  Pasadena,  Calif.  He  is  survived  by  a  wife,  Martha, 
and  eight  children,  among  whom  is  Dr.  Charles  J.  Mambula, 
a  college  professor  in  Massachusetts  and  a  1983  alumnus 
of  Manchester  College. 

Messenger  September  2000 


Jabani  P.  Mambula 


Back  to  school 
reminder: 
Remember  your 
college  students 

The  Antioch  Church  of 
the  Brethren,  Rocky 
Mount,  Va.,  has  tried  to 
remember  our  college 
students  in  a  variety  of 
ways.  College 
addresses  with  e-mail 
are  listed  in  our  con- 
gregational directory 
and  we  try  to  remem- 
ber them  with  notes. 

In  the  fall  (about 
exam  time)  we  send 
them  each  a  care  pack- 
age with  cookies, 
snacks,  and  a  variety 
of  other  goodies.  We 
have  offered  to  send 
them  a  daily  devo- 
tional guide  if  they 


desire,  and  they 
receive  our  newsletteri 
monthly.  In  the  springi 
we  remember  them 
with  fast  food  gift  cer-j 
tificates.  We  have 
recently  started  a  post 
high/college  Sunday 
school  class  for  the 
summer. 

We  as  pastors  have 
visited  Bridgewater 
College  and  Virginia 
Tech  for  a  meal  with 
our  students  there, 
and  we  hosted  a  meal 
here  at  Rocky  Mount 
for  those  students  in 
local  colleges.  We  are 
interested  in  hearing 
what  may  work  for 
other  congregations 
as  they  support  their 
college  students. 
— Melvin  and  Lisa  Fike 


iolet  Phillips,  left,  and  Helen  Mitchell,  with 
leir  double-size  "crazy"  quilt  made  of  scraps. 

riends  and  feed  sacks  work 
ogether  for  good 

iolet  Phillips  and  Helen  Mitchell  met  many  years 
go  at  a  sewing  factory  in  Harrisonburg,  Va.  Over 
16  years  Violet  sewed  many  pieces  of  clothing 
)r  her  family  with  material  from  printed  feed 
acks.  She  saved  all  the  leftover  pieces. 

Inspired  by  a  museum  exhibit  of  quilts  made  from 
led  sacks,  Violet  and  Helen  began  piecing  quilts 
om  the  old  feed  sack  pieces.  The  women  and  their 
usbands,  all  members  of  the  Bethel-Keezletown 
hurch  of  the  Brethren,  Keezletown,  Va.,  began 
oing  to  flea  markets  in  search  of  more  feed  sacks. 

Helen  used  scraps  to  make  two  "crazy"  quilts, 
hich  were  purchased  for  $1,000.  The  money  was 
onated  to  the  building  fund,  which  will  pay  for  an 
ddition  and  indoor  bathrooms  at  the  Bethel  church, 
he  purchaser  donated  one  of  the  quilts  to  the  Vir- 
inia  Quilt  Museum  in  Harrisonburg,  Va.,  and  the 
ther  to  the  Rockingham  Historical  Society  in  Day- 
m,  Va.,  where  it  is  on  display.  —Janet  Baugher  Downs 


BVS  Unit  239  Orientation— Fronf  row,  from  left:  Sue  Grubb  (staff);  Joy  Yoder, 
from  Churchville,  Va.,  assigned  to  Asia  Pacific  Center,  Washington,  D.C.;  Tracy 
Stoddart  (staff);  Mandy  Shull,  from  North  Manchester,  Ind.,  serving  Oakland 
(Calif.)  Catholic  Worker  House;  Carrie  Weller,  from  Girard,  111.,  serving  Bread  and 
Roses  Catholic  Worker  House,  Olympia,  Wash.  Back  row:  Hope  Woodard,  from 
Roanoke,  Va.,  serving  San  Antonio  Catholic  Worker  House,  San  Antonio,  Tex.; 
Sue  Markey,  from  York,  Pa.,  serving  Mechanicsburg  (Pa.)  Church  of  the 
Brethren;  Peter  Busch,  from  Berlin,  Germany,  serving  Casa  de  Esperanza  de  los 
Ninos,  Houston,  Tex.;  Luke  Croushorn,  fromNokesville,  Va.,  serving  Youth  and 
Young  Adult  Ministries,  Elgin,  111.;  Marc  Rittle,  from  Elgin,  111.,  serving  Church  of 
the  Brethren  Washington  Office;  Monica  Ardelean,  from  Chalfont,  Pa.,  serving 
Casa  de  Esperanza  de  los  Ninos,  Houston,  Tex.,  Brett  Shull,  serving  Oakland 
(Calif.)  Catholic  Worker  House;  Andrew  Sampson,  from  Forest,  Ohio,  serving 
Camp  Myrtlewood,  Myrtle  Point,  Ore.;  Masashi  Imura,  from  Hiroshima,  Japan, 
serving  Cafe  458,  Atlanta,  Ga. 


MILESTONESI 


Fraternity  church 
celebrates  225  years 

Fraternity  Church  of 
the  Brethren,  Winston- 
Salem,  N.C.,  is  making 
plans  to  celebrate  its 
225th  anniversary 
with  a  homecoming 
Sept.  23  and  24. 

The  church  grew  out 
of  a  group  of  German 
Baptist  "Dunkard" 


Brethren  who 
migrated  to  Forsyth 
County,  N.C.,  from 
Pennsylvania  in  the 
late  1700s.  The  first 
documented  baptism 
took  place  in  August 
1775,  and  an  orga- 
nized Brethren 
fellowship  has  existed 
continuously  there 
since  then. 


At  the  homecom- 
ing, former  pastors 
Hal  Sonafrank,  Bob 
Jones,  Cecil  Fike,  Paul 
White,  and  Jesse 
Pittman  will  help  with 
the  worship  services. 
Activities  will  include 
planting  a  tree,  bury- 
ing a  time  capsule, 
singing,  eating,  and 
releasing  balloons. 
— Eva  Hammaker 


Fraternity  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Messenger  September  2000 


NEWS 


General  Board  meets 


The  General  Board  and  its  exec- 
utive committee  held  meetings 
in  Kansas  City  the  week  prior  to 
Annual  Conference,  focusing  on 
the  theme  of  being  "God's 
beloved." 

Board  members  heard 
updates  on  Korea,  a  bylaws 
revision  process,  J2K,  Brethren 
Press,  and  other  topics.  It  also 
received  several  reports, 
including  a  detailed  look  at 
finances  from  the  Centralized 
Resources  staff.  They  painted  a 
picture  of  a  strong  current 
financial  picture  but  warned  of 
challenges  for  the  future  as 
costs  increase.  The  board 
approved  2001  budget  parame- 
ters of  about  $5.7  million. 

The  board  also  approved 


L 


"V 


\ 


General  Board  chair  Mary  Jo  Flory-Steury  and  executive 
director  Judy  Mills  Reimer  exchange  embraces  with  departing 
staff  members  Ron  and  IHarriet  Finney  after  hearing  a  citation 
read  for  them. 


signing  on  to  the  National 
Council  of  Churches'  Eco-Jus- 
tice  Working  Group's  Clean  Air 
Resolution,  with  a  call  for  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  to  take  a 
lead  in  issues  like  these  and  to 
continue  making  available 
resources  from  the  Brethren 
Witness  office. 

The  meetings  concluded 
with  citations  to  departing 
staff  members  Loyce 


Borgmann,  Linda  McCauliff, 
and  Ron  and  Harriet  Finney, 
and  for  six 

retiring  General  Board  mem- 
bers. The  board  later 
reorganized  during  Confer- 
ence, calling  Mary  Jo 
Flory-Steury  (chair),  Don 
Parker  (vice-chair),  David 
Miller,  Marty  Barlow,  Christy 
Waltersdorff,  and  Warren  Esh- 
bach  to  the  executive 


Patrick  Bugu,  Bethany 
student  from  Nigeria, 

visits  with  Wendell  and 

Joan  Bohrer  at  the 

hospitality  booth  at 

Annual  Conference. 


Nigerian  Bethany  student 
to  many  churches 

Nigerian  church  leader  Patrick  Bugu  has  had  an 
interesting  summer  during  his  break  from  stud- 
ies at  Bethany  Theological  Seminary. 

Bugu,  who  has  served  as  a  pastor  and  semi- 
nary librarian  in  the  Ekklesiyar  Yan'uwa  a  Nigeria 
(the  Church  of  the  Brethren  in  Nigeria),  has  been 


studying  at  Bethany  through  funding  from  the 
seminary  and  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  General 
Board.  This  summer  the  two  agencies  sent  him 
across  the  denomination  to  talk  about  his  home. 

"I  have  enjoyed  the  fellowship  of  every 
church,"  Bugu  said  during  a  stop  in  Virginia. 
"We  have  shared  our  different  cultural  experi- 
ences, and  people  are  interested  in  knowing 
about  the  EYN.  People  are  happy  to  hear  of  the 
growth  of  the  church  in  Nigeria." 

He  challenged  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  to 
tap  its  own  potential  to  grow. 

His  journeys,  which  began  May  20,  covered 
many  districts.  He  moved  to  a  new  church 
almost  daily,  and  attended  Annual  Conference 
as  well.  He  met  hundreds  of  people,  and  several 
newspapers  did  articles  on  him. 

"We  were  delighted  to  have  him,"  said 
Johnnie  Neterer,  church  board  chair  at  the  West 
Goshen  (Ind.)  congregation,  where  Bugu  trav- 
eled Memorial  Day  weekend  for  worship  and  a 
question-and-answer  Sunday  school  session. 
"It  was  good  for  us  to  hear  about  the  mission 
there  and  what  they're  doing." 

In  August  he  returned  home  to  see  his  family 
for  the  first  time  in  a  year,  flying  back  to  Africa 
before  resuming  studies  at  Bethany  for  the  fall 
semester.  Several  congregations  took  up  special 
offerings  to  help  defray  the  costs  of  that  trip. 


Messenger  September  2000 


Personnel  changes 

•David  Wine  resigned  as  presi- 
dent/chief executive  officer  of 
Mutual  Aid  Association  effective 
Aug.  31.  Wine  has  worked  with 
MAA  for  the  past  26  years,  the  past 
10  as  president  and  CEO. 

On  Sept.  1  Wine  will  begin  a  new 
position  as  chief  executive  officer  of 
Mennonite  Indemnity  Inc.,  which  has 
offices  in  Kansas  City  and  in  Lan- 
caster, Pa.  Wine  will  primarily  work 
out  of  the  Kansas  City  location  and 
spend  substantial  time  reforming 
Mennonite  Indemnity  into  "a  new 
Anabaptist  insurance  entity  that  will 
serve  the  needs  of  the  Mutual  Aid 
Association  and  11  Mennonite  orga- 
nizations in  Canada  and  the  US," 
though  details  are  still  uncertain. 

•Roger  Golden  has  announced  his 
resignation  as  coordinator  of  shared 
services  for  the  Association  of 
Brethren  Caregivers  effective  Jan.  1, 
2001.  Golden  has  been  working  with 
the  Fellowship  of  Brethren  Homes 
and  the  Brethren  Chaplains  Network 
since  joining  ABC  in  January  1999. 

•Marilyn  Nelson,  director  of 
interpretation  and  plan  resources 
for  Brethren  Benefit  Trust,  has 
announced  her  retirement 
effective  Nov.  1. 

Nelson  began  working  with  BBT  in 
July  1991  and  has  served  as  director 
of  the  department  since  1992.  Prior 
to  that,  she  worked  10  years  with  the 
General  Board  in  Elgin. 

•Michael  Addison  announced  his 
resignation  as  director  of  information 
systems  for  Brethren  Benefit  Trust 
effective  Aug.  11.  Addison  first  served 
as  controller  after  joining  BBT  in  Feb- 
ruary 1998.  In  information  systems, 
he  oversaw  numerous  upgrades  and 
new  services,  including  eMountain 
Communications  Internet  services. 
Nevin  Dulabaum,  manager  of 
marketing  and  public  relations  for 
BBT,  will  serve  as  interim  director  of 
information  systems  while  a  replace- 
ment is  sought. 


1.  South  Africa.  Former  South  African 
president  Nelson  Mandela  has  been 
named  the  recipient  of  the  2000 
World  Methodist  Peace  Award  for  his 
"single-minded  commitment  to 
peace,"  according  to  Religion  News 
Service.  Mandela  will  be  presented 
the  award  Sept.  21  in  Cape  Town. 

2.  Eastern  North  Carolina.  Emergency 
Response/Service  Ministries  disaster 
cleanup  efforts  continued  through  the 
summer  in  Vanceboro  and  elsewhere, 
working  at  recovery  from  last  fall's 
devastating  Hurricane  Floyd.  A  new 
Emergency  Disaster  Fund  grant  sent 
$20,000  to  the  effort. 

3.  Berlin,  Germany.  Seventeen 
Brethren  Volunteer  Service  workers 
who  are  at  projects  throughout  Eu- 
rope held  their  annual  retreat  July 
28-Aug.  3  at  Haus  Kreisau.  BVS  Eu- 
rope coordinator  Kristin  Flory  orga- 
nized the  event. 

4.  Marburg,  Germany.  Brethren  Col- 
leges Abroad  marked  the  5,000th  stu- 
dent in  an  exchange  program  with  the 
enrollment  of  Gregory  Glidden  at 
Philipps  University  in  central  Germany 
this  spring.  Fifteen  BCA  students  were 
at  Marburg  for  the  spring  term. 

5.  Kansas  City,  Mo.  About  3,500 
people  gathered  for  the  2000 
Church  of  the  Brethren  Annual  Con- 
ference at  the  Bartle  Hall  Conven- 


tion Center  July  15-19.  Details  ap- 
pear elsewhere  in  this  issue. 

6.  Nigeria.  The  General  Board  will  be 
sending  another  workcamp  to  the 
West  African  nation  Jan.  13-Feb.  12, 
2001.  Several  Ekklesiyar  Yan'uwa  a 
Nigeria  congregations  and  many 
members  there  have  suffered 
losses  during  conflicts  between 
Muslims  and  Christians. 

7.  La  Verne,  Calif.  Youth  from  four 
western  states  gathered  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  La  Verne  for  the  Western 
Regional  Youth  Conference,  held 
only  once  every  four  years.  More 
than  100  attended  the  event,  which 
had  the  theme  "Peace  Together  a 
Future  with  Love." 

8.  Fort  Collins,  Colo.  It  was  recently 
announced  that  Colorado  State  Uni- 
versity will  again  serve  as  the  host 
site  for  National  Youth  Conference. 
The  large  gathering  will  be  held 
there  July  16-21,  2002.  Coordinators 
are  currently  being  sought. 

9.  Nicaragua.  An  earthquake  regis- 
tering 5.1  on  the  Richter  scale 
struck  the  southern  part  of  the 
country  July  6,  damaging  more 
than  200  homes.  It  was  centered 
near  the  city  of  Masaya,  according 
to  a  United  Nations  office.  More 
than  40  people  were  injured,  ac- 
cording to  reports. 

Messenger  September  2000  wM 


NEWS 


BRETHREN  ""'"AK 

I  continued  to  be 
struck  by  the 
attitude  of 
the  youth 
throughout  the 
week....  Was 
this  just  an 
exceptional 
group  of  young 
people,  or  are 
we  experiencing 
a  generation 
hungering  to 
know  God? 

Paul  Grout,  reflecting  on 
"The  God-Centered  Life" 
youtfj  spirituality  camp  at 
Shepherd's  Spring  that  he 
helped  lead. 


Youth  share  the  spirit  at  Shepherd's  Spring 

The  first  youth  Spiritual  Life  Camp,  held  July  2-8  at  Shepherd's  Spring 
Outdoor  Ministries  Center  in  Sharpsburg,  Md.,  was  designed  to  create  a 
focus  on  becoming  a  fuller  creation  in  God  and  coming  alive  spiritually. 
It  is  part  of  the  new  "God-Centered  Life"  project. 

Thirteen  youth  participated  in  the  event,  led  by  Genesis  Church  of 
the  Brethren  (Putney,  Vt.)  pastor  Paul  Grout,  Shepherd's  Spring  direc- 
tor Rex  Miller,  and  General  Board  Youth/Young  Adult  Ministries 
coordinator  Chris  Douglas. 

Mornings  included  physical  exercise  at  6  a.m.  and  a  new  spiritual  disci- 
pline each  day.  Off-site  trips  provided  a  highlight  for  many  of  the  campers, 
with  ventures  including  the  Valley  Mall  in  Hagerstown,  Md.,  where  Grout  led 
a  lesson  on  the  Christian  view  of  life  versus  a  worldly  viewpoint;  a  session 
on  homelessness  and  a  time  of  passing  out  bag  lunches  in  Washington, 
D.C.;  and  a  trip  to  a  pottery  shop  followed  by  a  pottery-making  session. 

Other  highlights  included  sessions  that  incorporated  videos,  journal- 
ing,  and  meditation  time,  plus  some  free  time  each  day.  Two  special 
worship  services — a  Quaker-style  meeting  and  a  feetwashing/commu- 
nion  service  where  each  person  was  individually  invited  to  the 
table — were  also  powerful  experiences. 

As  the  week  ended,  campers  sang  a  variation  of  "Come  Share  the 
Spirit,"  a  recurring  song  from  the  week,  as  a  closing  and  a  challenge  to 
each  other  as  they  said  goodbye:  "Come  share  the  spirit  growing  in 
you./  Live  out  the  love  that's  showing  in  you./  Dance  out  your  life  as  only 
you  can./  Dream  of  the  day  we'll  walk  hand  in  hand."- Stephanie  Grossnickie 


Paul  Grout  leads  a 
discussion  on 
consumerism  and  its 

effect  on  the  world 
while  sitting  with  the 
campers  in  Valley  Mall 
in  Hagerstown,  Md. 

OEPA  board 
steps  up  to  its 
own  challenge 

At  its  April  meeting, 
the  On  Earth  Peace 
Assembly  board  of 
directors  accepted  the 
personal  "Challenge 
for  Peace"  effort  to 
give  $50,000  during 
Phase  I  of  the  board's 
fundraising  project.  To 
date,  donations  and 
pledges  from  board 
members  and  staff 
have  totaled  close  to 
$40,000,  with  100  per- 
cent participation. 

The  donated 
amount  represents  a 
substantial  increase 
from  last  year.  The 
board  advancement 
committee,  led  by 
chair  Eugene  Lichty, 
spearheaded  this  new 
fundraising  effort. 

During  Phase  II, 
board  members  and 
staff  will  be  contacting 
other  people  who 
believe  in  peace  edu- 
cation and  witness 
and  asking  them  to 
consider  joining  them 
in  making  a  contribu- 
tion to  On  Earth 
Peace.  Board  mem- 
bers are  also  expected 
to  encourage  their 
own  local  churches,  as 
well  as  neighboring 
churches,  to  include 
On  Earth  Peace  in 
their  outreach  or  wit- 
ness budgets. 


Messenger  September  2000 


YOUTHBEAT 


The  Youth  Peace  Travel  Team, 

sponsored  by  the  General  Board,  On 
Earth  Peace  Assembly,  and  Outdoor 
Ministries  Association,  provided  a  key 
leadership  role  for  Youth  Week  at  Camp 
Eder  (Fairfield,  Pa.)  this  summer,  one  of 
many  camps  the  team  visited.  Travel 
team  member  Dan  Royer  shares  his 
guitar  skills  at  an  evening  coffeehouse. 


California  youth 
Crystal  Hyde  and 
Megan  Kristos  join 

others  from  Western 
Regional  Youth 
Conference  for  a  sunset 
vespers  service  led  by 
Jon  Shively  on  Corona 
del  Mar  beach. 

BCA  gives 
scholarships 

Brethren  Colleges 
Abroad  announced 
three  2000-01  recipi- 
ents of  the  Allen  C. 
Deeter  Scholarships, 
named  for  a  longtime 
former  BCA  executive. 
All  three  will  be  spend- 
ing a  year  abroad  at 
one  of  BCA's  11  inter- 
national study  centers. 

Lindsay  Briggs  of 
Juniata  College,  Hunt- 
ingdon, Pa.,  will  study 
in  Dalian,  China;  Robyn 
Thompson  of  Man- 
chester College,  North 
Manchester,  Ind.,  and 
Stephanie  Adams  of 
the  University  of  La 
Verne  (Calif.)  will  both 
study  in  Strasbourg, 
France.  They  will 
receive  money  from 


the  scholarship  fund  to 
offset  the  costs  of 
living  overseas.  Stu- 
dents were  chosen 
based  on  personal 
essays  written  as  part 
of  the  application 
process. 

The  scholarship  will 
be  offered  annually  to 
students  at  one  of  the 
six  Church  of  the 
Brethren-affiliated 
colleges. 


ElJzabethtown 
to  hold  study 
conference 

An  interdisciplinary, 
international  study 
conference  on  "The 
Amish,  Old  Orders,  and 
the  Media,"  sponsored 
by  the  Young  Center 
for  Anabaptist  and 
Pietist  Studies,  will  be 
held  June  14-16,2001, 
at  Elizabethtown  (Pa.) 
College. 

The  conference  will 
explore  professional, 
ethical,  and  academic 
issues  in  depicting 
and  reporting  about 
plain-dress  Anabaptist 
and  Pietist  groups. 
Proposals  for  papers 
or  for  thematic  ses- 
sions from  media 
professionals  and  aca- 
demic researchers  are 
encouraged.  The 
deadline  is  Oct.  20. 

For  more  informa- 
tion, contact  David 
Eller,  The  Young 
Center,  One  Alpha 
Drive,  Elizabethtown 
College,  Elizabethtown, 
PA  17022;  or  e-mail 
youngctr(3)etown.edu; 
or  call  717  361-1470. 


UPCOMINGEVENTS 

Sept.  11-15  National 
Older  Adult 
Conference,  Lake 
Junaluska,  N.C. 

Sept.  15-16  Northern 
Indiana  District  Con- 
ference, Camp 
Alexander  Mack,  Milford; 
Southern  Pennsylva- 
nia District 
Conference,  Buffalo 
Valley  Church  of  the 
Brethren,  Miffiinburg; 
West  Marva  District 
Conference,  Moore- 
field  (W.Va.)  Church  of 
the  Brethren 

Sept.  17-Oct.  7 
Brethren  Volunteer 
Service  unit  241, 

Angelus  Oaks,  Calif. 

Sept.  29-30  Assoc,  of 
Brethren  Caregivers 
board  meetings;  Dis- 
aster Child  Care 
training  Oak  Grove 
Church  of  the  Brethren, 
Roanoke,  Va. 

Oct.  6-7    Mid-Atlantic 
District  Conference, 

St.  Mark's  United 
Methodist  Church, 
Easton,  Md. 

Oct.  7  On  Earth 
Peace  Assembly 
board  meetings 

Oct.  8  World  Mission 
offering 


Messenger  September  2000  H 


▲  Soft  but  firm — a 
symbol  of  God's  love. 

Moderator  Emily 
Mumma  tells  the  story 
of  the  fuzzies  during 
Saturday  evening 
worship  and  sends 
thousands  of  the 
fuzzies  into  the  crowd, 
setting  the  tone  for  the 
rest  of  Conference. 


Delegates  reflect  on  changes:  a  short 


by  Ed  Poling 


"it's  better  to  shoot  for  the  moon  and 
miss  it  than  to  aim  for  a  skunk  and  hit 
it."  These  notable  words  were  spoken  on 
the  Annual  Conference  floor  by  jim  Myer, 
from  the  White  Oak  congregation,  Man- 
heim,  Pa.  Delegates  were  deliberating  a 
query  on  evangelism  and  church  growth  at 
the  time.  While  |im's  metaphor  was  not 
quite  persuasive  enough  to  win  the  argu- 


ment, it  may  well  describe  the  intentions  ot 
the  Annual  Conference  leaders  this  year. 

The  Program  and  Arrangements  Com- 
mittee aimed  high  in  offering  not  only  a 
much-revised  schedule  but  also  a  new  way 
of  doing  Conference  business.  Two  great 
traditions  of  Annual  Conference — the 
Tuesday-to-Sunday  format  and  Robert's 
Rules  of  Order — saw  major  modifications. 
Haggling  over  parliamentary  procedure  in  - 
a  very  long  weekend  format  seemed  to  be 


^    Taking  care  of  business:    Delegates  de 


berate  abo 


Annual  Conference  busi- 
ness was  kicked  off  with 
"Brethren  Ministries 
Live,"  a  first-time  com- 
bined report  of  the  five 
agencies  reportable  to  An- 
nual Conference. 

The  production  used  mu- 
sic, video,  guest  speakers, 
and  drama  to  convey  stories 
of  the  work  of  the  General 
Board,  Association  of 


Brethren  Caregivers,  On 
Earth  Peace  Assembly, 
Bethany  Seminary,  and 
Brethren  Benefit  Trust. 

Congregational  struc- 
ture. The  most  substantial 
item  of  business  was  a  pro- 
posed new  model  for  con- 
gregational structure. 

The  study  committee 
found  that  nearly  half  the 
congregations  responding  to 


This  report  of  Annual  Conference  business  was  prepared  by  the 
Brethren  Press  news  team.  Becky  Ullom,  Eric  IVIiller,  and  Kathleen 
Campanella  covered  business  sessions  at  Conference  this  year. 


a  survey  no  longer  use  the 
one  board/ three  commission 
model  recommended  in 
1964.  The  new  model  aims 
to  be  simpler,  to  emphasize 
the  discernment  of  gifts,  to 
integrate  the  deacon  min- 
istry into  the  structure  of  the 
congregation,  and  to  focus 
on  the  mission  and  vision  of 
the  congregation. 

While  the  document  ap- 
proved by  the  delegates  re- 
places former  polity  on 
congregational  structure,  it 
is  offered  as  "a  flexible  tool 


that  will  enable  congrega- 
tions to  develop  their  own 
unique  organizational  plan, 
so  they  might  better  carry 
out  their  mission." 

Personal  evangelism  ant 
church  growth.  Delegates 
wrestled  with  a  Virlina  Dis- 
trict query  that  asked  for 
reaffirmation  of  the  spirit 
and  intent  of  the  1 98 1  state 
ment  on  Diminishing  Mem- 
bership in  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren  and  that  its  recom- 
mendations be  reassigned 
to  conform  to  the  General 


r»l  Messenger  September  2000 


Relaxing  at  the  General  Board 
'nding  booth.  Alan  Kieffaber, 
3tor  of  the  Denton  (Md.)  church, 
ends  some  quality  time  with 
inddaughter  Mikayla  Genovese  of 
■rth  Manchester,  Ind. 


*      r 


A  Brethren  Ministries  Live.  Francisco 

Ramirez  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  Derek  Field  of 

Pasadena,  Calif.,  and  Noelle  Bledsoe  of 

Troy,  Ohio,  portray  three  youth  discussing 

the  words  of  a  strange  voice  that  comes 

from  their  TV  set. 


>jmat  and  Worshipful-Work  give  cause  for  pause 


Ic  Hicthren  way.  But  not  so  anymore. 

\\  ould  it  work?  Were  people  ready  for  a 
.  aiigc?  Most  delegates  I  talked  to  looked  for- 
( u\l  lu  it  and  were  surprisingly  upbeat.  It 
I  :aiu  one  less  day  of  doing  Conference  busi- 
iisb.  Could  things  be  done  more  efficiently  yet 
ijmain  relaxed  enough  to  let  the  Spirit  lead? 

The  new  Saturday  evening  to  Wednesday 
lion  format  was  appreciated  by  Ray  Hill, 
[  legate  from  the  Aughwick-Germany  Valley 
1  ngrcgation,  Shirleysburg,  Pa.  "I  like  the 


shorter  period.  The  division  of  business  and 
worship  is  good.  By  the  end  of  past  Confer- 
ences I  was  pretty  much  washed  out.  This 
year  I  can  give  full  attention  to  the  church 
business.  I  hope  more  people  can  attend." 

First-time  delegate  Karen  Hollinger,  a 
young  adult  from  the  Manassas  (Va.)  con- 
gregation, had  other  thoughts.  Having 
come  to  Conference  frequently  as  a  child 
and  youth, 

continued  on  next  page 


▲  Taking  the  floor. 

Jim  Myer  of  Manheim, 

Pa.,  presents  his  view  to 

the  Conference  body  on 

why  goals  should  be  set 

for  evangelism. 


jcture,  evangelism,  caring  for  the  poor 


)ard"s  new  design. 
After  debating  the  best  way 
foster  effective  evangelism, 
i  delegates  affirmed  the  the 
:ent  of  the  query  but  re- 
rned  it  to  the  district. 
Caring  for  the  poor. 
■legates  adopted  a  state- 
ent  that  urges  congrega- 
)ns  to  become  involved 
th  the  poor.  Recommen- 
tions  for  specific  actions 
e  addressed  to  congrega- 
)ns,  districts,  and  the 
sneral  Board. 
In  other  business,  the 


delegate  body: 

•  returned  two  Pacific 
Southwest  District  queries 
that  pertained  to  the  role  of 
district  executives  and 
guidelines  for  district  em- 
ployees; 

•  endorsed  the  World 
Council  of  Churches  Decade 
to  Overcome  Violence; 

•  appointed  a  committee 
to  plan  the  300th  anniver- 
sary of  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren:  Jeff  Bach,  Donald 
Durnbaugh,  Rhonda 
Pittman  Gingrich,  Richard 


Kyerematen,  Leslie  Lake, 
and  Lorele  Dixon  Yager; 

•  responding  to  almost 
identical  queries  from  At- 
lantic Northeast  and 
Shenandoah  districts,  ap- 
pointed |im  Yaussy  Al- 
bright, Gary  Flory,  and 
Gail  Erisman  Valeta  to  up- 
date the  1977  Discipleship 
and  Reconciliation  paper; 

•  received  as  an  interim 
report  the  work  of  a  com- 
mittee studying  the  process 
for  calling  denominational 
leadership,  and  granted  the 


committee  another  year  to 
continue  its  work; 

•  approved  a  3. 1 -percent 
increase  for  the  pastoral 
salary  scale,  as  recom- 
mended by  the  Pastoral 
Compensation  and  Benefits 
Advisory  Committee. 

Among  reports  received 
were  a  Ministry  Advisory 
Committee  skit  on  "Who 
Wants  to  Be  a  Minister?" 
The  Program  and  Arrange- 
ments Committee  an- 
nounced the  2005  Annual 
Conference  site  as  Peoria,  111. 

Messenger  September  2000 


32 

• 

1 


Election  results 

Moderator-elect: 
Paul  Grout 

Annual  Conference  Pro- 
gram and  Arrangements 
Committee:  Andrew 
Wright 

General  Board,  at-large 
representative:  J.D.  Glick 

General  Board,  Illinois/Wis- 
consin:  Carol  Flory  Kussart 

General  Board,  Northern 
Ohio:  Doug  Price 

General  Board,  Southeast- 
ern: Donna  Shumate 

General  Board,  Western 
Plains  unexpired  term:  Cheryl 
Brumbaugh-Cayford 

On  Earth  Peace  board: 
Kenneth  L.  Edwards 

Association  of  Brethren 
Caregivers  board:  Eddie 
Edmonds,  James  E. 
Tomlonson 

Bethany  Theological  Semi- 
nary board,  laity:  Ted  Flory 

Bethany  Theological  Semi- 
nary board,  ministry: 
Edward  L.  Poling 

Brethren  Benefit  Trust  board: 
Richard  Brandhorst  (In 

addition,  BBT  Pension  Plan 
members  elected  Ken 
Holderread  of  Elgin,  III.,  to 
represent  churches  and  dis- 
tricts and  David  Gerber  of 
Hanover,  Pa.,  to  represent 
retirement  homes.) 

Pastoral  Compensation  and 
Benefits  Advisory  Commit- 
tee, laity:  Sally  Brubaker 

Committee  on  Interchurch 
Relations:  Joe  Loomis 

Review  and  Evaluation  Com- 
mittee, males:  Earle  W. 
Fike  Jr.,  James  F.  Myer, 
Phillip  C.  Stone 

Review  and  Evaluation  Com- 
mittee, females:  Joan 
Daggett,  Pat  Royer 


she  realized  it  would  be  over  too  fast  this  year. 
"I  enjoyed  the  old  format  better.  There  was 
more  time  to  visit  and  fellowship.  I  miss  the 
extra  time.  I'd  stay  for  two  weeks  if  I  could." 

For  others,  the  schedule  change  created 
an  issue  of  how  to  appropriately  observe  the 
Sabbath.  First-time  delegate  Larry  Nichol 
from  Purchase  Line  congregation,  Clymer, 
Pa.,  was  concerned  about  the  church  doing 
business  on  Sunday.  He  said  he  enjoyed  the 
worship  and  the  singing.  However,  he  said 
business  sessions  seemed  out  of  place  on  this 
day.  But  the  greatest  discomfort  came  as  he 
and  his  wife  stood  in  the  exhibit  hall  Sunday 
afternoon.  As  they  gazed  at  the  brisk  sales  in 
books  and  gifts,  he  said,  "We  don't  believe  in 
Sunday  selling."  He  alluded  to  the  story  of 
[esus  and  the  money-changers  in  the 
Temple.  He  said  his  family  would  make  its 
purchases  on  a  day  other  than  Sunday. 

Most  other  delegates  I  spoke  to  about  this 
Sabbath  problem  were  not  concerned.  While 
many  did  wonder  how  to  most  appropriately 
observe  this  day,  their  comments  were  simi- 
lar to  those  of  Marlys  Hershberger  from  the 
Roaring  Spring  (Pa.)  congregation.  "This 
was  not  a  problem  for  me.  I  struggle  with 
what  the  Sabbath  does  mean  in  today's 
world.  But  I  found  I  could  still  celebrate  the 
Sabbath  at  Conference.  What  we  did  on 
Sunday  was  not  distracting  to  me." 

While  Conference  evaluation  forms  will 
give  a  fuller  picture,  my  non-scientific  sense 
is  that  the  new  schedule  was  a  welcome 
change  for  most  conferencegoers — dele- 
gates and  non-delegates  alike. 

The  modification  to  parliamentary  pro- 
cedure also  seemed  to  be  appreciated. 
Worshipful-Work  was  introduced  by  Mod- 
erator Emily  Mumma  as  a  way  to  add  a 
spiritual  dimension  to  church  business. 
She  described  it  as  "inviting  discernment 
into  decision-making,"  and  allowing  the 
Holy  Spirit  more  intentionally  into  the 
work  of  the  church.  This  was  done  through 
the  use  of  hymns,  prayers,  moments  of 


silence,  and  small-group  personal  sharing 
times.  Ellen  Morseth,  of  the  Worshipful 
Work  organization  headquartered  in 
Kansas  City,  served  as  spiritual  director  t 
the  delegates,  describing  her  job  as  "payii 
attention  to  the  heart  of  the  meeting." 
Robert's  Rules  of  Order  was  still  followed 
in  handling  motions  and  in  voting. 

Karen  Chronister,  an  elementary  scho 
teacher  and  delegate  from  Cedar  Grove 
congregation.  New  Paris,  Ohio,  was  quitf 
positive.  "I  love  it.  I  love  the  bell,"  she 
said,  referring  to  the  small  handbell  that 
called  meetings  to  order  and  ended  quiet; 
prayer  times.  "I  hate  the  gavel.  I  liked  the 
hymns,  the  singing,  the  sharing.  I  use 
these  kinds  of  things  in  my  teaching.  It 
helps  to  create  a  cooperative  atmosphere. 

lack  Karpenske,  from  the  Lynchburg 
(Va.)  congregation,  took  a  longer  view.  "I 
find  it  helpful  at  moments  of  tension,  sucl 
as  when  a  person  wants  to  speak  and  is 
turned  away  at  the  microphone."  But  he 
felt  this  kind  of  thing  always  has  gone  on 
informally  at  past  Conferences  through  th 
sensitivity  of  good  moderators.  "I  don't 
need  to  be  reminded  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
revealing  the  truth  in  us.  It  will  happen." 

Beth  Miller,  a  young  adult  delegate  from 
the  Waynesboro  (Pa.)  congregation,  apprec 
ated  a  more  user-friendly  format.  "It  gave 
time  to  process  papers  in  a  different  way.  \\ 
had  more  time  to  reflect  spiritually  and  to 
interact  with  other  delegates."  This  interac- 
tion was  crucial  to  Beth  as  she  was  often 
confused  by  parliamentary  procedure.  Forti 
nately,  on  the  last  day  she  sat  next  to  an 


Messenger  September  2000 


cperienced  delegate  who  "really  went  out  of 
s  way  to  help  explain  procedural  things." 

Not  everyone  agreed  that  Worshiptul- 
'ork  was  led  correctly.  On  the  closing  day 
F  Conference  during  an  open-mike  ses- 
on,  one  delegate  questioned  how  it  was 
Dne.  "We  didn't  really  do  Worshipful- 
brk,"  she  said.  "People  weren't  allowed 
I  get  up  and  offer  a  scripture  or  a  song." 

Even  with  the  diversity  of  opinion 
nong  the  Conference  delegates  on  this 
;w  style  of  handling  business,  most 
emed  to  welcome  a  parliamentary  style 
at  was  more  worshipful  in  spirit. 

While  it  is  clear  that  the  Annual  Confer- 
ice  leaders  didn't  "hit  the  moon"  in 
eeting  everyone's  expectations  with  the 


Doing  the  wave.  Everyone  attending  Wednesday  morning's  closing 

worship  received  white  handl<erchiefs  to  wave  at  the  end  of  the 

service,  recalling  the  way  missionaries  were  sent  out  in  years  past 

and  sending  out  modern-day  Brethren  in  service  today. 


new  schedule  and  business  format,  they 
wisely  didn't  aim  too  low.  (erry  Greiner 
focused  on  some  of  the  intangibles  that  good 
planning  can  never  foresee.  The  delegate 
from  the  Mechanicsburg  (Pa.)  congregation 
met  two  junior  high  youth  who  seemed  to  be 
having  the  time  of  their  lives.  One  was  a  boy 
who  was  more  than  excited  about  singing  the 
Conference  songs.  The  other  was  a  girl  who 
was  creating  a  scrapbook  of  her  Annual 
Conference  experiences.  With  that  kind  of 
youthful  enthusiasm  for  the  Brethren  gather- 
ing in  Kansas  City,  we  all  can  take  heart. 

Edward  L.  Poling  is  pastor  of  the  Carlisle  (Pa.)  First 
Church  of  the  Brethren.  He  attended  his  first  Annual 
Conference  in  Colorado  Springs,  Colo.,  in  1948,  when 
he  was  less  than  one  year  old. 


Discerning  the  mind 
of  Christ.  Linda  Davis 
of  California  shares 
her  thoughts 
concerning  the  query 
on  "Personal 
Evangelism  and 
Church  Growth. " 


delegates  by  the  numbers 


tal  Conference 
:endance  was  3,458, 
npared  to  a  total  of  3,528 
vlilwaukee.  Wis.,  last 
V,  3,509  in  Orlando,  Fla., 
1998,  and  3,325  in  Long 
ach,  Calif.,  in  1997. 

tal  delegates  (from  23 
tricts):  883 

rcentage  attending  out 

1,355  delegates  possible; 
percent 

anding  Committee 
imbers  included  in 


delegate  count:  43  (includes 
past  moderator) 

Congregations 
represented:  655 

(61  percent  of  1,073) 

Youngest  delegate:  age  1 6 

(female) 

Oldest  delegate:  age  88 

(female) 

Average  age  (also  mean 
age)  of  delegates:  52  years 

Percentage  of  male 
delegates:  54  percent 


Percentage  of  female 
delegates:  46  percent 

Racial/ethnic  back- 
grounds: No  records  kept 

Districts  with  significant 
increases  in  delegate 
attendance  due  to  location 
(compared  to  average  of 
past  five  years):  Western 
Plains,  Missouri/Arkansas, 
Northern  Plains,  Southern 
Plains 

Districts  with  significant 
decreases  in  delegate 


attendance  due  to  location 
(compared  to  average  of 
past  five  years):  Atlantic 
Southeast,  Idaho,  Mid- 
Atlantic,  Shenandoah, 
Pacific  Southwest 


This  information  was  compiled  with 
help  from  Dan  Rensberger,  the 
volunteer  director  of  delegate 
registration  at  Annual  Conference,  and 
Vicki  Rensberger,  who  assists  him. 


Messenger  September  2000 


Celebrating  the  global 

church.  David  Reyes, 

left,  moderator  of  tfie 

Cliurcli  of  the  Brettiren  in 

tlie  Dominican  f^epublic, 

and  Gilbert  Romero, 

pastor  of  tfie  Bella  Vista 

church  in  California,  were 

among  many  who 

rejoiced  at  the  Cross- 

Cultural  Dinner 


•^  On  the  strings.  Ben  Godfrey  of 
New  Paris,  Ind.,  brings  a 
worshipful  spirit  to  the  Brethren 
Ministries  Live  report. 


Gifts  make  worship  work 

Bringing  God  close  at  Annual  Conference 


by  Erin  Matteson 

Worship  class  In  seminary  brought  a 
potpourri  of  definitions  for  the  subject 
at  hand.  Of  all  the  offerings  found 
there,  worship  as  "the  work  of  the 
people,"  has  always  stuck  close  to  me. 
Worship  in  the  Church  of  the  Brethren 


at  its  best  has  always  meant  God's  people 
making  offerings  of  praise,  prayer,  and 
proclamation  together  as  a  whole  commu- 
nity. Whether  in  silence,  song,  or  the 
spoken  word.  Church  of  the  Brethren  folk 
bring  forth  honor  and  glory  to  God  as  dif- 
ferent members  of  the  community  bring 
forth  a  variety  of  special  gifts.  In  the  end, 


Ministers'  Association  hears 

'Preaching  in  a  Webbed  World' 


"Interactive  Preaching: 
Parabolic  Preaching  in  a 
Webbed  World"  was  the 

topic  for  the  post-Annual 
Conference  Ministers' 
Association  meetings  in 
Kansas  City.  Thomas  H. 
Troeger,  from  the  Iliff 
School  of  Theology,  was 
the  guest  leader.  He  illus- 
trated the  possibilities  and 
power  of  the  spoken  word 
and  freely  interspersed 
music  and  hymns  through- 
out his  presentations  and 
preaching. 

Troeger,  a  noted  hym- 
nologist,  stated  that  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  has 
the  best  hymnal  in  the 
English  language.  He 
added  that  it  includes  six 


hymns  written  by  him! 

Michelle  Grimm,  former 
Annual  Conference  music 
coordinator,  served  as 
pianist  and  music  leader 
for  the  event.  Her  knowl- 
edge of  the  hymnal  greatly 
aided  in  the  worship  expe- 
riences. Frances 
Townsend,  pastor  of  the 
Root  River  congregation, 
Preston,  Minn.,  and  this 
year's  chair  of  the  Minis- 
ters' Association,  was  the 
convener. 

Tim  Peter,  pastor  of  the 
Prairie  City  (Iowa)  con- 
gregation, was  elected  to 
the  executive  committee 
and  will  serve  as  secretary 
this  coming  year.  He  joins 
the  new  chair.  Donna 


Ritchey  Martin  of  the 
Grossnickle  congregation, 
Myerswille,  Md.;  Michael 
Hostetter  of  Williamson 
Road  congregation, 
Roanoke,  Va.,  vice-chair; 
and  Dan  Barnum- 
Steggerda  of  Daleville,  Va., 
treasurer. 

Allen  T.  Hansell,  direc- 
tor of  ministry,  serves  as 
the  General  Board  staff 
liaison  to  the  executive 
committee. 

There  were  185 
ministers,  spouses,  clergy- 
clergy  couples,  and 
students  at  the  Wednesday 
afternoon  session.  Fifteen 
children  participated  in 
childcare  activities  coordi- 
nated by  Linda  Miller  of 


McPherson,  Kan.  An 
offering  of  $1,236.30,  the 
highest  amount  gathered 
in  recent  memory,  was 
received  for  the  Ministry 
Assistance  Fund. 

Acknowledging  some 
pre-conference  concern 
about  the  timing  of  the 
sessions,  executive  com- 
mittee members  were 
pleased  with  the  number 
of  people  who  attended 
this  first  post-conference 
professional  growth  event. 
Because  there  were  no 
other  meetings  scheduled 
during  this  time  period, 
district  executives  and 
General  Board  staff  were 
also  able  to  attend. 

— Julie  M.  Hostetter 


Messenger  September  2000 


Voices  of  love.  Three  youth 
id  the  Conference  congregation 
1  singing  "Love  as  I  Have  Loved 
u. "  They  helped  write  additional 
rses  to  this  theme-related  song 
composed  by  Keith  Hollenberg. 


together,  those  gifts  aid  in  the  seeking 
d  finding  of  God  close  at  hand  for  all, 
Dse  to  the  heart  of  all. 

Annual  Conference  worship  in  its  totality 
is  a  fine  example  of  Church  of  the 
ethren  worship.  So  many  gifts  came 
gether  to  bring  the  best  opportunity 

continued  on  next  page 


acticing  what  he  preaches.  Thomas 
Deger  of  Denver,  Colo.,  brought  the 
ednesday  morning  message,  then 
ared  his  insights  on  preaching  to  the 
'nisters'  Association  on  Wednesday  and 
ursday.  He  emphasized  weaving  word 
d  music  together. 


An  ensemble  of  about  50 

trombones  adds  a  festive 

flavor  of  fanfare  to  Saturday's 

opening  worship. 


Expression  through 
movement.   Sally 
Carlson  Crowell  of  the 
Washington  (D.C.j  City 
Church  of  the  Brethren 
ministers  through 
interpretive  dance, 
which  was  used  in 
worship  several  times 
during  the  week. 


Messenger  September  2000 


Passion  from  the  pulpit. 

Conference  Speakers 

focused  on  various  aspects 

of  the  thieme.  Speakers 

included,  from  top:  former 

Kansas  City  mayor  Emanuel 

Cleaver:  Belita  Mitchell  of 

Los  Angeles,  Calif.;  and  Joel 

Nogle  of  Gettysburg,  Pa. 

Moderator  Emily  Mumma 

and  theologian  Thomas 

Troeger  also  spoke. 


possible  for  all  God's  people  gathered 
to  worship. 

It  was  an  opportunity  to  recognize 
themselves  in  God's  presence,  to  respond, 
and  to  accept  the  call  to  go  out  to  serve. 
Below  are  just  some  of  the  gifts  that 
were  offered  from  the  larger  church  that 
made  worship  at  Annual  Conference  this 
year  rich  for  all: 

•  Childrens's  packets  assembled 
beforehand  by  Congregational  Life  Team 
members  for  each  time  of  worship,  that 

children  might  be  intention- 
ally invited  into  the  themes 
of  worship  and  our  her- 
itage. Each  night  families 
were  invited  to  pick  up  the 
large  zip-lock  bags  filled 
with  creative  activities. 
Children  found  themselves 
feeling  more  included  in 
worship  than  ever. 

•  Variety  in  music,  using 
J  differing  styles  of  contem- 
I  porary  and  traditional 
3  hymns,  various  instruments, 
""  and  unison  and  harmonic 

singing.  This  allowed  each 
person  to  have  the  best 
chance  of  "praying  twice," 
as  Augustine  claimed  hap- 
pens when  one  sings. 

•  The  continued  use  of 
sign  language  and  translators 
of  the  spoken  word  to  other 
languages  aside  from  English. 
The  presence  of  translators 
serves  to  remind  us  all  of  how 

I  diverse  is  the  body  of  Christ. 
I  It  calls  us  to  ask  what  our 
I  responsibility  is  to  assure  all 
are  able  to  worship  fully. 

•  Liturgical  dance  and 
drama  that  remind  us  of  just 
how  many  different  mediums 
are  used  to  communicate 
God's  word  for  us. 

•  The  sharing  of  per- 
sonal testimonies  in 
worship,  that  God  might  be 
known  and  celebrated 
through  the  open  sharing  of 

I  life  stories  that  illustrate 
^  how  individuals  have  expe- 
S.  rienced  a  living,  interactive. 


calling  Christ. 

•  The  sharing  of  the  eucharist,  that  we 
might  deepen  and  strengthen  our  connec- 
tion, commitment,  and  commonality  as  the 
larger  Church  of  the  Brethren  body  gatherec 

•  Creativity  shared  in  soft  fuzzies  flying 
and  in  white  hankies  waving,  that  a  womar 
named  Carol  might  remind  us  of  love  with 
something  simple  and  handmade.  The 
handkerchiefs  reminded  us  of  how  we  sent 
off  missionaries  years  ago,  and  sent  off  om 
another  from  Conference  to  go  be  mission- 
aries in  our  own  small  corners  of  the  world 

•  Inspiring,  challenging  words  from 
gifted  preachers.  Emily  Mumma  told  us, 
"Love  is  not  defined  but  is  experienced 
through  actions  and  attitudes."  [oel  NogU 
said,  "We  have  never  looked  into  the  eyes 
of  anyone  who  did  not  matter  to  God." 

From  Belita  Mitchell  we  heard  that  "it 
one  thing  to  know  about  a  congregation  h 
East  L.A.  and  another  thing  to  worship 
and  work  with  them."  She  said  that  "we 
must  know  God  not  just  intellectually,  but 
personally  as  we  continually  develop  a  per 
sonal  relationship  with  him."  And  part  of 
the  way  that  happens  is  when  we  break 
through  the  "pesky  little  'isms'  that  frag- 
ment the  fabric  of  our  faith." 

Emanuel  Cleaver  preached  that  "faith  h 
the  word  of  God  is  a  laboratory  course,  no 
a  lecture  course,"  and  that  "we  have  yet  to 
do  what  as  Christians  we  are  called  to  if  w{ 
can  just  move  outside  the  margins." 

From  Thomas  Troeger  we  heard  that 
"when  a  liberal  and  conservative  carpente 
are  working  together  and  arguing,  and  we 
remember  lesus'  words,  'I'll  be  praying  fo 
you,'  I  don't  think  he  is  praying  for  the 
conservative  or  liberal  theologian  to  win. 
think  he  is  praying,  'Please,  let  them  finisl 
the  house!'" 

Thanks  be  to  God,  for  the  vision  of 
those  who  planned  and  led  us  in  worship 
and  music,  for  the  willing  hearts  of  all 
those  who  shared  of  themselves,  for  the 
privilege  of  being  in  worship  in  Kansas 
City  with  Brethren  from  throughout  the 
country  and  world. 

Thanks  be  to  God  for  the  fruitful 
"work  of  God's  people"  gathered  in  that 
place,  that  brought  our  steadfast  and 
loving  Creator  close  at  hand  for  all. 

Erin  Matteson  is  pastor  of  Faith  Church  of  the  Brethren, 
Batavia,  111^ 


HOW 
WONDRO 


Church  of  the  Brethren  General  Board  Report  2000 


.■0fe 


\ 


I 


Ckjver  photo  by  Jeff  Lc- 


OH,  HOW 
WONDROUS 
THE  GRACE 


A  favorite  hymn  of  mine  first  appeared  in  The  Brethren         contain  the  image  of  the  sun."  In  a  culture  that  is  so 
Hymnal  m  1901:  "Oh,  how  wondrous  the  grace  of  our  graceless,  so  characterized  by  ungrace,  Yancey  sees  the 


God."  Familiar  as  the  words  are,  I  am 
still  profoundly  moved  at  each 
singing  of  the  refrain,  "Oh,  how  deep 
are  the  riches  of  grace,  how  great  is 
the  love  Christ  has  shown." 

The  song  is  one  of  a  score  of 
hymns  on  grace  appearing  in  Hymnal: 
A  Worship  Book.  Each  number  reminds 
us  of  the  legacy  that  is  ours  in  what 


Opposite.  Chapel, 

Church  of  the  Brethren 

General  Offices  in 

Elgin,  III.,  home  to 

the  denomination 

since  1899. 

■ 

Lower  left.  Students, 

Mimi  Copp  at  new 

EYN  Secondary 

School  in  Nigeria. 


world  thirsting  for  grace  in  ways  it  does 
not  even  recognize. 

This  report  on  grace  in  action  is  dedi- 
cated to  you  who  are  both  partakers  and 
dispensers  ot  God's  grace.  I  thank  you  for 
your  partnership  with  the  General  Board  in 
the  work  of  grace — "laborers  together  with 
God."  And  I  urge  us  as  a  church  to  press  on 
in  proclaiming  to  the  world  at  home  and 


the  apostle  Paul  terms  "the  gospel  of  God's  grace."  afar,  "Oh,  how  wondrous  the  grace  of  our  God." 

Grace  is  "truly  our  last  best  word,"  Philip  Yancey  /~\ 

declares  in  What's  So  Amazing  About  Grace?    It  con-  /7~  jy 

tains  the  essence  of  the  gospel  as  a  drop  of  water  can  — ^Judy  Mills  Reimer,  Executive  Director 


Left.  For  Brethren  youth, 

ventures  in  spiritual 

discernment:  first  National 

Youth  Conference,  now  the 

God-Centered  Life  program. 

Below.  A  central  ritual  of  the 

Brethren  community  is 

lifted  up  in  remembrance 

and  renewal. 


O  F  G  R AC  E 


What  are  the  virtues  that  come  to  those  in  whom  the  irrelevant  in  the  culture  that  surrounds  us.  But  they  are 

word  of  Christ  dwells  richly?  Drawing  on  Colossians  the  language  of  grace,  the  culture  of  faith,  the 

3:12-17,  Marva  Dawn  in  A  Royal  "Waste"  of  Time  writes:  characteristics  of  the  kingdom." 

"Gentleness  and  patience,  humility  and  thankfulness,  They  are  values  that  give  rise  to  the  General  Board  s 


compassion  and  kindness,  love — these  are  totally 


forming  a  network  for  introducing  Worshipful- Work  in 
church  business  proceedings,  assisting  youth  in  the 
quest  for  spirituality,  recounting  the  vibrancy  of  the 
Brethren  love  feast  observance,  and  investing  10  years 
and  nearly  a  million  dollars  in  the  translation  of  the 
Bible  into  the  Nuer  language. 

The  apostle  Paul  counseled  the  Colossians, 
"Whatever  you  do,  in  word  or  deed,  do  everything  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord  Jesus"  (3:17). 

In  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus:  the  language  of  grace. 


Above.  Translation  team 
leaders  Lester  Boleyn, 

Tut  Wan  Yoa  at 

launching  of  the  Nuer 

Bible,  Mading,  Sudan. 

iS 

Right.  Worshipful-Work 

invites  prayer  and  praise 

in  the  midst  of  General 

Board  business. 


■mm--  %r?V,A*-*^*'^,..^**^^% 


^'^ 

'   ■'.■%'?  ■-■  ■ '    ■'''\V'    ■ 

*% 

1 

'4 

Left.  Intern  Daniel  House,  mentor  Richard  Sisco 
at  Ministry  Summer  Service  orientation. 

m 

Inset.  Congregational  Life  Team's  five  area 

coordinators  w^ith  executive  Glenn  Timmons. 

■ 

Right.  Sebastian  Reyes  is  greeted  by  his  wife, 

Yudiana  de  la  Rosa  de  Reyes,  at  ordination  and 

licensing  of  first  17  Church  of  the  Brethren 

ministers  in  the  Dominican  Republic. 

Lower  right.  New  membership  studies  for 
Brethren  youth  and  adults. 


THE  GIF 
OF  GRACE 


One  of  the  momentous  discoveries  in  life  is  to  notice 
the  grace  that  is  around  us.  To  see  healing  and  for- 
giveness, goodness  and  mercy  enacted  before  our  very 
eyes.  To  recognize  grace  as  God's  gift  of  love  in  our  lives 
1 1    and  in  the  lives  of  others. 

It  is  love  undeserved.  It  is 
love  freely  offered.  It  is  love  that 
invites  each  person  to  take  a 
place  at  the  table  in  God's  family. 
To  humbly  accept  the  gift  of 
grace  may  prompt  one  to  enter 
into  church  membership  study, 
to  test  one's  calling  in  Ministry 


Summer  Service,  to  train  through  the  Brethren  Academy 
for  Ministerial  Leadership,  to  nurture  congregational 
growth  and  vitality.  Or  to  respond  in  myriad  other  ways, 
yet  step  by  step  striving  to  live  more  fully  into 
the  presence  of  God. 

But  no  matter  whether  our  role 
is  ministerial  or  lay,  no  matter 
whether  we  are  long  or  new 
into  discipleship,  the 
challenge  is  to  sing 
of  God's  amazing 
gift,  to  lift  the  grace 
notes  high. 


Left.  Alex  Kirculescu,  Stan  Noffsinger  of 

Emergency  Response/Service  Ministries 

discuss  refugee  placennent. 

H 

Lower  left.  "A  quiet  place  to  get  things 

done":  New  Windsor  Conference  Center. 

Inset.  At  Habitat  project  is  Franl<  Shank, 

one  of  hundreds  of  Brethren  youth  who 

volunteer  each  year  for  work  assignments. 

Right.  Gail  Long  assisting  Kosovar 
refugees  in  Macedonia. 


KK 

GRACE 


In  Strea?7is  of  Living  Water, 
Richard  Foster  tells  of  the 
literacy  teacher  to  the  masses, 
Frank  Laubach,  noting  in  his 
journal,  "Of  all  today's 
miracles,  the  greatest  is  this:  To 
know  that  I  find  Thee  best 
when  I  work  listening,  not 
when  I  am  still  or  meditative 
or  even  on  my  knees  in  prayer, 
but  when  I  work  listening  and  co-operating." 

Many  find  that  growth  in  grace,  in  Christlikeness, 
happens  foremost  in  solitary,  interior  ways,  a  matter  of  the 
heart.  Others,  like  Laubach,  find  growth  in  grace  is  best 
nurtured  when  work  and  prayer  are  blended  into  one. 


Whether  in  worship  or  in  workcamps,  in 
community  or  in  solitude,  in  crisis  response  or  in  tranquil 
retreat,  the  dynamic  for  growing  in  grace  is  co-operating 
with  God,  participating  with  God,  heeding  the  God  at 
work  within  you  and  in 
your  faith  community. 

The  apostle  Paul's 
counsel  to  the  church  at 
Philippi  still  stands: 
"Work  out  your  own 
salvation  with  fear  and 
trembling;  for  it  is  God 
who  is  at  work  within 

you,  enabling  you  both  to  will  and  to  work  for  his 
good  pleasure"  (Phil.  2:12b-13). 


Left.  The  Dinka-Nuer  Peoples  Peace 

Conference  of  the  New  Sudan 

Council  of  Churches  brings  hope  for 

a  new  generation. 

■ 

Inset.  In  its  20th  anniversary  year  Disaster 

Child  Care  is  extending  to  new  frontiers. 

SB 

Right.  Rachel  Gross,  architect  of  the  General 
Board's  Death  Row  Support  Project. 

Lower  left.  Students  at  Brethren  High 
School, Valsad,  India. 


N 


^^^ 


'  w^^^^ 


:^ 


"Culture  gives  us  one  measure  of  humanity — too  often 
a  highly  individualistic  and  grasping  one.  Christian 
spirituality  gives  us  entirely  another — a  compassionate 
and  communal  one." 

^  Writing  in  Heart  of  Flesh,  Joan  D.  Chittister 

o 

i      zeroes  in  on  qualities  important  to  Brethren  for 

300  years.  Compassion  and  community  mean 
opting  for  forgiveness  over  revenge,  reconcilia- 
tion over  retribution,  empowerment  over  con- 
trol, resistance  over  aggression. 

Through  advocacy  of  the  Death  Row 
Support  Project,  development  of  Disaster  Child 
Care,  overtures  to  disparate  Christian  bodies  in 


India,  and  encouragement  to  ethnic  factions  in  Sudan  to 
resolve  age-old  animosities  at  the  peace  table.  Brethren 
through  General  Board  ministries  are  giving  a  new  face  to 
compassion  and  communit)'. 

Or  is  it  an  old  face — regard  for  the  ot/ier,  the  stranger, 
the  one  different  from  us,  the  poor  and  the  weak — all 
who  figure  so  centrally  in  the  beatitudes  of  Jesus. 


Slaeiak'^  -:-—:. 


Left.  Ludovic  St.  F!eur,  pastor  of  First 
Haitian  Church  in  Miami. 

a 

Lower  left,  Logo  of  the  World 

Council  of  Churches. 

;i 

ifSi-et,  Robert  Edgar,  genera!  secretary, 

and  Andrew  Young,  president,  National 

Council  of  Churches  of  Christ. 


light,  A  deforested  hillside  in  Honduras 

opens  acreage  for  beans  but  further 

destabilizes  a  fragile  ecosystem. 


GRACE 


Grace  upon  grace,  blessing  upon  blessing:  God's  freely  countries,  in  concert  with  sister  churches  engaged  in 

given  love  streams  out  to  the  world.  common  mission,  in  our  care  for  God's  creation,  the 

How  can  we  accept  the  plenitude  of  God  as  our  own       Church  of  the  Brethren  extends  the  compassionate  and 
never-ending,  inexhaustible  birthright?  How  can  we  redeeming  work  of  God. 

affirm  that  everything  we  have  received — everything — is  a  That's  how  God's  love  works:  We  receive,  and  thus 

gift  from  God?  How  can  we  realize  that  only  by  channel-       we  give;  we  give,  and  thus  we  receive.' 
ing  our  blessings,  sharing  them  with  others,  do  we  avoid      s  i 
bottling  up  the  flow  of  goodness? 

"From  the  fullness  of  the  Child  have  we  all  received, 
grace  upon  grace"  (John  1:16).  In  the  mys- 
tery of  the  Word  becoming  flesh,  God's 
love  for  the  world  is  revealed:  one 
gift  of  Jesus  Christ,  sent  as  grace, 
sent  with  grace. 
Through  our  partnership 

with  other  cultures  and  other  1 .  The  above  text  adapted  from  2001  One  Great  Hour  of  Sharing  theme  materials. 


5'*^-'fl,^^-4..-*v^. 


'^.-^ 


Ministry.  Nurtures  church  leadership  > 
Bethany  Seminary  and  Brethren  Acaden- 
Sponsors  ministry  training.  Works  with 
district  staff,  pastors,  and  camps.  Admini 
grants,  pastoral  assistance.  $328,570 


999 


Brethren  Press  Publishing.  $1,204,240     Si- 
Emergency  Response/Service  Ministries.  $86 i,0 10 
New  Windsor  Conference  Center.  $624,  S  80 
Messenger.  $237,800        - 
Immigration  Refugee  Program.  $61,990     ;.:      


Emergency  Disaster  Fund.  $729,000 
Global  Food  Crisis  Fund.  $344,000 


The  financial  picture  is  solid  for  this 
second  full  fiscal  year  of  the  General 
Board's  new  design. 

The  Board's  General  Ministries  Fund  is 
supported  primarily  by  congregational  giving 
($3,464,240)  ,  which  this  year  was  up  by  0.7 
percent  (compared  to  a  decline  of  1 .6  percent 
the  previous  year).  Total  income  exceeded 
expenses  by  $150,900,  even  after  caring  for 


special  transfers  such  as  eliminating  the 
deficit  of  Brethren  Press  ($192,950)  and 
funding  annuity  payments  ($140,000). 
Income  from  bequests  far  exceeded 
expectations,  covering  the  $500,000  budget- 
ed and  also  increasing  the  bequest  quasi- 
endowment  fund  by  $1,643,300.  The  inter- 
est from  this  growing  fund  will  support 
General  Board  ministries  over  the  long  term. 


In  addition  to  the  General  Ministries 
Fund,  which  is  supported  primarily  by 
donations,  the  General  Board  operates  sev- 
eral "self-funding"  ministries  that  receive 
income  from  service  fees  or  sales.  All  but 
one  showed  improvement  from  the  previ- 
ous year.  Brethren  Press  finished  the  year 
with  $11,390  of  income  over  expense. 
Messenger  was  not  able  to  cover  its  expens- 


Brethren  Volunteer  Service. 

Orients  and  places  volunteers  in 
projects  focusing  on  peace, 
justice,  human  need,  and  the  , 

environment.  $356,580  / 


/ 


Executive  Director.  Administers  work  of  the  General 
Board.  Coordinates  Leadership  Team.  Heads  ecumenical 
representation.  Oversees  human  resources.  Spiritual 
guidepost  for  staff  and  General  Board  ministries.  $67 1 ,740 

Brethren  Press  Communications.  Fosters 
identity,  unity,  and  vision.  Publishes  Messenger,  Agenda, 
Source,  Newsline, Yearbook,  and  the  website.  Interprets 
program,  conducts  news  service.  $266, 1  50 


Brethren  Witness.  Enlists  individuals  and 
congregations  in  study  and  action  on  peace,  justice, 
and  environmental  concerns.  Manages  Global  Food 
Crisis  Fund  and  Washington  Office.  $169,370 

Congregational  Life  Ministries.  Provides  a 
variety  of  congregational  leadership  development 
opportunities,  including  Youth  and  Young  Adult 
Ministries,  and  provides  options  for  congregational 
redevelopment  work.  $872,790 


Funding.  Offers  financial  resource  counseling  on  stewardship  and 
estate  planning.  Oversees  direct  mail  campaign.  Distributes  outreach, 
stewardship,  and  offering  emphasis  packets.  $513,400 

Global  Mission  Partnerships.  Guides  international  church  planting, 
development,  leadership  training,  and  theological  education.  Coordinates 
global  relief,  disaster,  refugee,  and  material  aid  responses.  $606,520 

Treasurer/Centralized  Resources.  Handles  finances  of  General 
Board  and  Annual  Conference.  Manages  and  maintains  General  Board 
facilities,  technology,  and  archives.  Covers  telephone,  technology, 
postage,  support  services  for  all  program  areas.  $  1 ,225,820 


es  by  $25,380,  but  net  assets  from  the  pre- 
vious year  covered  most  of  the  shortfall. 
The  New  Windsor  Conference  Center  and 
Emergency  Response/Service  Ministries 
ended  the  year  with  income  of  $48,300 
and  $135,110,  respectively,  with  some  of 
this  income  from  a  property  sale.  Even 
without  the  property  sale,  the  Conference 
Center  made  a  significant  turnaround 


from  a  negative  to  a  positive  year-end. 
Net  1999  expenses  for  the  General 
Ministries  Fund  were  $5  million.  Total  gross 
revenues  that  include  the  self-funding  units 
were  $10.1  million.  In  addition,  $729,000 
in  grants  were  made  through  the  Emergency 
Disaster  Fund  and  $344,000  through  the 
Global  Food  Crisis  Fund. 

For  full  financial  data,  see  the  General  Board's  auditors  report. 


What's  in  a  numb 


While  words  and  pictures  . 
one  way  to  review  the  sco 


of  the  General  Board's 


ministries  in  1999,  numbers 


are  important  too. 


The  numbers  represent  the 
gifts  of  thousands  of 
individuals.  Every  dollar  is  a 


choice  to  invest  in  the 


worldwide  ministry  of  the 


Church  of  the  Brethren. 


The  numbers  also  represert 
resources  purchased  and  used. 


conferences  attended,  articles 


pondered,  service  given — faith 
lived  out  day  by  day. 


Each  day  we  receive  a  measure 
of  God's  grace,  and  each  day 
we  are  given  the  opportunity 
to  share  that  grace  with 
others.  Each  day  we  are  fed, 
and  each  day  we  have  the 
opportunity  to  share  our  bread 


with  others. 


Grace  upon  grace  is  ours  to 
receive  and  to  give. 


Now  to  him  who  by  the  power  at  work  within  us  is  able  to 


accomplish  abundantly  far  more  than  we  can  ask  or  imagine,  to 


him  be  glory  in  the  church  and  in  Christ  Jesus  to  all  generations, 


forever  and  ever  Amen.  {Eph.  3:20-21) 


JL 


Church  of  the  Brethren  General  Board 
145  I  Dundee  Avenue,  Elgin,  Illinois  60120 


^iecing  the  church  together 

onference  conversations  with  special  people 


by  Tavia  Ervin 

i/alk  up  and  down  the  aisles  of  the 
hibit  hall  at  Annual  Conference  on  Sat- 
day  afternoon.  The  displays  are  set  up. 
)ws  of  booths  with  leaflets  and  signs  and 
ychains  and  lots  of  free  stuff.  Some  of  the 
ssages  and  literature  1  see  make  me  say 
men"  under  my  breath  and  others  irritate 
d  even  anger  me.  I  pass  by  the  "movers 
d  shakers"  as  well  as  the  "rank  and  file" 
I  wander  from  table  to  table.  I  feel  alien- 
id  one  minute  and  embraced  the  next. 
I  see  a  friend  from  my  days  on  our  district 
ard  and  we  stop  to  talk  in  the  arts  area. 
le  has  been  working  on  the  Annual  Confer- 
ee quilt;  the  shortened  Conference  week 
allenges  the  quilters  to  get  it  finished  by 
;dnesday  afternoon.  We  catch  up  on  each 
ler's  lives — she  tells  me  about  some  health 
Dblems  she  and  her  husband  are  coping 
th  and  I  tell  her  about  the  challenges  of  my 
)rk  as  a  chaplain.  I  feel  blessed  just  to  know 
r  and  to  have  this  time  to  talk  with  her. 
hind  us  the  women  quilt — finishing  the 
)rk  that  was  started  by  many  different  sis- 
s  and  brothers  as  separate  pieces. 

inual  Conference  brings  with  it  some 
xiety  for  many  people,  myself  included. 

eems  to  me  that  there  is  this  overall  feeling 
urgency  among  us.  There  are  only  a  few 
ys  in  which  to  gather  together  all  of  the 
;ces  that  make  up  our  own  unique  individ- 
1  lives  in  the  church  and  to  connect  them  in 
vay  that  will  make  them  stronger  for  the 
nnection.  There  is  only  so  much  time  to 

and  hold  and  visit  with  those  sisters  and 
Dthers  we  see  so  seldom.  There  is  only  so 
jch  time  to  hear  what  other  Brethren  are 
nking  and  doing  and  envisioning — 
lether  it  is  in  keeping  with  our  own  vision 
the  church  or  is  a  challenge  to  it. 

fere  are  good  buys  at  the  SERRV 
hibit.  I  get  into  a  conversation  with  a 
stor  from  an  inner-city  church.  What  is 
thinking  about  as  we  gather  in  Kansas 
ty?  He  longs  for  us  to  spend  our  time 


focusing  on  our  vision  and  mission  for  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren.  Different  people 
have  different  visions  of  what  the  church 
should  be,  and  though  these  may  be  vastly 
different,  they  are  all  driven  by  the  desire 
to  be  faithful  to  Christ.  Focusing  on  vision 
will  lead  us  beyond  ourselves  to  welcome 
and  include  everyone.  We  sit  together  in 
the  concession  area  and  talk  for  quite  a 
while.  As  the  day  winds  down,  the  quilting 
stops.  The  work  will  continue  tomorrow 
as  more  people  arrive  to  participate. 

On  the  second  day  of  conference  I  find 
myself  in  the  hospitality  area  of  the 
exhibit  hall.  I  am  impatient  with  sitting  in 
the  business  session,  and  I  am  thirsty. 
With  a  cup  of  ice  water  in  hand  I  take  a 
seat  across  from  a  woman  with  a  kindly 
face.  She  is  Olivia  T.  Gandy  from  the 
Battle  Creek  (Mich.)  Church  of  the 
Brethren.  We  strike  up  a  conversation.  She 
is  waiting  for  word  from  her  husband  Ted, 
who  has  been  missing  since  last  evening 
when  he  went  to  find  a  hotel  room  for  the 
two  of  them.  She  tells  me  with  a  smile  that 
many  people  are  looking  for  him.  "I  have 
all  confidence  that  our  Maker  is  in  con- 
trol." Olivia  is  85  years  old  and  smiles  a 
lot.  "At  Annual  Conference  you  meet  spe- 
cial people  who  you've  known  for  years." 

The  following  day  I  think  of  her  words 
as  I  sit  across  from  a  man  the  same  age  as 
Olivia  whose  eyes  fill  with  tears  as  he  tells 
me  about  how  painful  it  is  to  come  to 
Annual  Conference.  "So  many  people  I 
have  known  for  years  are  gone  now." 

As  Olivia  and  I  sit  together,  her  pastor 
and  friends  from  her  church  stop  by  period- 
ically to  check  on  her  and  to  bring  her  news 
about  the  search.  Her  face  lights  up  as  they 
approach.  She  talks  to  me  about  her  life  in 
the  church.  "The  Church  of  the  Brethren 
has  many  fine  qualities  that  I  would  hate  to 
lose.  We  have  a  concern  for  moral  issues 
that  I  think  the  world  needs,"  she  says. 

1  finish  my  cup  of  water  and  gather  my 
things  together  to  go  as  a  family  friend  sits 
down  with  Olivia  to  talk  with  her.  She  is 


People  remain  at  the  center 
of  Conference.  Top, 
participants  in  the  BBT  Fitness 
Challenge  5K  race;  center, 
Delbert  Blickenstaff  of 
Oakland,  Ohio,  converses  with 
Sarah  Leatherman  Young  of 
Littleton,  Colo.,  at  the 
Association  for  the  Arts 
exhibit:  bottom,  Jen  Henry  of 
York,  Pa.,  enjoys  a  snack 
during  senior  high  activities. 

Messenger  September  2000 


I 


So  much  to  do,  so  little  time.  Above,  both 
women  and  men  donate  much  time  to  prepare 
quilts  for  the  annual  Association  for  the  Arts' 
quilt  auction  held  on  Tuesday  afternoon.  At  left, 
Rosanna  Dell  join  ssenior  high  youth  who  helped 
to  create  a  banner  based  on  the  Annual 
Conference  theme;  bottom,  Harold  Moyer  of 
Roanoke,  Va.,  and  Kathryn  Valencourt  Erisman  of 
Mineral  Creek,  Mo.,  prepare  to  leave  following 
Wednesday  morning's  worship  service. 

smiling  as  we  say  our  goodbyes  and  I  wish 
her  well.  I  find  out  later  that  Ted  has  been 
found  safe  and  sound.  I  stroll  past  the  arts 
exhibit  again  and  notice  with  satisfaction 
that  the  quilters  are  working  again,  reinforc- 
ing the  pieces  they  have  been  given.  Their 
work  during  this  Conference  week  always 
yields  something  beautiful  and  useful. 

The  days  go  by  quickly.  I  go  to  luncheons 
and  dinners;  I  listen  to  many  speakers.  I 

hear  a  leader  of  the  church  say  that  elder 
members  of  the  church  should  "step  aside" 
and  let  the  young  people  take  over  leader- 
ship of  the  church.  The  next  day  I  hear  an 
eloquent  presentation  of  ways  that  the 
church  can  make  our  marginalized  elderly 
feel  useful  and  wanted  again.  The  youth  of 
the  church  poke  at  our  awareness  of  the 
effects  of  United  States  trade  sanctions  and 
we  are  picketed  by  an  anti-gay  hate  group 
outside  the  Convention  Center. 

On  Wednesday  morning  I  watch  them 
prepare  the  quilt  for  auction.  It  is  beauti- 
ful as  usual — bright  and  multicolored  and 
pieced  together  with  love.  Each  square 
unique  and  made  even  more  special  in  its 
connection  to  the  others.  An  amazing  piece 
of  work  to  complete  in  a  few  days'  time. 

Tavia  Ervin  is  a  member  of  First  Church  of  the  Brethren, 
Springfield,  III,,  and  is  chaplain  at  Pleasant  Hill  Village,  the 
Brethren  home  at  Girard,  III. 


The  children  « 

Learning  peace  and  love 
by  Eddie  H.  Edmond 

When  we  think  of  Annual  Conference, 
we  see  images  of  business  sessions  wi 
lines  at  the  microphone,  worship  servici 
that  include  spirited  preaching  and 
singing,  and  that  all-important  treat,  ice 
cream.  There  is,  however,  another  group 
that  attends  conference  with  an  equally 
important  agenda.  These  are  the  children 
of  delegates  and  conferencegoers  from 
across  the  denomination. 

Ranging  in  age  from  babies  through 
grade  five,  this  group  of  attenders  looks  t 
leadership  to  provide  an  interesting  and 
entertaining  mix  of  activities.  Even  with 
the  shortened  schedule,  this  year  was  no 
different,  with  many  activities  planned. 

Barbara  Flory,  "early  childhood  ser- 
vices" coordinator  and  a  member  of  the 
McPherson  (Kan.)  Church  of  the  Brethre 
led  a  team  of  caregivers  that  designed 
activities  around  the  Conference  theme, 
"Love  as  I  have  loved  you."  She  empha- 
sized that  the  early  childhood  services  wei 
to  be  more  than  babysitting.  Her  team 
worked  hard  to  provide  not  only  a  safe 
place,  but  a  learning  environment  as  well. 

A  highlight  for  the  kindergarten 
through  grade  two  children  was  a  day  tha 
included  trips  to  the  Kansas  City  zoo  and 
Kaleidoscope.  Located  at  Hallmark  Card 
World  Headquarters,  Kaleidoscope  pro- 
vided a  time  of  fun  activities  and  capped  ,| 
day  that  taxed  the  physical  resources  of 
children  and  adult  volunteers  alike.  The 
children  also  learned  through  creative  pre 
sentations  of  the  work  of  Trees  for  Life 


Ej  Messenger  September  2000 


onference 

nsas  City 


id  Heifer  Project  International. 

Catherine  Strahn  Frantz,  a  member  of 
e  Topeiva  (Kan.)  congregation  and  coor- 
nator  of  activities  for  this  age  group, 
id  most  of  the  activities  were  planned 
th  the  Conference  theme  in  mind. 

Catherine  added  that  she  was  pleased 

the  willingness  of  adult  volunteers  to 
sist  with  the  program. 

Carolyn  Barr,  a  member  of  the  Osage 
lurch  of  the  Brethren  in  McCune,  Kan., 
id  this  year's  coordinator  for  the  chil- 
en's  activities  for  grades  three  through 
'e,  listed  two  things  that  made  Confer- 
ice  memorable  for  her.  "One  was  our 
jit  to  The  Peace  Pavilion,  and  of  equal 
iportance  were  the  adult  volunteers  who 
ade  it  all  happen,  in  particular  two 
iuth,  desiring  to  be  in  service  to  the  Con- 
rence,  volunteered  to  help  with 
lildren's  activities  instead  of  participat- 
g  in  senior  high  youth  activities." 

At  the  Peace  Pavilion  the  children  par- 
:ipated  in  role-playing  that  demonstrated 
jys  that  conflict  and  differences  could  be 
ttled  peacefully.  Taught  that  when  con- 
ct  became  evident  to  "Stop  -  Think  - 
!ace,"  the  children  found  tools  that  will 
:  of  use  to  them  for  years  to  come. 

Other  visits  were  made  to  the  Nelson- 
kin  Museum  of  Art  and  Science  City, 
ith  over  50  hands-on  adventures  and 
ree  theaters,  the  excitement  of  this  field 
ip  was  exceeded  only  by  the  children's 
irticipation  in  Tuesday  night's  worship 
rvice.  There  the  combined  children's 
loir  led  enthusiastic  singing  joined  by  the 
onference  participants. 


Another  highlight  of  this  year's  Con- 
ference were  the  children's  activity 
packets  provided  at  each  worship  experi- 
ence. Over  150  children  participated  in 
the  evening  worship  services,  which  were 
made  more  meaningful  to  them  by  the 
activity  packets.  The  packets  were 
assembled  and  provided  by  the  Congre- 
gational Life  Teams  of  the  General 
Board  staff.  Jan  Kensinger,  CLT  coordi- 
nator for  Area  1  and  one  of  the 
coordinators  of  this  project,  said  that  the 
packets  were  intended  to  reach  out  to 
the  children  attending  Conference  and  to 
illustrate,  in  simple  ways,  the  theme  of 
each  worship  service.  Julie  Hostetter, 
CLT  coordinator  for  Area  3,  added  that 
many  conferencegoers  had  asked  to  take 
a  packet  to  their  home  congregations  in 
hopes  of  encouraging  this  same  connect- 
edness at  home. 

A  central  inspiration  from  all  the  lead- 
ership involved  with  the  children's 
activities,  from  the  12  to  15  young 
Brethren  in  the  early  childhood  stage  to 
the  more  than  145  children  who  partici- 
pated in  the  kindergarten  through  fifth 
grade  group,  could  be  found  in  a  passage 
from  the  book  of  Proverbs.  "Train  children 
in  the  right  way,  and  when  old,  they  will 
not  stray"  (Prov.  22:6). 

Eddie  Edmonds  is  an  ordained  minister  in  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren  and  currently  serves  as  pastor  of  the  Meier  Avenue 
Church  of  the  Brethren  in  Martinsburg,  W.Va.  He  is  the  father 
of  a  teenage  son  who  has  participated  in  Conference  age- 
group  activities  over  the  years.  Eddie  was  elected  at  this 
year's  Conference  to  serve  on  the  Association  of  Brethren 
Caregivers  board  of  directors  and  was  a  member  of  the  news 
services  team. 


And  the  children  shall  lead 
them.  Children  had  many 
activities  to  keep  them  busy 
during  the  week.  Above, 
from  left,  children  in  the 
grades  3-5  activities  joined  in 
excitedly  during  a  session  on 
'Clowning  Around';  Marlys 
Best  of  Hutchinson,  Kan., 
plays  with  Joseph  Witt  rein 
and  Kaylie  Penner;  and  Rita 
Murphy  entertains  a  group  of 
children  in  the  pre- 
kindergarten  childcare  area. 
Below,  Sean  Leininger- 
Dickason  takes  a  break  to 
play  with  a  dinosaur. 


Messenger  September  2000 


Ideas  and  eloquence 

Some  notable  dinner  speeches  to  digest 


O 


^^  The  voice 

within  me  asks, 

What  must  God 

think  when  the 

church  people 

are  divided  and 

stand  in 

judgment  of  each 

other?  ...the 

question  is,  What 

is  the  mind  of 

Christ?  ^^ 


— Judy  Mills  Reimer,  General  Board 
executive  director 


Much  of  the  story  of  Annual  Conference  is  tucked  away 
in  speeches  at  the  various  optional  dinners  and  special 
events  sponsored  by  interest  groups.  Here  are  reports 
about  what  a  few  of  those  speakers  had  to  say. 

by  Fletcher  Farrar 

In  her  "report  on  the  state  of  the  church," 
General  Board  executive  director  Judy 
Mills  Reimer  spent  much  of  the  time  recall- 
ing stories  to  celebrate  the  success  of  the 
denomination's  mission  and  ministry. 

In  her  address  to  the  Messenger  Dinner 
at  Annual  Conference,  she  recalled  the  voice 
of  Maria  in  the  Dominican  Republic,  who 
had  received  a  new  house  built  by  Church  of 
the  Brethren  dollars.  "If  your  church  had 
not  responded  when  we  lost  our  homes 
because  of  Hurricane  Georges,  we  would 
still  be  homeless  today." 

In  the  center  of  her  positive,  upbeat 
speech,  Reimer  voiced  several  "cautions" 
and  challenges  facing  the  church  as  well. 

"The  voice  within  me  asks.  What  must 
God  think  when  the  church  people  are 
divided  and  stand  in  judgment  of  each 
other?  Whether  that  division  is  on  biblical 
interpretation,  issues  surrounding  racism, 
sexuality,  denomination  name  change,  God 
language,  or  who  does  what  in  the  church — 
the  question  is,  What  is  the  mind  of  Christ? 

"The  voice  within  me  asks  how  dys- 
functional are  we,  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren,  when  we  depend  on  each  other 
as  agencies  of  the  church  to  provide  ser- 
vices to  each  other  for  a  fee?  ...  In  our  size 
of  denomination  it  is  a  must  that  we  get 
along.  Yet  how  healthy  is  it  when  we  feel 
slighted  in  the  service  given  by  partnering 
Church  of  the  Brethren  agencies? 

"The  voice  within  me  asks,  What  does  it 
mean  today  with  so  many  different  agencies 
holding  out  their  hands  for  dollars  from  the 
same  donors?  .  .  .  Will  the  church  need  to  set 
rigid  boundaries  and  guidelines?  Can  we 
continue  to  cooperate  or  will  the  funding  cli- 
mate become  more  and  more  competitive?" 

Robert  W.  Edgar,  the  former  congressman 
who  recently  took  over  as  executive  direc- 
tor of  the  National  Council  of  Churches  of 
Christ,  spoke  at  the  Ecumenical  Luncheon 
sponsored  by  the  Committee  on  Interchurch 
Relations.  Edgar  said  his  challenge  goes 
beyond  reforming  the  troubled  NCC  which, 
he  said,  "got  some  mold  around  the  edges 


i 


and  began  to  stumble  on  itself." 

The  task  at  hand,  he  said,  is  to  recognize 
the  "kairos  moment"  of  the  year  2000  as  a 
time  to  "reignite  the  ecumenical  movement. 
His  vision  is  to  unite  evangelicals  and 
Catholics  with  mainline  Protestants,  not  by 
getting  those  groups  to  join  the  NCC,  but  b 
building  a  "new  and  larger  table."  Though  f 
was  vague  about  how  this  would  work, 
Edgar  hinted  there  might  be  a  new  name  foi 
the  ecumenical  organization,  or  different 
forms  of  membership  in  the  association. 

"The  first  thing  we  need  to  do  together  is 
to  address  the  needs  of  the  poor,"  he  said.  A 
churches  can  agree  to  fight  poverty  together  ^' 
he  said.  The  NCC  has  begun  an  intitiative 
called  "Mobilization  to  Overcome  Poverty, 
which  will  name  "achievable"  goals. 

"God  is  calling  us  in  the  urgency  of 
now  to  make  a  difference  on  Planet 
Earth,"  Edgar  said.  He  quoted  a  speech  b 
Robert  F.  Kennedy:  "Few  will  have  the 
greatness  to  bend  history,  but  each  of  us 
can  work  to  change  a  small  portion  of  the 
events,  and  in  the  total  of  all  these  acts  wi 
be  written  the  history  of  this  generation." 

esus'  call  is  a  call  t( 

be  about  verball' 

proclaiming  the  goot 

news.  [If  we  don't; 

we're  living  in  sin.  ^^ 


— Gerald  Crouse,  missionary  In  Dominican  Repub 


^'' 


Messenger  September  2000 


Charles  llyes,  pastor  of  the  Springfield 
Ihurch  of  the  Brethren,  Coopersburg,  Pa., 

avc  an  old-i'ashioned  sermon  at  the  Brethren 
Levival  Fellowship  Dinner.  He  spoke  to  the 
iftlculties  of  Christian  life  and  ministry,  using 
'aul's  image  of  running  a  race  and  recalling 
is  own  experience  of  planting  strawberries 
1  a  straight  row  by  looking  forward,  not  back. 
"Satan  wants  to  trip  us  up,"  he  told  the 
udience  of  nearly  300.  "He  will  do  every- 
ling  possible  to  make  us  look  back.  But 
ang  in  there.  Don't  give  up.  When  we  see 
isus  face  to  face  it  will  be  worth  it  all." 

t  the  Monday  evening  dinner  spon- 
ored  by  the  General  Board's  Global 
lission  Partnerships  office,  Rebecca 
aile  Crouse  shared  songs  in  Spanish  and 
3oke  enthusiastically  of  their  family's 
lission  work  in  the  Dominican  Republic. 

When  Gerald  Crouse  took  the  micro- 
lone  for  the  second  half  of  the  presentation, 
le  celebrative  mood  turned  somber.  He  said 
ominican  Christians  have  influenced  him  to 
i  more  evangelistic,  something  he  did  not 
arn  during  his  years  growing  up  in  the 
hurch  of  the  Brethren,  or  even  later  as  a 
jstor.  "We  are  a  non-evangelistic  church," 
;  said,  citing  recent  statistics  on  the  denom- 
ation's  declining  membership. 

"lesus'  call  is  a  call  to  be  about  verbally 
•oclaiming  the  good  news."  If  we  don't 
■actice  "verbal"  evangelism,  Crouse  said, 
Ne're  living  in  sin." 

)rmer  moderator  Charles  Boyer,  pastor  of 
e  La  Verne  (Calif.)  Church  of  the  Brethren 

loke  at  the  luncheon  of  the  Brethren  Men- 
)nite  Council  for  Gay  and  Lesbian 
ancerns.  He  spoke  of  the  need  for  the 
lurch  to  be  more  loving  and  more  inclusive, 
e  said  those  who  favor  inclusivity  for  homo- 
xuals  need  to  learn  to  love  their  critics. 

"The  place  for  some  of  us  heterosexual 
Tsons  to  begin  is  to  remember  that  not 
o  many  years  ago  we  held  some  beliefs 
:ld  by  the  current  critics  of  BMC.  Our 
:arts  have  been  moved  and  softened  and 
J  have  become  more  inclusive.  It  can 
ppen  to  others  as  it  happened  to  us." 

Boyer  said  he  can  remember  debates  in 
e  Church  of  the  Brethren  about  inclusion 
persons  of  non-European  ancestry  in 
ngregations  and  summer  camps.  He  can 
member  debates  about  whether  divorced 
rsons  should  be  accepted  in  leadership, 


or  whether  women  should 
be  ministers. 

"As  we  have  become 
more  inclusive  of  persons 
of  color,  divorced  persons 
and  women  in  leader- 
ship," he  said,  "we  are 
becoming  more  inclusive 
of  transsexual  people." 

Boyer  concluded:  "We 
are  Church  of  the  Brethren 
members  who  are  going  to 
help  this  little  denomination  become  more 

loving,  more  accepting,  and  more  just 

We've  all  got  a  place  in  the  Kingdom  of  God!" 

Noemi  de  Espinoza,  executive  president 
of  Christian  Commission  for  Develop- 
ment, in  Honduras,  spoke  at  the  Sunday 
evening  Outreach  Dinner,  sponsored  by 
the  General  Board's  Brethren  Witness  and 
Global  Mission  Partnerships  offices. 

At  the  conclusion  of  her  speech,  she 
addressed  volunteers  who  come  to  Hon- 
duras to  help:  "What's  important  isn't  how 
many  cement  blocks  you  can  lay  in  a  day  or 
whether  you  can  speak  Spanish,  but  rather 
whether  you  can  offer  a  ministry  of  presence 
in  a  world  where  poverty  isn't  romantic, 
whether  you  can  listen  with  humility  and 
embrace  a  poor  person,  whether  you  can 
open  yourself  up  to  hearing  the  gospel  of 
lesus  Christ  in  some  new  ways. 

"What  we've  heard  from  many  of  the  vol- 
unteers is  that  their  visit  to  our  country  has 
amounted  to  a  conversion  experience,  in 
which  they've  experienced  the  Holy  Spirit 
blowing  in  powerful  ways  through  the  lives 
of  the  poor,  and  where  their  experience  of 
that  spirit  leads  them  back  home  to  question 
who  they  are  and  how  they  are  a  church  in 
the  middle  of  a  world  where  our  lives  and 
stories  are  increasingly  interlinked. 

"We  are  in  this  together.  We  are  equals, 
we  are  companions,  we  are  the  family  of 
God,  of  a  God  that  is  not  the  God  of  imperi- 
alism, but  rather  the  God  who  during 
Hurricane  Mitch  was  to  be  found  suffering 
and  dying  in  the  neighborhoods  and  villages 
that  washed  away,  who  was  present  there 
with  us  in  the  mud  the  storm  left  behind.  It 
is  that  God  who  has  brought  us  safe  this  far, 
and  the  God  who  will  lead  us  home,  hand  in 
hand,  sister  and  brother,  south  and  north, 
into  a  new  heaven  and  new  earth  where  we 
shall  live  in  peace  and  be  unafraid." 


Angels  among  us.  Rosa 
Maria  Martinez  Undo  gave 
out  corn-husk  angels,  made 
by  a  Honduran  women 's 
group,  to  participants  in 
Tuesday's  "Un-lunctieon." 
Participants  gave  up  tiieir 
luncli  for  tine  day  and  instead 
donated  tliat  money  to  tlie 
Global  Food  Crisis  Fund. 


^^  What  we've 
heard  from  many 
of  the  volunteers 
is  that  their  visit  to 
our  country  has 
announted  to  a 
conversion  experi- 
ence, in  which 
they've  experi- 
enced the  Holy 
Spirit  blowing  in 
powerful  ways 
through  the  lives 
of  the  poor.  ^^ 

— Noemi  de  Espinoza, 

president  of  the  Christian  Commission 

for  Development,  In  Honduras 


Messenger  September  2000 


HERITAGE 

Brethren  Historical  Library  and  Archives  is  a  vital  link  to  the  past 


by  Kendra  Flory 

T 

I  f  one  could  lift  the  veil  and  see  the 

-A- past:  see  the  pious  Eight  in  1708  at 
Schwarzenau; . . .  see  the  gradual  trans- 
formation to  the  church  of  to-day;  and 
learn  from  the  actors  themselves  at  each 
stage  of  development  the  wonderful 
story  of  the  church's  growth,  the  duty  of 
recording  it  would  be  a  rapturous  plea- 
sure   But  Death  has  sealed  the  lips 

that  could  have  spoken  and  stilled  the 
hand  that  might  have  written.  Fragments 
alone  remain.  These  are  scattered  over  a 
wide  area  in  two  continents." 

In  his  book,  A  History  of  the  Gentian 
Baptist  Brethren  in  Europe  and 
America,  the  first  substantial  historical 
account  of  the  Brethren.  Martin  Grove 
Brumbaugh  expressed  in  1899  the  truth 
of  a  recorded  history  hard  to  come  by. 

However,  in  the  last  64  years  some  of 
these  surviving  fragments  have  been  dis- 
covered, donated,  gathered,  and  formed 
into  what  is  now  the  Brethren  Historical 
Library  and  Archives  (BHLA),  located  in 


the  basement  of  the  General  Offices  in 
Elgin,  111.  It  is  the  largest  collection  of 
Brethren  materials  in  one  place. 

A  program  of  the  General  Board,  the 
BHLA  strives  "to  keep  alive  the  Brethren 
faith  heritage"  by  fulfilling  the  goals  in 
its  purpose  statement,  including  to  col- 
lect and  preserve  Brethren-related 
materials,  to  give  historical  perspective 
to  the  mission  of  the  church  through 
counsel  and  publication,  and  to  provide 
a  centralized  Brethren  research  center. 

BHLA  began  in  1  936  when  descen- 
dants of  Elder  }.H.  Moore — a  noted 
writer,  editor,  and  churchman  among 
the  Brethren — donated  his  library  to 
the  General  Mission  Board.  A  year 
later  the  [oint  Historical  Commission 
was  organized  as  the  first  advisory  and 
policy-setting  agency  for  the  program. 

Since  its  start,  the  BHLA  has  main- 
tained a  dual  function  of  library  and 
archives — collecting  and  preserving  pub- 
lications, records,  and  other  materials  of 
the  Church  of  the  Brethren,  one  of  the 
six  major  branches  of  the  Brethren  trac- 


ing their  roots  back  to  Schwarzenau. 
Also  collected  are  books  and  periodicals 
published  by  the  other  five  groups — Old 
German  Baptist  Brethren;  Brethren 
Church;  the  Fellowship  of  Grace 
Brethren  Churches;  the  Dunkard 
Brethren;  and  the  Conservative  Grace 
Brethren  Churches,  International. 
As  the  official  repository  of  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren,  the  BHLA 
archives  maintains  Annual  Conference 
records  dating  back  to  1856,  as  well  as 
records  from  early  Brethren  organiza- 
tions such  as  the  General  Mission  Board 
(1908-1947).  Extensive  collections  of 
district  and  congregational  materials  are 
kept,  including  the  records  of  numerous 
districts  and  congregations,  district  and 
congregational  directories,  and  district 
minutes  and  newsletters.  The  archives 
also  house  biographical  files  of  Brethren 
individuals  and  papers  of  national, 
regional,  and  local  Brethren  leaders. 
Among  the  items  of  this  manuscript  col- 
lection are  the  journal  of  Alexander 
Mack,  Ir.,  and  the  Dan  West  papers. 


Messenger  September  2000 


In  the  last  64  years  some  of  these  surviving 
fragnnents  have  been  discovered,  donated, 
gathered,  and  fornned  into  what  is  now  the  largest 
collection  of  Brethren  materials  in  one  place. 


In  its  book  collection  the  BHLA  has 
nearly  9,000  volumes,  including  books 
from  the  Sauer  and  Liebert  presses  of 
Germantown  and  the  Ephrata  Cloisters 
Press,  more  than  550  genealogies,  over 
400  Bethany  Theological  Seminary 
dissertations,  and  a  1539  German  New 
Testament — the  oldest  book  in  the  col- 
lection. The  BHLA  has  also  collected 
more  than  200  newsletters  from  differ- 
ent Brethren  organizations,  more  than 
1,600  pamphlets,  and  more  than  100 
Brethren  periodical  titles,  totaling  over 
1 ,750  bound  volumes. 

Other  collections  include  photographs 
and  negatives  totaling  over  30,000 
images,  and  nonprint  media — video  cas- 
sette tapes,  reel-to-reel  tapes,  16  mm 
films,  slide  sets,  individual  slides,  film- 
strips,  phonograph  records,  and  cassette 
tapes,  including  tapes  of  Annual  Confer- 
ence business  sessions  since  1949. 

The  best  source  of  genealogical  infor- 
mation at  BHLA  is  the  obituaries  that 
were  published  in  Brethren  periodicals 
from  1851,  when  the  Gospel  Visiter 
began,  through  1964  when  the  name  of 
the  Gospel  Messenger  was  changed  to 
Messenger.  Almost  all  of  these  obitu- 
aries have  been  indexed  by  BHLA.  A 
gradual  project  over  the  past  1 1  years 
was  to  inde.x  the  obituaries  and  archive 
the  index  on  a  CD,  which  is  now  avail- 
able for  purchase  from  Brethren  Press. 

Though  it  is  not  a  museum,  the  BHLA 
also  has  a  small  collection  of  artifacts. 
The  most  significant  piece  of  this  collec- 
tion is  the  Henry  Kurtz  organ  that  was 
built  in  1 698  and  is  the  oldest  playable 
pipe  organ  in  the  United  States. 

The  collection  has  grown  continually 
since  BHLA  opened.  Brethren  records  of 
|all  kinds  are  always  being  collected. 
Brethren  Press  donates  copies  of  all  its 
publications.  And  Brethren  authors,  as 
well  as  other  contributors,  often  donate 
to  the  organization.  But  in  its  earlier 
iyears,  the  program  lacked  staff  and 

continued  on  next  page 


'.? 


KEN  SHAFFER, 

KEEPER  OF  THE  ARCHIVES 

Now  in  his  12th  year  as  director 
of  Brethren  Historical  Library  and 
Archives,  Ken  Shaffer  is  responsible  for 
collecting  materials,  seeing  that  they  are 
cataloged  and  processed,  and  integrating 
them  into  the  library  and  archives.  In  this 
administrative  position  he  also  plans  the 
BHLA  budget  and  writes  reports  to  the 
General  Board  and  Annual  Conference. 

But  what  Shaffer  enjoys  most  about  his 
job  in  the  archives  is  the  challenge  of 
tracking  down  information  for  those 
inquiring  about  Brethren. 

"It's  interesting  work,"  he  says.  "The 
kinds  of  materials  you  work  with  and  the 
kinds  of  questions  you  get,  they  make 
you  think." 

Shaffer  says  one  of  the  few  frustrations  of 
his  job  is  constantly  changing  technology.  For 
example,  16  mm  reels  are  unusable  unless  an 
old  projector  is  available  and  working,  or  the 
reels  are  converted  to  videotape,  which  will 
also  become  obsolete  someday.  "Everything's 
only  a  passing  medium,"  Shaffer  says.  "It's 
hard  to  maintain  the  equipment  of  older  media, 
and  it  gets  expensive  to  keep  converting  mate- 
rials with  ever-changing  technology." 

Originally  from  Denton,  Md.,  Shaffer  received  his  undergraduate 
degree  in  philosophy  and  religion  from  Bridgewater  College  in  1967,  and  he 
earned  a  master  of  divinity  degree  at  Bethany  Theological  Seminary  in 
1970.  Several  years  later  he  took  a  job  at  Bethany  in  which  he  spent  part 
time  in  the  acquisitions  library.  There  he  discovered  his  strong  interest  in 
library  work.  Changing  his  plans  to  earn  a  doctorate  in  religion,  Shaffer 
worked  toward  a  master's  in  library  science  at  Northern  Illinois  University, 
which  he  received  in  1983. 

Shaffer  has  always  enjoyed  history  as  well.  While  most  seminary  students 
took  Brethren  history  their  second  or  third  year,  he  couldn't  wait  that  long  and 
took  it  during  his  first  year  of  classes. 

In  addition  to  his  work  in  the  archives,  Shaffer  meets  with  the  Brethren  His- 
torical Committee  and  the  Germantown  Trust  and  served  as  book  review  editor 
for  Brethren  Life  and  Thought .—Kendra  F\ory 

Messenger  September  2000 


I 


Ken  Shaffer,  director  of  BHLA, 

enjoys  the  challenge  of  tracking 
down  information. 


funding,  so  the  responsibility  for  archives 
was  shared  between  various  offices  in  the 
Brethren  Publishing  House.  Materials 
were  not  processed  or  well-organized. 

"Initially  the  archives  wasn't  pro- 
cessing and  organizing  the  items,"  says 
Ken  Shaffer,  director  of  BHLA.  "So 
much  was  kept,  but  they  didn't  create  a 
path  to  find  specific  items." 

The  program  began  to  shift  in  the  late 
1970s  when  the  first  full-time  coordina- 
tor was  hired  and  the  space  allocated  to 
BHLA  was  doubled.  Eventually  a  read- 
ing room/processing  area  and  a  records 
storage  room  were  installed.  Another 
full-time  position  was  added  in  the  mid- 
1980s,  but  was  recendy  eliminated  as 
part  of  the  General  Board  redesign. 

The  program  depends  heavily  on 
Brethren  Volunteer  Service  workers  and 
other  volunteers  whose  donated  time  is 
often  used  for  processing  archival  mate- 
rials. All  materials  that  come  to  BHLA 
go  through  this  archiving  process, 
which  includes  weeding  out  duplicates 
and  other  unwanted  materials,  writing  a 
descriptive  inventory  (a  record  of  con- 
tents in  each  set  of  materials),  and  filing 
the  information  on  computer. 

Volunteers  also  help  with  answering 
the  hundreds  of  resource  questions 
directed  at  BHLA.  In  1999  BHLA 
responded  in  writing  to  263  requests  for 
information,  275  phone  requests,  and 
232  requests  made  by  General  Board 
employees.  One  hundred  people  made 
personal  visits  to  use  the  archives. 

"I  don't  know  that  we  could  handle 
more  phone,  letter,  and  e-mail  requests 
than  we're  getting  now,"  Shaffer  says. 
"I'd  like  to  see  more  people  come  on 
site  to  use  the  archives." 

Shaffer  says  the  archives  are  used  for 

Messenger  September  2000 


Daniel  Greenawalt  recently  completed 
service  in  the  archives  as  a  Brethren 
Volunteer  Service  worker. 

many  different  reasons.  They  are  used 
by  Brethren  and  others  looking  for 
information  about  Brethren  beliefs  and 
practices.  For  example,  in  1996  a  man  of 
Grace  Brethren  background  came  to 
research  the  topic  of  nonresistance  for 
his  dissertation.  And,  in  1993  a  man 
researching  the  civil  rights  movement 
came  to  explore  the  materials  of  Ralph 
Smeltzer,  a  Brethren  who  served  as  a 
mediator  in  Selma,  Ala.,  during  the 
marches  of  the  mid- 1 960s. 

Genealogists  and  those  who  write  his- 
tory are  BHLA's  primary  users,  inspired 
to  search  for  roots  and  reasons  of  their 
heritage.  Don  Durnbaugh  wrote  that 
"history  is  to  the  group  what  memory  is 
to  the  individual"  and  that  like  a  person 
reflects  on  past  experiences  to  decide 
how  to  act  in  the  future:  "His  judgment 
is  tempered  by  past  successes  and  fail- 
ures," so  must  a  group  look  to  its 
history  and  heritage  for  understanding 
of  what,  how,  and  why  it  came  to  be  in 
order  to  be  fruitful  tomorrow. 

Shaffer  hopes  Brethren  will  take  advan- 
tage of  the  resources  available  in  BHLA. 
And,  like  Brumbaugh  prayed  for  his  book 
of  Brethren  history,  may  it  "quicken  our 
love  for  the  church  and,  under  the 
blessing  of  God,  be  the  means  of        ^f  ■ 
doing  some  good  for  the  Master."      ■■■ 

Kendra  Flory  is  a  member  of  the  McPherson  (Kan)  Church 
of  the  Brethren  and  will  graduate  from  Bridgewater  Col- 
lege in  December  For  nine  weeks  she  served  as  an  intern 
at  Brethren  Press  through  the  Ministry  Summer  Service 
program.  Her  interest  in  Brethren  history  and  artifacts 
grew  stronger  through  her  work  at  the  McPherson 
Museum  where  she  did  the  research  and  design  for  a 
historical  display  of  McPherson  College. 


CHURCH    OF  THE    BRETHREN 

BENEFIT  TRUST 

FULL-TIME  STAFF  OPENING 
AVAILABLE  NOVEMBER  1,2000 

Director  of 
Communications 

Located  in  Elgin,  IL 

A  management  position  that  provides 
overall  leadership  of  the  department 
responsible  for  promotion,  public  rela- 
tions, and  member  resources. 

Broad  areas  of  responsibility  include: 

•  Communicating  the  BBT  mission 
and  programs. 

•  Creating  program  resources  for 
BBT  plan  members  and  clients. 

•  Promoting  BBT  programs  and  ser- 
vices to  prospective  customers. 

Lead  the  department  in  the  research, 
design  and  image  represented  in  all  writ- 
ten, visual  and  electronic  resources  that 
support  the  agency's  communications 
efforts  and  assure  a  consistent  image  of 
competence  for  the  organization. 

Coordinate  special  public  relations  pro- 
jects as  needed  (i.e. Annual  Conference 
report  to  delegates,  booth  design  and 
set  up,  insight  session  coordination  that 
promotes  the  BBT  and  its  ministries). 
Manage  staff.  Develop,  monitor,  and 
approve  budgets  and  program  priorities 
for  the  department. 

Qualifications:  The  successful  candidate 
will  blend  creativity  in  communications  with 
marketing  knowledge.  BS  or  equivalent  in 
Journalism,  Public  Relations,  Communica- 
tions, Marketing  or  a  related  discipline  with 
a  minimum  of  five  (5)  years  experience  in  a 
related  position.  Strong  written  and  verbal 
communication  skills,  a  reader-friendly  writ- 
ing style.  Internet  literate. A  high  level  of 
proficiency  in  PageMaker  6.5;  Quark 
Express,  and  Photoship  in  a  Windows  envi- 
ronment (Word,  Excel,  PowerPoint). 

A  self-starter  with  a  positive  attitude, 
capable  of  developing  a  service-oriented 
department.  Familiarity  with  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren  and  its  values  helpful. 

Interested  and  qualified  persons  may 
apply  by  faxing  letter,  resume  and  salary 
history  to  847-742-0 1  35  or  mail  to 
Claudia  Sheets,  Brethren  Benefit  Trust, 
1505  Dundee  Avenue,  Elgin,  IL  60120, 
Direct  phone:  847-622-3389. 


Compiled  by  FRANK  RAMIREZ 


vhe  love  feast  is  based  on  a  simple  premise:  disciples  do  as  Jesus 
commands.  We  examine  our  lives,  wash  feet,  eat  a  simple  meal, 
and  take  communion.  Through  stories,  memories,  scriptures, 
and  photographs,  the  love  feast  is  remembered  and  renewed, 
extending  the  invitation  to  all  to  come  to  the  Lord's  table. 


i 


I' 

Brethren  Press 

145  1  Dundee  Avenue 

Elgin,  Illinois  60I20-I694 

phone  800-441-5712 

fa.\  800-667-8188 

e-mail  brethrenpress_gb@brerhren.org 


Here  is  a  glimpse  into  the  corporate  memory  of  this  central  ritual  of  our  faith. 
A  perfect  gift  for  new  members,  deacons,  church  leaders,  and  all  who  find 
their  Christian  home  with  the  Brethren. 

$19.95  paperback  #8208 

$49.95  limited  edition  hardcover  #8240 


Acceptance 


At  Brethren  colleges  all 
are  welcome! 

We  represent  an  exciting  mix  of 
backgrounds,  faiths,  nationalities  and 
experiences.  Our  students  challenge, 
respect,  and  celebrate  each  others' 
differences. 


A  Brethren  education  strives  to  educate 
and  develop  the  whole  person  with 
Christian  values,  high  standards  of 
excellence  and  integrity.  Students  are 
challenged  to  think  deeply  and  critically, 
and  gain  the  confidence  to  explore  new 
ideas. 


Within  a  caring,  learning  community, 
students  have  the  freedom  to  flourish 
and  talents,  aspirations  and  dreams  are 
turned  into  reality. 


A  Brethren  education  will  make 
a  difference  ...  in  YOU! 


For  more  information  about 
Brethren  colleges,  visit  our  website: 
www.cobcoa.org  or  email: 
cobcoa_gb@brethren.org 
or  call  1-800-323-8039 


ILETTERS 


^^  When  told  how  she  had  addressed  God,  Joan  was  surprised.  She  had  not 
realized  she'd  called  God  Mother.  Somehow,  her  desperate  need  of  nnaternal 


connfort  overshadowed  her  usual  pattern  of  praying  to  God  the  Father. 


## 


New  Messenger  design 

It  looks  like  the  "gray  old  lady"  has 
been  outfitted  with  new  Sunday-go- 
to-meeting  clothes — and  they  are  very 
becoming  to  her.  The  new  Messenger 
design  has  a  freshness  and  integrity 
that  was  long  due  to  someone  of  her 
age.  The  gentlemen  callers  (prospec- 
tive subscribers)  will  surely  begin  to 
take  renewed  interest.  Everything 
from  her  new  bonnet  (nameplate)  to 
her  gusset  (the  new  page  width)  to 
the  cut  of  her  dress  (the  layout  and 
design)  put  a  new  lift  into  her  step. 
She  is  bound  to  have  the  neighbors 
gossiping.  (Good  for  her!)  Congratula- 
tions to  all  involved. 

Ronald  E.  Keener 

Gilbert,  Anz 


God  is  like  a  mother 

Several  years  ago,  a  young  mother, 
Joan,  was  desperate.  She  was  ill.  Her 
husband  had  gone  to  Europe  on  a  busi- 
ness trip.  Her  young  son  was  suffering 
severe  asthma  attacks.  It  was  night. 
Frightened,  she  telephoned  Anne,  an 
experienced  single  mother  who  shared 
a  deep  faith  in  God.  "May  we  come  stay 
with  you  tonight?"  Joan  asked. 

At  Anne's  home  when  the  frightened 
mother  had  her  ailing  son  comforted  and 
finally  asleep,  Anne  expressed  their  need. 
"I  think  we  ought  to  pray,"  she  said. 

In  the  sanctuary  of  prayer,  Joan,  out 
of  her  desperation,  uttered  these 
words,  "Mother  God,  please  help  me." 
Anne  inwardly  noted  this  unusual  form 
of  address  to  God  because  Joan  had 


never  before  used  it.  Like  most  Chris- 
tians at  that  time,  she  regularly  prayed 
to  the  Father  God. 

Years  later,  the  two  women  recalled 
that  troubled  night.  When  told  how  she 
had  addressed  God,  Joan  was  sur- 
prised. She  had  not  realized  she'd 
called  God  Mother.  Somehow,  her  des- 
perate need  of  maternal  comfort 
overshadowed  her  usual  pattern  of 
praying  to  God  the  Father. 

In  spite  of  the  patriarchial  emphasis 
in  the  Bible  rising  out  of  the  periods 
in  which  these  books  were  written, 
some  stunning  feminine  imagery  for 
God  emerges.  In  addition  to  picturing 
God  in  masculine  terms  of  warrior, 
judge,  lord,  and  father,  the  writers  of 
scripture  employed  these  unexpected 
metaphors: 


Tree 

Community 


The  Olive  Tree  has  been  a  source  of  food,  fuel,  furnishings  and  oil 
for  anointing  for  over  6,000  years.   Because  it  matures  very  slowly — 
one  tree  can  live  for  over  a  thousand  years — parents  and 
grandparents  plant  olive  trees  for  their  children,  leaving  a  valuable 
legacy  for  the  next  generation. 

Bethany's  Olive  Tree  Community  \o\ns  together  a  special  group 
of  friends  who  have  a  similar  commitment  to  the  Seminary. 
Through  deferred  and  estate  gifts,  they  are  leaving  a  legacy  for 
future  generations  to  nurture  the  leadership  needed  for  our 
children,  grandchildren  and  new  children  in  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren. 

We  invite  you  to  become  a  member  of  the  Olive  Tree 
Community.  When  you  make  your  will,  purchase  life 
^^    insurance,  start  a  retirement  plan  or  review  your  current 
estate  plan,  why  not  consider  including  BETHANY  as  a 
beneficiary  for  part  or  all  of  the  proceeds. 

Contact  Lowell  Flory  at  800-287-8822  for  more  information. 


Messenger  September  2000 


-COME  HOME  to  NEW  WINDSOR- 


LETTERS 


Volunteer.. .and  Support 
a  Unique  Brethren  Ministry 


The  New  Windsor  Conference  Center  is 
located  at  the  lovely,  historic  Brethren 
Service  Center  in  New  Windsor,  MD.  Many 
fond  memories  are  formed  here  among 
the  beauty  and  peace  of  these  26  acres. 


As  a  Volunteer  Hostess  or  Host,  you  will  have  the  opportunity  to  share  in  this 
ministry  by  helping  to  provide  Christian  hospitality  and  conference  services  to  our 
guests  in  a  cozy  and  homey  atmosphere.  You  will  experience  the  rewards  of 
service  as  you  interact  with  groups  and  individuals  and  witness  the  true  meaning  of 
our  motto:  "a  quiet  place  to  get  things  done." 

On  days  off,  an  added  benefit  is  our  convenient  access  to  Baltimore,  MD,  Lancaster,  PA, 
Washington,  DC  and  other  interesting  places  with  opportunities  for  cultural,  recreational 
and  religious  activities.  Numerous  Brethren  churches  are  available  in  the  area. 

We  provide  a  furnished  apartment  and  meals  along  with  a  small  stipend.  You'll 
need  to  bring  maturity,  detail  orientation,  an  outgoing  personality  and  genuine 
interest  in  providing  excellent  customer  service.  Come  join  us  for  a  week,  a  month 
or  longer,  if  you'd  like.  A  few  opportunities  are  still  available  for  this  year  and 
applications  are  also  being  accepted  for  2001 .  For  more  information,  call  or  write 
Elaine  Hyde,  Conference  Coordinator,  PC  Box  188,  New  Windsor,  MD  21776- 
0188;  1-800-766-1553  (toll-free). 


QUITE  POSSIBLY  THE 

PERFECT    JOB 

For  a  personal  satisfaction  unmatched, 
join  the  Funding  team  of  the  General  Board. 

1)  Sincerely  thank  individuals  and  congregations 
for  their  support  and  prayers. 

2)  Share  information  and  excitement  about  the 
world-wide  ministries  of  the  church. 

3)  Listen  to  concerns,  financial  goals  and  needs  of 
members  and  friends  of  the  church. 

4)  Give  basic  counsel  in  estate  planning  tools  and 
gift  giving  strategies. 

Now  searching  for  the  right  individual  who  feels  called  to  join  the  General  Board 
staff  m  this  ministry  effort.  Can  be  full  time,  semi-retired,  or  retired  with  time  and/or 
love  for  the  work  of  the  church  to  share.  Must  live  in  and  be  familiar  with  the  cul- 
ture of  the  Northeastern  U.S.  Must  be  an  informed,  active  member  of  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren,  and  willing  to  travel  throughout  that  region. 

For  more  information  and  application  form  contact: 

Elsie  Holderread  at 
800-323-8039  x  259  or  e-mail 
eholderread_gb@brethren.org 


God  is  like  a  mother  eagle 
(Deut.  32:11,  12). 

God  is  the  mother  who  bore 
(Deut.  32:18). 

God  was  a  wet  nurse  to  Israel 
(Num.  11:12). 

God  is  like  a  midwife  who  takes  the 
child  at  birth  and  lays  it  on  the  mother's 
breast  (Psa.  22:9). 

God  is  like  the  head  woman  in  a 
household  (Psa.  123:2). 

God  is  like  a  nursing  mother  (Psa. 
131:2;  Isa.  49:15  and  66:12,  13). 

God  is  like  a  woman  in  childbirth, 
gasping  and  panting  (Isa.  42:14). 

God  is  like  a  lifelong  nursemaid. 
(Isa.  46:4). 

God,  like  a  loving  parent,  teaches  her 
child  how  to  walk  (Hos.  11:11-4). 

God  is  like  a  mother  bear,  robbed  of 
her  cubs  (Hos.  13:8). 

Even  Jesus  referred  to  himself,  the  Son 
of  God,  as  a  brooding  mother  hen,  gather- 
ing her  chicks  to  herself  (Matthew  23:37). 

If  we  overlook  these  feminine  images 
in  scripture,  we  fail  to  recognize  the 
wholeness  of  God's  nature,  manifest  in 
both  masculine  and  feminine. 

Besides  these  images  of  the  feminine 
God,  another  passage  of  scripture 
reminds  us  of  the  dual  nature  of  God. 
Genesis  1:27  states,  "God  created  man 
in  his  own  image,  in  the  image  of  God 
he  created  him;  male  and  female  he  cre- 
ated them."  Humankind  was  created 
male  and  female  in  God's  image.  That's 
what  God  is  like — male  and  female. 

God  is  not  male  or  female.  God  is 
both  male  and  female.  We  have  no 
words  to  express  that.  Actually,  God  is 
infinite,  so  none  of  our  words  can 
convey  complete  understanding  of  this 
divine  eternal  being. 

So,  in  the  past,  biased  by  culture,  we 
have  used  "he"  and  "his"  when  refer- 
ring to  God  and  addressing  God  only  as 
father,  unconsciously  neglecting  the 
feminine  manifestations  of  the  deity. 
This  omission  limits  our  understanding 
of  the  Creator-Sustainer-Nurturer  of  life. 

Perhaps  if  we  would  abandon  ourselves 
in  trust,  out  of  our  desperate  need,  like 
Joan,  we  too  might  find  ourselves  praying 
sometimes  "Our  Father,"  and  sometimes, 
"Mother  God,  please  help  me." 

Jean  Lersch 
St.  Petersburg,  Fla. 


Messenger  September  2000 


CLASSIFIEDADS 


Christian  Family  Practice  group  is  seeking  a 
family  physician  to  join  our  growing  practice. 
We  are  located  in  North  Central  Indiana,  near 
Goshen.  We  provide  obstetrics  with  many  deliv- 
eries done  at  an  Amish  Birthing  Center  near 
Shipshewana.  Opportunities  for  short-  or  long- 
term  missions.  Independently  owned  (six 
physicians  &  one  PA)  and  committed  to  remain- 
ing sensitive  to  the  needs  of  the  local  community. 
Option  to  buy  in.  Contact  Steve  Wendler,  Admin- 
istrator, at  Middlebury  Family  Physicians,  PO 
Box  459,  Middlebury,  IN  46540.  Day  telephone: 
219-825-2900  Evening:  219-825-7506. 

Travel  with  a  purpose.  Visit  the  "Cradle  of  Civi- 
lization," March  16-29,  2001.  Featuring:  crossing  the 
Red  Sea,  visiting  Mt.  Sinai,  cruising  on  the  Sea  of 
Galilee,  cable  car  ride  to  Massada.  Visit  Petra,  the 
rose  city,  Jerusalem,  The  Holy  Land,  St.  Catherine 
Monastery  on  Mt.  Sinai.  Full  breakfast  and  dinner 
throughout.  For  information  write  Wendell  and  Joan 
Bohrer,  8520  Royal  Meadow  Drive,  Indianapolis,  IN. 
46217.  Tel/fax  317-882-5067.  E-mail  rdwboh@aol.com. 

Walk  where  Jesus  walked  with  Pastor  Roger 
Forry  November  13  thru  20,  2000.  This  is  a  pil- 
grimage of  a  lifetime!  Breakfast  and  dinner  are 
included  daily.  Bus  transportation  is  provided 
from  the  Somerset,  Pennsylvania  area  or  pas- 
sengers can  meet  the  group  at  J  F  K  airport  for 
their  journey  to  Israel.  Visit  this  historical  area 


from  a  Christian  perspective  with  an  emphasis  on 
Protestantism.  Professional  bilingual  guide  ser- 
vice. A  bargain  price  for  an  excellent  trip!  Call 
800-462-1592  for  details. 

Position  available:  Full-time  additional  staff 
needed  at  Goshen  City  Church  of  the  Brethren, 
Goshen,  IN.  Person  will  assist  in  areas  of  com- 
munity outreach,  young  adult  and  youth  ministries, 
contemporary  worship,  and  Christian  education. 
Bachelors  degree  minimum.  Contact  Northern 
Indiana  District  Office,  (219)  773-3149. 

Travel  to  the  White  Continent— Cruise  to 

Antarctica— including  visits  to  Argentina  and 
Uruguay,  January  7-20,  2001.  Optional  visits  to 
Chile  and  Iguassau  Falls  available.  For  informa- 
tion please  write  to  J.  Kenneth  Kreider,  1300 
Sheaffer  Road,  Elizabethtown,  PA  17022. 

Double-wide  Mobile  Home-  excellent  condi- 
tion. Located  in  an  established  mobile  home  park 
in  Sebring  Florida  two  miles  from  the  Sebring  CoB. 
Two  bedrooms,  one  and  a  half  baths.  Fully  fur- 
nished including  bed  linens,  dishes  and  cooking 
utensils.  1,000  square  feet  of  living  space  includ- 
ing beautifully  furnished  Florida  room.  Electric 
heating  and  cooling  system.  Carport  and  new 
large  shed  and  washing  machine.  Price  $13,950. 
Contact  Fred  Ikenberry,  108  W.  Rainbow  Drive, 
Bridgewater,  VA  22812.  Phone  (540)  828-0195. 


The  Association  of  Brethren  Caregivers  is 
seeking  a  full-time  Coordinator  of  Shared 
Services  to  assist  the  Executive  Director  with 
programming  and  services  to  the  association  and 
the  Fellowship  of  Brethren  Homes,  a  ministry  with 
Brethren  retirement  communities.  Ideal  candi- 
dates will  demonstrate  the  following  qualifications: 
working  knowledge  of  the  mechanisms  and 
processes  which  impact  services  to  the  aging; 
experience  in  retirement  community  manage- 
ment; understanding  of  Church  of  the  Brethren 
heritage;  bachelor's  degree  in  a  related  field;  pro- 
ficiency in  interpretation  and  consensus  building; 
comfort  providing  leadership  in  an  environment 
with  diverse  interests;  excellent  communication, 
organization  and  computer  skills.  The  position, 
located  in  Elgin,  Illinois,  is  available  on  January 
1,  2001.  Direct  inquiries  or  send  letters  of  appli- 
cation with  resume  and  three  references  to  Steve 
Mason,  Executive  Director,  ABC,  1451  Dundee 
Avenue,  Elgin,  IL  60120. 

Holy  Land  Tour.  Visit  Israel,  the  land  of  the  Bible, 
with  optional  extension  to  Egypt.  Departs  March 
12,  2001  from  Dulles  Airport,  VA.  Visit  Jerusalem, 
Bethlehem,  Nazareth  and  many  more  Biblical  cities 
and  sites.  Cruise  the  Sea  of  Galilee.  First-class 
hotels;  breakfast  and  dinners  included.  Travel  insur- 
ance available.  For  information  write  Pastor  Lerry 
Fogle,  1013  Mercer  Place,  Frederick,  MD  21701,  or 
Email  lwfogle@juno.com 


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1-888-624-8242 
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Messenger  September  2000 


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MESSENGER 


TURNING  POINTS 


Forms  lor  submitting  Turning  Points 
inlormation  are  available  by  calling 
Peggy  Reinacher  at  aOO-323-8039. 

New  members 

Aniioch,  Rocky  Mount,  Va.: 
linimie  Conklin.  Michael 
F.ninions,  Nathan  Emmons, 
Katie  Mclson,  Eve  Milton 

Arcadia.  Ind.;  Bonnie  Brchm, 
Steve  Curnutt.  Teri  Curnutt. 
lanae  Curnutt 

Beacon  Heights,  Fort  Wayne, 
Ind.:  Michael  Ball.  Icssica 
Creath.  Lynn  Creath,  Rebecca 
Crealh,  Randy  Creath, 
Matthew  Degilz,  Amanda 
Miller,  loel  Peterson.  Becky 
Smith,  Luke  Sprunger.  losh 
Wysong,  Sam  Wysong 

Brothersvalley,  Berlin.  Pa.: 
Nancy  Burkett.  Rebecca  L. 
Hay.  Gregory  .\.  Rciman. 
jaiDcs  R.  Turney.  |r. 

Chambcrsburg.  Pa.;  Shawn 
Adams,  .Adam  Bricker, 
Michelle  Cerveris,  Kyle 
Kealh.  Heather  Marlin,  Brett 
Myers,  Ryan  Plyler,  Tara 
Schuchman,  Kurt  Varner. 
Ashley  Wengert 

iCIoverdale,  Va.:  Cara  Wine. 
Amie  Wine,  Randi  Wines. 
Sarah  Stata.  Clara  Nelson. 
Debbie  Russell 

Community  of  )oy.  Salisbury. 
Md.:  Martin  Hutchison. 
Sharon  Hutchison.  Angle 
Drehmer,  Bob  Drehmer. 
Nathaniel  Drehmer.  Stacy 
Habig,  Ken  Mahan.  Doug 
See,  Sally  See,  Becky  Ruby 
See,  Daryl  See.  DiAnna  See. 
Judy  Urrasio.  Belinda  White. 
Melody  Wischoff 

Denton.  Md.:  Claire  Berkey. 
Colleen  Berkey.  Allison 
Holsinger.  Rebecca  Holsinger 

Dundalk.  Baltimore.  Md.:  Iris 
Dollard.  leremy  Kimble, 
Susan  Kimble,  Marlene 
McKinney,  Amanda  Sobus. 
Terrie  Sobus.  Ann  Sue  True. 
Natassia  Walker 

Elkhart  Valley.  Elkhart.  Ind.: 
Pierce  Atkins,  lane  .Atkins. 
Dustv  Earnhart.  Rvan 
McBridc.  Rosalie  McBride. 
Laura  Miller 

First  Central.  Kansas  City, 
Kan.:  |udy  Burr,  Esther 
Kangeri,  Benson  Mwihaki, 
lane  Smith 

ipraternity.  Winston-Salem. 
N.C.:  Ruth  Dunn.  Thomas 
Hanks.  Adele  Hanks.  Troy 
Warner,  Sarah  Beckner, 
Barry  Tilley,  Mary  Tilley. 
Barry  Tilley.  jr..  jess  Tilley. 
Kevin  Villafane.  Katherine 
Haynes,  Laurel  Washabaugh. 
Daniel  Johnson.  Robert 
Ricci.  Nancy  Ricci,  Lindsay 
Ricci.  Ruby  Miller,  jason 
Method.  Tina  Method 

Friendship.  Linthicum.  Md.: 
Ron  Fincham.  Greg  Hicker- 
son.  Cheryl  Hickerson 

Gortncr  Union.  Oakland.  Md.: 
Alvin  Lewis.  Azelma  Lewis 

Guernsey.  .Monticello.  Ind.: 
Prue  Logan 

Heidelberg.  Reistville.  Pa  : 
Mark  Eberly.  Rachel  Eberly. 
Steven  Eberly.  Marie  Eberly. 
Thomas  Eberly,  Dana  Eberly 


Highland  Avenue.  Elgin.  111.: 
Dick  Durrani.  Pat  Durrant, 
Doug  Leatherman,  Mary 
Leatherman,  Lindsay  Garber, 
loseph  Gibble-Keenan,  Shan- 
non McNeil,  Matthew  Meyer. 
Cassie  Skweres.  Parker  Swan- 
son.  Amanda  Turbyfill, 
Douglas  Bradshaw.  |ane  Brad- 
shaw.  lenny  Bradshaw.  Susan 
lasica.  Pat  Owen.  Leland 
Fecher.  Alfred  Brauch,  loel 
Davies.  leanne  Davies,  Adam 
Hackley,  Nancy  LaPlante 

Logansport.  Ind.:  John  Gaumer, 
Cheryl  Ulery,  Greg  Ulery, 
Viola  Ulery,  Donetta  Warner 

Lone  Star.  Lawrence,  Kan.: 
Phillip  Metsker.  Debora 
Rawlings 

Middlcbury,  Ind.:  Tonja  Elliott. 
Catherine  Groover.  Bob 
Schultz.  lean  Schultz 

Modesto,  Calif.:  |uan  Adrover, 
Thelma  Adrover,  Falina  San- 
guinetti 

Mount  Carmel.  Milam.  WVa.: 
Larry  Ray  Graham.  Tiffany 
.Misa  Phares,  Travis  Adam 
Phares 

Wedding 
anniversaries 

Adolph.  Lyle  and  Myrtle.  Wor- 

thington.  Minn.,  50 
Archer.  Roy  and  Bonnie, 

Sebring,  Fla..  50 
Bentz.  Clark  and  Doris. 

lohnstown.  Pa..  50 
Bryant.  lames  and  lacquita. 

Wichita.  Kan..  50 
Burch.  Doug  and  Naomi,  Brad- 
ford. Ohio.  50 
Chaney.  Bert  and  Ina  May. 

Wheatland,  Mo.,  50 
Child,  Don  and  Edith,  Sebring. 

Fla..  65 
Coffman,  Richard  and  Doris. 

Harrisonburg.  Va..  50 
Davis.  Rodney  and  Dorothy.  La 

Verne.  Calif..  50 
Deardorff.  Paul  and  Mabel. 

Chambersburg.  Pa..  70 
Dickey.  Kenneth  and  Martha. 

Silver  Lake.  Ind..  55 
Dull.  Norlyn  and  Gwen.  La 

Verne,  Calif.,  60 
Everest.  Ned  and  Lois,  Goshen. 

Ind.,  50 
Frantz,  Dean  and  Marie,  New 

Haven.  Ind..  60 
Harbaugh.  lames  and  Lois, 

Huntingdon.  Pa..  50 
Harshbargcr.  Raymond  and 

Marv  Ellen.  McVeytovvn. 

Pa..  50 
Hermanson,  Art  and  Lois, 

Kingsley.  Iowa.  50 
Hoffman,  Fred  and  Pauline, 

Chambersburg.  Pa..  65 
Hoover.  Raymond  and  Lura. 

Goshen.  Ind..  55 
Hosletler.  Dean  and  LaVerne. 

Windber.  Pa..  50 
Krehmeyer.  August  and  Ear- 

lene.  Haxtun.  Colo..  60 
Kreider.  Clair  and  Betty. 

Willow  Street.  Pa.,  55 
Kreider,  |.  Russel  and  Mary, 

Lancaster.  Pa..  50 
Lindsay.  William  and  Mildred. 

Huntingdon.  Pa..  65 
Mahan.  Dan  and  Pat,  Princess 

Anne.  Md..  50 
Martin.  Harold  and  Priscilla. 

Lititz,  Pa.,  50 


Miller.  Henry  and  Mary.  New 

Oxford.  Pa..  74 
Monke.  Melvin  and  Phyllis, 

Kingsley.  Iowa.  55 
Patrick.  Norman  and  Beryl, 

Hershey,  Pa. 
Quay.  Clarence  and  Mary. 

Bridgewater.  Va.,  50 
Rogers.  Lewis  and  Shirley. 

lohnstown.  Pa.,  50 
Rohrer,  Harry  and  loanna. 

Mechanicsburg,  Pa.,  50 
Ross.  Wayne  and  Mary  Elizabeth, 

North  Manchester.  Ind.,  50 
Shaffer.  Martin  and  Chrystal, 

Center  Valley,  Pa.,  55 
Snell,  Wayne  and  Verna, 

Sparks,  Nev..  50 
Towers.  Clayton  and  Jackie. 

Bridgewater.  Va.,  50 
VanBaalen.  William  and  Bettie, 

Sebring.  Fla..  65 
Warren.  |oe  and  Dorothy, 

Smithville.  Ohio,  50  " 
Whalen.  Dennis  and  Melva, 

Huntingdon,  Pa..  50 
Whitsel.  Hays  and  Ruth. 

Chambersburg.  Pa..  50 
Wilhelm.  Herbert  and  Doris, 

Pasadena.  Calif..  50 
Yoder.  Elmer  and  Fern, 

Bremen.  Ind..  60 
Zook.  Wayne  and  Evelyn, 

Wenatchee,  Wash.,  50 

Deaths 

Ake,  Carrie,  65,  Huntingdon. 
Pa..  March  8 

Alwine,  Clyde.  86.  lohnstown. 
Pa.,  lune  10 

Anthony.  Effie  Ott,  78,  Dec.  13 

Baker.  Anne,  77,  Huntingdon, 
Pa..  May  16 

Barriek.  Barbara  Lynne.  39, 
Harrisonburg,  Va..  May  17 

Benham,  Amy  C.  62.  Hamp- 
stead.  Md.,  June  22 

Berkey.  Cynthia  Ann,  44,  Dec.  3 

Berkey,  Mary  S..  79.  Windber. 
Pa..  May  8 

Bible,  Beulah  Elizabeth,  90, 
Franklin,  WVa..  May  17 

Bleam.  Ethel  I..  77,  Quaker- 
town.  Pa.,  May  18 

Bodkin,  jaylene,  40,  Bridgewa- 
ter. Va..  lune  22 

Bomberger.  Mildred,  81,  Leola, 
Pa.,  luly  3 

Bower,  Donald,  Wichita,  Kan.. 
Oct.  23,  1998 

Brown,  Everett  E..  84,  Wichita. 
Kan..  May  17 

Brown.  Ruth  H..  98.  Wichita. 
Kan.,  lune  3 

Bucher.  Anna.  95,  |uly  3 

Brumbaugh,  Harold  B..  89, 
Huntingdon.  Pa.,  Ian.  18 

Butterbaugh.  Harriet.  94.  La 
Verne.  CaliL,  lune  17 

Byrd.  Doris  Ann  Hartley,  96. 
Bridgewater.  Va..  May  18 

Cameron.  Ivella.  92. 

lohnstown.  Pa..  May  10 

Carpenter.  Fleta  Virginia.  87. 
Dayton.  Va..  April  30 

Carter.  Gladys  Stone.  93.  Bas- 
sett.  Va..  luly  17 

Cherry.  Ronald.  68.  Hunting- 
don. Pa..  March  19 

Cleghorn.  Karen  Lea,  61.  Hart- 
ford. Iowa,  lune  26 

Cline,  Denise  Cool.  94.  Coral 
Gables.  Fla..  |une  1  5 

Coffey.  Dorothv.  79.  Wichita. 
Kan,.  Feb.  4^  1999 

Costlow,  Mary,  88,  Windber, 


Pa.,  lune  6 
Coulter.  Annabelle,  91,  Hunt- 
ingdon, Pa.,  lune  7.  1999 
Criles,  Thelma  Lee,  78,  Moore- 
field,  W.  Va..  May  23 
Crum.  Melvin  H.,  75,  lohn- 
stown. Pa.,  luly  5 
Cubbagc.  Howard  Vincent,  76, 

Stanley,  Va..  May  3 
Detamore.  Anne  Mae,  77, 

Mathias.  W.  Va..  lune  9 
Donncr.  Benjamin  |.,  88, 

Berlin,  Pa..  May  9 
Dove.  Denna  Arlene.  79.  New 

Market,  Va..  May  1  5 
Dowdy,  Earl.  70,  Huntingdon, 

Pa.,  April  30 
Eller.  Rev.  Henry  Cline.  100. 

Bridgewater.  Va.,  May  28 
Emiey,  Ramah.  95,  La  Verne, 

Calif.,  lune  4 
Etter,  Duane  W..  78,  Cham- 
bersburg, Pa.,  Feb.  1 
Flory.  Betty  E..  77.  Lawrence. 

Kan..  April  6 
Furr.  William  Harold.  81, 

Bridgewater.  Va..  May  27 
Gardner.  Merle.  63,  George- 
town. Texas,  May  22 
Goss.  Velma.  72,  Lancaster, 

Pa.,  lune  3 
Gould,  Rev. William  L.,  83, 

New  Oxford,  Pa..  |une  22 
Green,  Annetta,  60,  Callaway, 

Va.,  May  20 
Grove.  Agnes.  South  English, 

Iowa,  May  1  1 
Gugelman,  Ralph.  91.  Fort 

Wayne.  Ind..  |an.  16 
Harper.  Ella  O..  89,  Moyers, 

W.Va.,  April  15 
Harper,  Elsie,  94,  Moyers, 

W.Va.,  April  10 
Heiny,  E.  Wayne.  93.  Modesto. 

Calif.,  lune  1  1 
Herbster.  Glenn.  79.  Lakeville, 

Ind..  lune  30 
Hicks,  Vernon,  64,  Nevada, 

Mo..  Sept.  1,  1998 
Hileman.  Lawrence  G.,  83. 

Elgin,  111.,  Sept.  10.  1999 
Hinkle.  Mabel.  80,  Lebanon. 

Pa..  April  2 
Huet.  Frederick.  Sr.,  72, 

lohnstown.  Pa..  |une  21 
Isett.  George.  77.  Mount 

Vernon,  Ohio,  [une  19 
Kenyon,  Edna,  94,  Hunting- 
don, Pa.,  Ian.  10 
King.  Zela.  88.  Bridgewater, 

Va.,  March  3 
Kiracofe,  linimie  Lee,  57, 

Waynesboro,  Va.,  lune  8 
Kojakanian,  Alex,  82.  Modesto. 

Calif..  April 
Korneich,  Alex,  88,  Elgin,  111.. 

April  26,  1999 
Kretzer.  Norman  E..  79.  Cham- 
bersburg. Pa.,  lune  12 
Lehman,  Susan  Sellers.  64. 

Dallastown.  Pa.,  lune  30 
McWilliams.  Clarence  (Bud). 

87.  Pasadena,  CaliL.  April  12 
Mathias.  Ervin  Lee.  86,  Tim- 

berville,  Va..  May  30 
Maxwell.  Troy.  72.  Wichita, 

Kan..  May  1 1 
Miller.  DeWitt  Thomas,  81, 

Hampton,  Va.,  April  16 
Miller,  Marion.  85.  Lebanon. 

Pa.,  lune  26 
Mock.  Harley.  Wichita.  Kan., 

Ian.  20.  1999 
Mock.  Olive,  80.  lohnstown. 

Pa.,  March  1 
Mosholder.  Dorothy  I.,  86. 

Berlin,  Pa.,  |une  18 


Musselman,  Velma.  73, 

Hanover.  Pa..  |une  24 
Myer,  Anna  Mae.  88,  Lebanon, 

Pa.,  lune  1 
Myers,  Mattie  Ellen,  94, 

Bridgewater,  Va..  May  5 
Nicarry,  Frances  O.,  80.  Cham- 
bersburg. Pa..  April  14 
Pearson.  Rachael.  14, 

Lakeville,  Ind.,  lune  2 
Pence,  Margaret  Garber,  78. 

McGaheysville.  Va..  May  12 
Picking,  Esther  B..  76. 

Mechanicsburg.  Pa..  May  16 
Reed-Seehler.  Ruth.  83.  Wind- 
ber, Pa.,  May  29 
Roth,  Dorothy,  90,  Hunting- 
don, Pa.,  April  21 
Runk,  Hayden  G.,  86.  McVey- 

town.  Pa.,  luly  3 
Rupel,  Dennis,  69,  Stockton, 

CaliL,  lune  4 
Ryman,  Medford  Lester  (Ted), 

78.  Mount  lackson,  Va.,  June  5 
Senn,  Edward,  81.  |uly  12 
Sesser.  Charles  L..  84, 

Modesto,  CaliL,  lune  8 
Shaffer,  Hollis,  95,  Whitewa- 
ter. Kan..  Nov.  28.  1998 
Shaffer,  Martin.  60.  Nov.  3 
Shuyler,  Mary,  79,  Quarryville, 

Pa..  lune  6 
Smith.  Carolyn  Berkey,  36, 

June  16 
Smitherman,  Alma.  80.  Win- 
ston-Salem, N.C.,  April  24 
Spainhour,  Henry  (Ed),  82, 

Winston-Salem,  N.C..  |une  1 1 
Strawderman.  Alfred  Leon 

(Doc).  73,  Luray.  Va.,  |une  1  5 
Swihart.  Elsie  M.  Anglemyer, 

90,  Goshen,  Ind.,  |une  29 
Tryon,  Charles,  90,  La  Verne, 

CaliL.  April  21 
Vance.  Gerdie  Virginia.  94. 

Mathias,  W.Va..  May  17 
Vought.  Robert  W..  59. 

Friedens.  Pa..  April  9 
Wakeman.  P.  Stanley,  85,  Toms 

Brook,  Va..  |une  10 
Walters.  Frances  Arlene  Bam- 

bers,  88,  Mount  lackson, 

Va..  May  28 
Warner,  Robert  M.,  Elgin.  111., 

May  6.  1999 
Watkins.  Mabel,  81,  Wichita, 

Kan.,  May  23 
Weaver,  Harold,  77,  Annville, 

Pa..  lune  24 
Weaver.  Herman  O..  86. 

lohnstown.  Pa.,  |uly  6 
Webb,  Eva.  74,  Rocky  Mount, 

Va.,  May  7 
Weirick.  William,  70,  Wichita, 

Kan.,  Feb.  3,  1999 
Wellman,  Claire,  Sebring,  Fla., 

luly  12 
Whetzel.  Garnet  Denzil,  79, 

Broadway,  Va..  May  2 
Whitlow.  lames.  88,  Rocky 

Mount.  Va..  lune  22 
Whitmer.  Rebecca.  Mount 

Morris,  III.,  Nov.  6 
Wimer,  William  A.  (Bill),  58, 

Franklin,  W.Va.,  May  18 
Witter,  Helen  M.,  83,  Cham- 
bersburg, Pa..  May  1  7 
Wolf.  A.  Louise,  85,  New 

Oxford,  Pa.,  lune  30 
Woody.  Mary,  100.  La  Verne, 

CaliL,  lune  25 
Yoder,  luanita.  77,  Goshen, 

Ind..  lune  9 
Ziegler.  Ralph.  83.  Elgin,  111., 

Aug.  21.  1999 
Ziegler,  William,  92,  Palmyra, 

Pa..  April  19 


Messenger  September  2000 


EDITORIALI 


As  civil  war 

wears  on  in 

Sudan — it 

has  been  17 

years  now — 

our  job  as 

American 

Christians 

and  the 

Church  of 

the  Brethren 

is  to  pray  for 

peace  and 

freedom 

there. 


Steady  until  the  sun  sets 


When  the  Amaiekites  threatened,  Moses 
sent  Joshua  out  to  fight  them  while  Moses 
went  up  the  hill,  taking  Aaron  and  Hur  with 
him,  to  intercede  with  God  on  behalf  of  the  Israelites. 
When  Moses  held  up  his  hand  to  God,  Israel  pre- 
vailed. But  when  he  lowered  his  hand,  Amaiek  started 
to  win  in  battle.  As  the  day  wore  on  Moses  grew  tired 
and  had  to  sit  down.  Eventually  Aaron  and  Hur  had 
to  hold  up  his  hands  for  him.  But  his  hands  were 
"steady  until  the  sun  set,"  and  Joshua  defeated  Amaiek 
with  the  sword  (Ex.  17:8-13). 

As  civil  war  wears  on  in  Sudan — it  has  been 
1  7  years  now — our  job  as  American  Christians 
and  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  is  to  pray  for  peace 
and  freedom  there.  "To  clasp  the  hands  in  prayer 
is  the  beginning  of  an  uprising  against  the  disor- 
der of  the  world,"  said  Karl  Barth.  Here  are  some 
ways  we  might  pray. 

Pray  that  Sudan  might  become  a  topic  in  the 
VS  presidential  campaign.  This  seems  preposter- 
ous, because  even  foreign  affairs  in  general  seems 
to  be  off  the  radar  screen  for  political  candidates. 
The  electorate  is  more  concerned  about  how  to  pay 
for  prescription  drugs  or  save  Social  Security  than 
it  is  about  the  fate  of  Africans.  But  if  I  got  a  chance 
to  ask  the  candidates  a  question,  I  would  ask  what 
they  intend  to  do  about  Sudan.  The  war  has  killed 
nearly  2  million  people,  far  more  than  were  killed 
by  the  Serbs  in  Kosovo  before  the  US  took  its  stand. 
Nearly  4  million  people  have  been  forced  to  flee 
their  homes  at  least  once  since  1983,  and  many 
thousands  live  in  refugee  camps.  The  number  of 
victims  of  Sudan's  war  far  outstrips  that  of  recent 
wars  in  Chechnya,  Kosovo,  Bosnia,  Rwanda,  and 
Somalia  combined.  Yet  Sudan  is  ignored  and  for- 
gotten by  the  US  and  much  of  the  world. 

Pray  the  news  about  Sudan.  No  matter  how  many 
people  are  suffering  in  Sudan,  chances  are  you  won't 
read  about  it  in  your  newspaper  or  hear  it  from  Tom 
Brokaw.  But  news  reports  can  be  tracked  down  from 
the  Internet.  From  the  Reuters  news  wire  on  Amer- 
ica Online,  I  learned  that  early  this  year  President 
Clinton  assigned  diplomats  to  the  Sudanese  capital 
for  the  first  time  since  the  US  closed  its  embassy  in 
1996.  Then  President  Omar  Hassan  al-Bashir  ousted 
from  his  government  Islamist  leader  Hassan  al-Turabi, 
leading  to  speculation  that  Bashir  is  trying  to  shed 
Sudan's  image  as  an  exporter  of  terrorism.  The  ouster 
of  Turabi  prompted  rebel  leader  John  Garang  to  fly 
to  Cairo  to  talk  with  Egyptian  President  Hosni 
Mubarak.  They  discussed  "ways  to  take  advantage 
of  these  developments  to  turn  Sudan  into  a  new 
united  and  democratic  Sudan,"  Garang  told  reporters 


then.  These  hopeful  reports  from  last  spring  faded 
away  with  nothing  seeming  to  come  from  them.  More 
than  two  years  of  peace  talks  under  the  auspices  of 
the  Intergovernmental  Authority  on  Development 
(IGAD)  have  so  far  failed  to  make  any  progress. 

Pray  for  fighting  to  stop.  First  came  reports  in 
May  that  the  government  had  resumed  bombing 
attacks,  in  violation  of  a  ceasefire  agreement.  Rebel 
troops,  meanwhile,  captured  the  town  of  Gogrial, 
previously  held  by  the  government.  In  late  July  rebels 
said  the  government  had  stepped  up  bomb  attacks. 
Merlyn  Kettering,  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  con- 
sultant to  the  New  Sudan  Council  of  Churches, 
reported  during  an  Annual  Conference  insight  ses- 
sion that  the  pace  of  government  bombing  has  doubled 
since  Sudan  began  receiving  revenues  from  oil  exports 
last  year.  A  Canadian  oil  company.  Talisman  Energy, 
Inc.,  is  helping  to  extract  the  oil.  but  is  receiving  pres- 
sure from  home  to  stop  fueling  Khartoum's  war  effort. 

Pray  for  "People-to-People"  peace.  The  New 
Sudan  Council  of  Churches  (NSCC),  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren's  partner  in  the  region,  is  sponsor- 
ing a  series  of  peace  conferences  aimed  at  ending 
conflicts  between  traditional  tribal  enemies  in  Sudan. 
The  Wunlit  conference,  in  March  1999  (see  Mes- 
senger, June  1999)  was  called  to  reconcile  the 
Dinka  and  Nuer  peoples.  A  second  conference,  the 
East  Bank  Nilotics  Reconciliation  Conference,  was 
held  this  May  with  four  additional  ethnic  groups. 
More  such  efforts  are  planned,  with  the  idea  that 
peace  begun  at  the  grassroots  will  spread. 

Pray  for  commitment  and  persistence.  In  a  recent 
Church  of  the  Brethren  video,  Haruun  Ruun,  exec- 
utive director  of  NSCC,  compares  Sudan's  plight 
with  that  of  South  Africa  during  apartheid:  "I  never 
thought  it  would  ever  change.  But  Christians  all 
over  the  world  decided  to  do  something.  There  is 
nothing  impossible  for  God.  They  said,  'We  are 
here  as  a  voice  of  God  and  the  hands  of  God.  It  is 
our  responsibility  to  communicate  to  the  world  that 
God  does  not  like  this  [apartheidj.  And  we  don't 
want  it.'  They  made  that  commitment. 

"Our  brothers  and  sisters  in  Euro-North  Amer- 
ica can  do  the  same  for  Sudan.  It  is  not  a  simple 
challenge.  But  it  is  a  challenge  for  humanity.  It 
can  be  done." 

Prayers  for  peace  in  Sudan  may  be  answered 
suddenly,  as  they  seemed  to  be  in  South  Africa.  Or, 
as  some  Sudanese  tell  us,  peace  may  take  40  years. 
Will  our  prayers  last  that  long,  or  will  we  suffer 
"donor  fatigue"  and  "Africa  fatigue"?  We  must,  like 
Moses,  find  ways  to  prop  up  our  hands  steady  in 
prayer  for  as  long  as  it  takes. — Fletcher  Farrar 


Messenger  September  2000 


onnect  the  Dots 

Things  are  different 


The  Association  of  Brethren  Caregivers 
has  been  an  independent  organization 
since  January  1,  1998. 

ABC  became  an  official  denominational 
agency  on  July  3,  1998. 

Annual  Conference  charged  ABC  with 
responsibility  for  the  health  and  caring 
ministries  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren 
on  July  3,  1998. 

Most  ABC  programs  are  congregationally 
based. 

ABC  needs  financial  support  from  you 
and  your  congregation  to  continue 
these  programs. 

ABC  does  not  receive  financial  support 
from  any  other  denominational  agency. 


ABC  connects  to  you  and 
congregation  by  providing: 

•  National  Older  Adult  Conference 
and  Caring  Ministries  Assembly 

•  Deacon  Resources 

•  Annual  Health 
Promotion 
Worship  and 
study  Resources 

•  Caregiving  — 

a  quarterly 
publication 
for  caregivers 

•  Messenger  On  Tape  —  for  people 
with  visual  impairments 

•  Scholarships  and  Loans  for 
Studies  in  the  Health  Professions 


BThe  only  way  you  and  your  congregation  can  financially 
support  the  caring  ministries  of  the  Church  of  the 
I     Brethren  is  to  send  that  support  directly  to  ABC. 
Support  the  Association  of  Brethren  Caregivers 
1451  Dundee  Ave.,  Elgin,  III.,  60120;  (847)  742-5100,  fax  (847)  742-5160;  www.brethren.org/abc/ 


BY  EACH  OTHER'S  RATT^t 


Chicken  pens  and  cement  block  houses  are  major  advances,  but  there  is  something  greater  achieved 
when  Honduran  villagers  and  Brethren  volunteers  labor  side  by  side.  It's  the  exchange  of  spiritual  gifts: 
spreading  the  good  news  of  God's  love  and  justice,  living  out  the  compassion  of  Jesus,  discovering  the 
hope  that  God  puts  in  the  eyes  of  the  poor.  Give  to  the  World  Mission  Offering,  that  with  our  partners  in 
Christ  "we  may  be  mutually  encouraged  by  each  other's  faith"  (Rom.  1:12). 


World  Mission  Offering 

Church  of  the  Brethren  General  Board 

1 451  Dundee  Ave.,  Elgin,  I L  601 20 


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IISTRY    SUMMER    SERVICE    •   A    BRETHREN    SAINT-   SOUP    KITCHEN    IN    DC 


Feeling  confined  by 
your  current  web  host? 

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meet  your  personalized  Internet  and  technology  needs 
for  today  and  tomorrow. 

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we  can  effectively  produce  the  message  you  want  to 
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transactions  and  e-mail  messages  provide  a  protected  environ- 
ment for  e-commerce  and  online  registradons  and  donations,  i 
eMountain  provides  e-commerce  soludons  from  concept  to  hosting^ 

•  Listservs.  These  e-mail  based  discussion  groups  can  be  utilized 
by  small  groups  to  conduct  private  business  online  or  by  a  group 
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•  Other  Services.  Basic  e-mail  accounts  and  domain  name' 
registration. 


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COMMUNICATIONS        1 505  Dundee  Aveoue,  Elgin,  IL  60 1 20- 1 6  i  9  •  800-250-5757  •  847-742-0135  fax  •  wv^ow.eMountain.net 


OCTOBER  2000   VOL.149  N0.9   WWW.BRETHREN.ORG 


MESSENGER 

Fletcher  Farrar  Wendy  McFadden  Walt  Wiltschek    Advertising:  Russ  Matteson     Subscriptions:  Peggy  Reinacher     Designer:  Paul  Stocksdale 


ION 


COVER 


This  month's  cover  features  the  story  of  the  13  Chinese 
Brethren  who  were  killed  because  of  their  Christian  wit- 
ness 60  years  ago  this  month.  The  Chinese  characters  on 
the  cover,  taken  from  an  old  Church  of  the  Brethren  pam- 
phlet about  the  incident,  depict  an  ancient  Chinese  saying: 
"Within  four  seas,  all  are  brothers."  It  reflects  the  hope  that 
did  not  die  when  these  Christians  were  killed. 

The  cover  design  is  by  our  designer,  Paul  Stocksdale. 
He  and  his  wife,  Cynthia,  operate  Cedar  House  Design  in 
Elgin,  III.  They  are  members  of  Highland  Avenue  Church 
of  the  Brethren. 


10    Chinese  Brethren  martyrs 

Today's  Brethren  can  gather  inspiration  and  courage  from 
the  lives  and  deaths  of  Christians  in  China  who  were  killed 
for  their  faith  60  years  ago  this  month.  The  gripping  story 
IS  recounted  by  Jeff  Bach,  historian  and  professor  at 
Bethany  Theological  Seminary. 

14   Washington  soup  kitchen 

Two  BVS  volunteers  explain  how  they  were  blessed  by  the 
experience  of  working  among  the  poor  through  the  nutrition 
program  of  the  Washington  City  Church  of  the  Brethren. 


A  saint  in  the  family 

This  month  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  names  Katharine 
Drexel  as  a  saint  of  the  church.  Did  she  inherit  godliness 
from  her  Brethren  mother? 

Grandparenting  one  at  a  time 

Blessed  with  seven  grandchildren,  Merle  and  Jean  Crouse, 
of  St.  Cloud,  Fla.,  have  found  a  way  to  get  to  know  each  of 
them  individually,  for  their  lovable  uniqueness. 


DEPARTMENTS 

2  From  the  Publisher 

3  In  Touch 
6  News 
26  Letters 

30  Turning  Points 

32  Editorial 


Ministry  Summer  Service 

These  young  people  weren't  sure  they  wanted  to  be  minis- 
ters, but  as  interns  they  got  a  chance  to  explore  their  "call. " 
Their  stories  relate  a  summer  of  God's  work  in  their  lives. 

Doing  unto  "others" 

A  thoughtful  essay  by  Chris  Bowman,  pastor  of  Memorial 
Church  of  the  Brethren,  Martinsburg,  Pa.,  on  how 
Christians  relate  to  those  who  are  on  the  "other"  side. 


Messenger  October  2000 


FROM  THE  PUBLISHER 


/\  Southern  Baptist  co-worker  tells  a  joke  about  two  Southern  Baptists 
/—\  stranded  on  a  desert  island.  Their  first  activity  is  to  set  a  Sunday 

JL      X^  school  goa!  of  three. 

I  didn't  grow  up  Baptist,  but  I  did  grow  up  in  an  environment  that  was  more  evan- 
gelistic than  the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  When  I  met  the  Brethren,  I  admired  the  way 
they  appeared  to  hve  out  their  faith.  I  also  noticed  quickly  that  they  didn't  do  much 
talking  about  it.  While  they  were  warm  and  hospitable,  they  weren't  invitational.  Since 
that  time.  I've  heard  a  number  of  other  non-Brethren  make  the  same  observation. 

I'm  still  pondering  the  Annual  Conference  conversation  on  evangelism.  Clearly, 
the  issue  wasn't  whether  evangelism  was  important.  It  was  whether  adopting  the  query 
from  Virlina  District  was  the  best  way  to  light  a  fire  in  the  Church  of  the  Brethren. 
Though  the  majority  voted  to  return  the  query,  there  was  a  lingering  sense  of  dissatis- 
faction— a  worry  that  the  action  would  give  the  impression  of  saying  no  to  evangelism. 

Nobody  was  saying  no,  but  over  the  years  the  Brethren  have  had  trouble  saying  a 
clear  yes. 

While  we  talk  a  lot  about  the  importance  of  evangelism,  most  of  us  are  more  com- 
fortable when  other  people  do  the  work  of  evangelism.  We'll  vote  for  the  congregation 
to  adopt  a  new  program  in  evangelism,  but  we  don't  want  to  serve  on  the  committee. 
We'll  take  a  turn  as  a  Sunday  morning  greeter,  but  we  don't  want  to  knock  on  doors. 
We  believe  evangelism  is  a  good  idea  and  want  the  denomination  to  do  something  about 
it,  but  we  hope  we  personally  won't  have  to  do  anything  different.  We're  dedicated  to 
following  lesus,  but  the  cup  of  cold  water  is  easier  than  the  Great  Commission. 

It's  as  if  evangelism  isn't  in  the  Brethren  DNA.  We  graft  on  a  technique  here  or  a 
program  there,  but  the  branch  bears  fruit  only  temporarily.  Our  efforts  at  evangelism 
remind  me  of  an  introvert  trying  vainly  to  become  an  extrovert.  I  sense  we're  still  seek- 
ing that  form  of  evangelism  that  feels  tailored  for  us,  that  is  a  way  of  life  more  than  a 
program,  that  grows  out  of  Brethren  spirituality  rather  than  church  growth  techniques. 

It's  more  than  just  personality,  however.  Underlying  this  ambivalence  is  the  theo- 
logical diversity  within  the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  In  other  words,  how  you  approach 
evangelism  has  a  lot  to  do  with  whether  you  believe  your  neighbor's  eternal  future 
depends  on  your  witness.  No  matter  what  we  say,  few  of  us  live  our  lives  as  if  we 
believe  this.  Perhaps  the  streak  of  universalism  in  our  history  is  more  than  just  histori- 
cal. Given  our  diversity,  can  we  find  a  form  of  evangelism  that  unifies  rather  than 
divides  us?  That  is  passionate,  effective,  and  authentic? 

Based  on  what  I've  come  to  know  of  the  Brethren,  I  believe  our  evangelism  will 
grow  out  of  hospitality  and  relationship.  We  will  take  into  account  the  fact  that  we  each 
accent  different  aspects  of  the  "whole  gospel"  and  that  we  don't  all  have  to  use  the  same 
language  to  be  faithful.  We  will  link  word  and  action.  We  will  emphasize  being  saved  for 
more  than  being  saved  from.  Our  invitation  to  know  Christ  will  involve  an  invitation  to 
ongoing  discipleship — which  involves  saying  "yes"  every  day,  not  just  once. 

Do  the  Brethren  really  want  to  do  evangelism?  The  question  will  probably  come 
back  to  next  year's  Annual  Conference.  More  important  than  the  number  of  hands 
raised  will  be  what  we  conferencegoers  do  when  we  get  back  home. 


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Messenger  is  the  official  publication  of  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren.  Entered  as  periodical  postage  matter 
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of  the  Brethren  General  Board.  Periodical  postage 
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PR  Printed  on  recycled  paper 


Messenger  October  2000 


IN  TOUCH 


Planting  a  thousand  flowers 
for  Camp  Mount  Hermon 

In  June,  junior  campers  planted  1,086  flowers  at 
Cannp  Mount  Hernnon,  the  Western  Plains  District 
camp  located  near  Tonganoxie,  Kan.  Cheryl  Mishler, 
nature  study  leader,  led  the  project.  The  Women's 
Fellowship  of  the  Holmesville  (Neb.)  Church  of  the 
Brethren  donated  money  toward  the  flowers,  and 
Rolling  Hills  Nursery  of  Sabetha,  Kan.,  donated 
many  plants  and  planters.  The  flowers  added  a 
beautiful  touch  to  the  spacious  campgrounds  nes- 
tled in  the  lush  timbered  area. 


Junior  campers  planting  flowers  at 
Camp  Mount  Hermon. 


Antioch  auction 
plants  seed  money 

Every  year  for  the  past 
17  years,  the  folks  at 
Antioch  Church  of  the 
Brethren,  Rocky 
Mount,  Va.,  have  held 
a  World  Hunger  Auc- 
tion. This  year's 
auction  was  the  sub- 
ject of  a  feature  story 
in  The  Roanoke  Times. 

The  first  auction, 
held  in  1984  and  led 
by  W.W.  Naff  Jr., 
raised  $10,201,  which 
was  earmarked  for 
hunger  relief  in  Haiti, 
according  to  the 
newspaper. 

The  article  contin- 
ued: "In  the  years 
since,  the  auction  has 
changed  a  bit — hand- 
made quilts  are  more 
prominently  featured 
than  livestock  and  the 
number  of  cosponsor- 
ing  Brethren 
congregations  has 
grown  to  nine  this 


year.  The  goal  remains 
the  same,  however — 
to  raise  money  to  help 
feed  some  of  the 
world's  poorest 
people.  The  auction  is 
now  named  in 
memory  of  Naff,  and  a 
total  of  more  than 
$500,000  has  been 
raised,  including 
$26,000  on  Aug.  12." 

Most  of  the  money 
has  gone  to  Heifer 
Project  International. 
Other  beneficiaries  of 
this  year's  auction 
included  the  Heavenly 
Manna  feeding  pro- 
gram in  Franklin 
County,  and  Roanoke 
Area  Ministries. 

The  newspaper 
reported:  "In  a  twist  to 
the  typical  auction, 
the  auctioneers  actu- 
ally give  out  $20  bills 
to  participants.  There 
is  a  catch,  of  course. 
To  get  the  $20,  a 
bidder  must  agree  to 
put  that  money  to  use 


to  raise  money  for  the 
next  year's  auction. 

"This  year,  for 
instance,  one  Sunday 
school  class  brought 
in  $2,000  it  raised  by 
using  its  $20  to  buy 
beans.  The  class 


members  planted 
them,  harvested, 
canned,  and  sold  them 
to  "grow"  their  contri- 
bution to  hunger 
relief. 

"'I'm  not  sure  we 
even  keep  track  of 


who  gets  the 
envelopes  with  the 
money  in  them,'  said 
Antioch  pastor  Mel 
Fike.  'Anybody  who 
wants  to  take  one  of 
the  $20  envelopes  can 
take  one.'" 


Auctioneer  Phil  Norris, 
a  former  pastor, 

drummed  up  bids  in  an 
auction  for  disaster  relief 
efforts  at  this  year's 
OregonA/Vashlngton 
District  Conference,  held 
July  28-30  at  Camp 
Myrtlewood,  Myrtle 
Point,  Ore.  About  40 
people  attended  the 
auction,  which  raised 
more  than  $4,500. 
District  executive  Steve 
Gregory  said  the  money 
would  be  used  to  send 
volunteers  from  the 
district  to  a  disaster  site. 


Messenger  October  2000 


TOUCH 


Church  honors  seniors 


A  "young  at  heart"  group  of  23  people  were  guests  of  honor  at  a 
special  recognition  for  the  church's  oldest  members  April  30  at 
Brownsville  (Md.)  Church  of  the  Brethren.  During  the  morning 
worship  service  they  were  presented  flowers  and  commended 
for  their  faithful  service  to  the  church.  About  100  people,  includ- 
ing family  and  friends,  enjoyed  a  meal  in  their  honor  following 
the  service. 

During  the  program  some  of  the  guests  shared  comments 
about  their  baptism  and  life  in  the  church,  where  most  have 
been  lifelong  members. 

Anna  Thompson  Sullivan  was  baptized  in  1925  in  Israel 
Creek,  and  the  next  year  Thelma  Hanes  Thompson,  Anna  Mae 
Coulter  Kelbaugh,  and  Fred  Younkins  were  also  baptized  there. 
Hazel  Himes  Harwood  reported  her  baptism  was  in  a  different 
section  of  the  creek.  The  fresh  running  water  was  cold! 

Most  of  those  honored  remain  active  in  the  church,  attend- 
ing regularly.— Cindy  Bowers 


The  "young  at  heart"  of  the  Brownsville  Church  of  the 
Brethren.  Front  row:  Hazel  Harwood,  James  Harwood,  Thelr^^a 
Hanes  Thompson,  Fred  Younkins,  Anna  Mae  Kelbaugh,  Ethel 
Smith,  Virginia  Goetz,  and  Ruby  Tritapoe.  Middle  row:  Bertha 
Iseminger,  Gerald  Hanes,  Florence  Kaetzel,  Mary  Kaetzel,  Fannie 
Tritapoe,  Dorothy  Poffenberger,  Blanche  Fletcher,  Anna  Snoots, 
and  Ray  Lucas.  Back  row,  from  left:  Walter  UpDyke,  Mary  Harris, 
Anna  Sullivan,  Earl  Robinson. 


A  different  kind 
of  birtiiday  gift 

Ashley  Williams 
recently  celebrated  her 
ninth  birthday  with  her 
mom,  Amy,  and  over  20 
other  friends,  her  peers. 

Most  any  girl  or  boy 
likes  birthdays  as  they 
are  times  of  celebra- 
tion— party  times!  They 
are  great  times  for 
games,  refreshments, 
having  fun  with  your 
friends  and,  of  course, 
gifts.  This  party  was  no 
exception.  But  the  gift 
thing  that  day  was 
focused  outward  to 
those  in  greater  need — 
the  hungry.  Instead  of 
the  tradition  of  bring- 
ing a  gift  for  the 
birthday  celebrant, 
Ashley  and  Amy 
together  decided  (for 
the  second  year  now) 
to  encourage  Ashley's 
friends  to  each  bring 


Ashley  Williams,  front, 
with  her  mother.  Amy 

food  for  the  local  food 
pantry  instead.  So,  13 
sacks  of  food  items 
were  collected.  A  cele- 
bration indeed! 

Ashley  and  Amy 
Williams  attend  the 
Wabash  (Ind.)  Church 
of  the  Brethren.— Phil 

and  Louie  Baldwin  Rieman 


Ll  Messenger  October  2000 


MILESTONESI 


Honoring  50  years  of 
musical  leadership 

On  June  18  the  morn- 
ing worship  service  at 
the  Midway  Church  of 
the  Brethren,  Lebanon, 


Arlene  Schlosser  Keller 

^a.,  was  devoted  to 
Tonoring  the  50  years 
Df  service  of  Arlene 
5chlosser  Keller  as 
director  of  music. 

In  June  of  1950,  then 
3  young  wife  and  new 


mother,  she  was  asked 
to  start  a  choir  at  the 
Midway  church.  It 
developed  through  the 
next  half  century  into  a 
vibrant,  well-known 
ever-expanding  Senior 
Choir. 

She  has  taught 
Sunday  school  for  48 
years,  shared  deacon 
responsibility  with  her 
husband,  Norman,  for 
45  years,  and  she  has 
served  on  local  and 
district  church  boards. 
Arlene  and  her  sister, 
Verna  S.  Sollenberger, 
shared  the  song  leader 
position  at  the  1983 
Annual  Conference 
and  Arlene  led  the 
singing  at  the  Phoenix, 
Ariz.,  Annual  Confer- 
ence in  1985. 

The  Senior  Choir 
and  Men's  Choir  gath- 
ered for  one  last  time 
under  her  direction  on 
July  9  for  an  evening 
of  favorite  songs  and 
anthems.  A  standing 
ovation  from  the  full 
house  was  an  indica- 
tion of  their 
appreciation  for  her 
years  of  service  and 
the  performance  of  her 

choirs.— Joyce  C.  Blouch 


Fifty  years  of  marriage 
and  ministry 

John  and  Veva  Tom- 
lonson  of  Goshen, 
Ind.,  celebrated  two 
important  anniver- 
saries in  August.  Their 
50th  wedding  anniver- 
sary was  Aug.  20  and 
Aug.  27  was  John's 
50th  anniversary  of 


Great-grandparents  galore 

When  Rachael  Elizabeth  was  born  to  Darren  and  Sarah  Wagoner  Hendricks 
on  April  21,  2000,  she  was  welcomed  into  a  rare  grandparent  situation.  Not 
only  four  grandparents  welcomed  her,  but  also  eight  great-grandparents,  all 
of  whom  have  been  married  for  over  50  years.  The  family  members,  nearly 
all  of  whom  are  members  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren,  were  photographed 
when  they  were  in  McPherson,  Kan.,  for  a  family  wedding  in  May. 

In  addition  to  the  parents  in  the  front,  left  to  right  in  the  photo  are:  Paul 
and  Mary  Metzler  Wagoner  of  McPherson,  Kan.,  Henry  and  Ruth  Walker 
Cooney,  McPherson;  Alan  and  Debra  Cooney  Wagoner,  McPherson;  Francis 
Jr.  and  Jean  Lichty  Hendricks,  Eudora,  Kan.;  Eugene  and  Eloise  McKnight 
Lichty,  McPherson;  Francis  and  Estelle  Kurtz  Hendricks,  Kingsley,  Iowa. 


ordination  as  a  minis- 
ter in  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren. 

They  were  married  in 
the  Wabash  (Ind.) 
Church  of  the  Brethren 
with  Veva's  brother. 
Gale  Crumrine,  officiat- 
ing. John  was  ordained 
at  the  Pleasant  Valley 
Church  of  the  Brethren, 
Middlebury,  Ind.,  with 
the  pastor.  Homer 
Schrock, and  represen- 
tatives of  the  district 
board  officiating. 

Prior  to  their  retire- 
ments, Veva  taught 
fourth  grade  in  the 
Kalamazoo,  Mich., 
public  schools  and 
worked  as  a  librarian  in 
Kansas.  John  served  as 
pastor  of  the  Skyridge 


Church  of  the  Brethren, 
Kalamazoo,  Mich.,  and 
as  district  minister  in 
Michigan  and  Kansas. 
Prior  to  moving  to 
Kalamazoo  in  1962, 
Veva  taught  school  in 
Illinois  and  Ohio,  and 
John  served  as  pastor 
of  churches  in  Ohio. 


York  Center 
celebrates  50th 
anniversary 

The  York  Center 
Church  of  the 
Brethren's  celebration 
of  its  50th  anniversary 
as  an  independent  con- 
gregation included  an 
informal  Sunday  after- 
noon service  that 
began  in  the  parking 


lot  of  the  congrega- 
tion's first  permanent 
church  building,  across 
the  street  from  the  one 
used  today.  The  church 
is  in  Lombard,  III. 

Other  highlights  of 
the  Aug.  12-13  celebra- 
tion included  a  Saturday 
evening  banquet  with 
storytelling;  a  Sunday 
morning  service  with  a 
sermon  by  Wayne  Glick, 
a  student  pastor  there  in 
the  1940s;  a  Sunday 
brunch;  and  a  display  of 
historical  information. 
York  Center  served  as 
the  main  congregation 
for  Bethany  Theological 
Seminary  students  and 
staff  while  the  seminary 
was  located  in  nearby 
Oak  Brook. 


Messenger  October  2000 


NEWS 


A  father  and  daughter 

musical  team,  Mike 

Stern,  right,  and  daughter, 

Katie,  of  Seattle,  Wash., 

used  voice  and  strings  to 

provide  some  of  the 

plentiful  music  at  the 

Great  Plains  Song  &  Story 

Fest,  held  at  Camp  Pine 

Lake,  Eldora,  Iowa. 


Events  draw  Brethren 


Two  events  surrounding  the  2000  Annual  Confer- 
ence drew  hundreds  of  Brethren  to  two  very 
different  settings. 

Before  Conference,  more  than  100  gathered 
at  Camp  Pine  Lal<e  in  Eldora,  Iowa,  for  the  Great 
Plains  Song  &  Story  Fest,  the  fourth  straight  year 
for  the  annual  celebrative  event.  A  variety  of 
musicians,  storytellers,  artists,  and  others  built 
on  the  theme  "The  Fruits  of  the  Land." 


Adults  and  children  participated  together,  in 
workshops,  activity  sessions,  and  daily  joke- 
telling  times  by  the  campfire. 

Ken  Kline-Smeltzer,  who  initially  started  the 
song  and  story  festivals,  served  as  program 
director  and  Mary  Jane  Button-Harrison  as  on- 
site  director. 

Then,  after  Annual  Conference,  more  than 
180  ministers,  spouses,  and  ministry  students 
came  together  for  the  Ministers'  Association 
meetings  in  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  with  theologian 
Thomas  Troeger  serving  as  keynote  speaker. 
Troeger  spoke  on  "Interactive  Preaching:  Para- 
bolic Preaching  in  a  Webbed  World,"  illustrating 
the  possibilities  and  power  of  the  spoken  word 
and  sprinkling  music  and  hymns  throughout  his 
presentations  and  preaching. 

Frances  Townsend,  pastor  of  the  Root  River 
congregation  (Preston,  Minn.)  and  this  year's 
chair  of  the  Ministers'  Association,  convened  the 
event.  Tim  Peter,  pastor  at  Prairie  City  (Iowa), 
was  elected  to  the  executive  committee  and  will 
serve  as  secretary  this  coming  year.  He  joins  new 
chair  Donna  Ritchey  Martin  of  Grossnickle 
(Myersville,  Md.),  vice-chair  Michael  Hostetter  of 
Williamson  Road  (Roanoke,  Va.),  and  treasurer 
Dan  Barnum-Steggerda  of  Daleville  (Va.).  Allen 
Hansen,  General  Board  director  of  ministry, 
serves  as  staff  liaison. 

Learning  the  art  of  bookmaking.  Ken  Kline 
Smeltzer  of  Modesto,  Calif.,  gets  enriched  through 
workshops  at  the  Great  Plains  Song  &  Story  Fest, 


WORLDWATCH 


BBT  among  those 
petitioning  AT&T 

The  Church  of  the  Brethren 
Benefit  Trust  has  joined  more 
than  two  dozen  institutional 
investors,  both  religious  groups 
and  others,  in  calling  on  AT&T 
to  reconsider  a  recent  decision 
to  partner  with  The  Hot  Net- 
work, which  distributes 
pornographic  material  for 
broadcast  on  cable  TV  systems. 

The  investors  collectively 
control  nearly  3  million  shares 
of  AT&T;  BBT  has  33,745  shares 
between  Brethren  Foundation 
and  Pension  Plan  holdings.  A 
joint  letter  sent  to  AT&T  says, 
"We  call  on  AT&T  to  reconsider 
its  decision  to  carry  The  Hot 
Network,  to  live  up  to  its  past 
reputation  as  a  leading  corpo- 
rate citizen  and  a  company 
committed  to  a  values-cen- 
tered business  philosophy."  It 
also  questions  the  manage- 
ment processes  leading  to 
such  a  decision. 

Wil  Nolen,  president  of  BBT, 
said,  "We  believe  in  using  BBT's 
shareholder  position  to  advo- 
:ate  for  a  higher  standard  of 
social  responsibility.  AT&T  is  a 
'eliable  company  that  has 
allowed  its  standards  to  slip. 
A/e  intend  to  use  our  invest- 
ment position  in  AT&T  to  work 
'or  a  positive  change." 

According  to  a  Religion 
Mews  Service  story,  however, 
\T&.T  spokesman  Rob  Stod- 
dard said  in  late  July  that  no 
econsideration  of  the  decision 
vas  expected.  "We  intend  to 
)roceed  with  our  plans,"  Stod- 
Jard'said,  emphasizing  that 
rhe  Hot  Network  will  only  be 
)ffered  where  "very  effective 
)arental  lock  mechanisms" 
ire  available. 

Other  members  of  the  coali- 
ion  include  Mennonite, 
•riends,  Presbyterian,  and 
Catholic  groups. 


1.  India.  An  Emergency  Disaster  Fund 
grant  of  $8,000  was  sent  as  part  of  a 
Church  World  Service  appeal  to  assist 
victims  of  massive  flooding  in  three 
states.  The  funds  will  provide  clothing, 
blankets,  dry  food,  and  other  resources. 

2.  Hiroshima,  Japan.  Brethren  Volun- 
teer Service  staff  members  Sue 
Grubb  and  Tracy  Stoddart  were 
among  40,000  people  attending  the 
55th  Anniversary  Memorial  Cere- 
mony for  the  dropping  of  the  first 
atomic  bomb  while  making  an  on-site 
visit  with  volunteers  at  the  World 
Friendship  Center  in  Hiroshima. 

3.  Southwestern  Montana.  A  six- 
member  Emergency  Response/ 
Service  Ministries  Disaster  Child  Care 
team  traveled  to  the  state  in  response 
to  numerous  wildfires  in  the  area, 
caring  for  children  of  families  who 
had  been  evacuated. 

4.  Tonasket,  Wash.  The  Whitestone  and 
Ellisforde  congregations  have  been 
among  those  working  with  the  North 
Okanogan  Ministerial  Association  to 
provide  relief  for  families  affected  by 
forest  fires  that  burned  through  the 
area  in  late  July  and  August. 

5.  Iraq.  Early  August  marked  10  years 
of  US  economic  sanctions  against  the 
country.  An  event  in  Washington, 
D.C.  called  "National  Mobilization  to 
End  Sanctions  Against  Iraq"  included 


an  interfaith  vigil,  prayer,  panel  dis- 
cussions, and  a  rally  at  Lafayette 
Park.  Stephanie  Schaudel  of  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  Washington 
Office  assisted  with  the  event. 

6.  Nigeria.  Assistance  to  violence-rav- 
aged areas  of  the  African  nation  contin- 
ued in  August  with  a  new  grant  of 
$5,000  from  the  Emergency  Disaster 
Fund  to  help  rebuild  the  church  and  par- 
sonage burned  during  riots  in  Damboa 
and  church  buildings  at  two  preaching 
points.  Muslim-Christian  tensions  re- 
sulted in  the  riots  this  spring. 

7.  Cuba.  An  official  delegation  of  the 
US  National  Council  of  Churches,  led 
by  general  secretary  Bob  Edgar,  trav- 
eled to  the  Caribbean  nation  for  a 
Sept.  2-7  visit  by  invitation  of  the 
Cuban  Council  of  Churches. 

8.  Roxbury,  Pa.  Brethren  Volunteer  Ser- 
vice Unit  240,  held  in  partnership  with 
Brethren  Revival  Fellowship,  took  place 
Aug.  14-23,  with  guest  leadership  by 
John  and  Ruby  Shenk.  The  nine  volun- 
teers were  expected  to  serve  in  the  Do- 
minican Republic  or  Lewiston,  Maine. 

9.  Richmond,  Ind.  About  50  Brethren 
met  at  Bethany  Theological  Seminary 
on  Aug.  19  for  intergenerational  shar- 
ing between  Brethren  Volunteer  Ser- 
vice/Civilian Public  Service  alumni  and 
youth  in  Ohio  and  Indiana.  Dr.  C.T. 
Vivian  delivered  the  keynote  address. 


Messenger  October  2000 


NEWS 


Brethren  Alive  2000: 

Lois  Ann  Glessner  of  the 

Welsh  Run  congregation, 

Mercersburg.  Pa.,  led 

children 's  activities  during 

the  Brethren  Revival 

Fellowship's  conference  at 

Elizabethtown  College. 


BRETHRENSPEAK 

I  would  like  this 
to  be  the  revival 
year  for  the 
Church  of  the 
Brethren.  I 
would  like  to  lift 
up  the  cross  of 
Jesus,  who 
said,  'If  I  am 
lifted  up  I  will 
draw  all  men 
unto  me.' 

Phill  Carlos  Archbold, 

following  his  consecration 
as  2001  Annual  Conference 
moderator 


Brethren  Alive  2000  includes 
v!*%^,.-^»..,    ^.  ^  =  ..   «,iectioris 

The  Brethren  Alive  2000  conference,  sponsored  by  Brethren 
Revival  Fellowship,  brought  together  about  300  Brethren  from  at 
least  eight  states  July  28-30  at  Elizabethtown,  Pa.  The  gathering 
of  "Anabaptist-oriented  evangelical  Brethren"  billed  the  event 
as  an  opportunity  to  "celebrate  the  church  and  to  encourage  one 
another." 

James  Myer,  Manheim,  Pa.;  David  Kent,  St.  Thomas,  Pa.;  David 
Rittenhouse,  Dunmore,  W.Va.;  and  Phill  Carlos  Archbold,  Brooklyn, 
N.Y.,  served  as  the  main  speakers  for  four  worship  sessions,  each 
speaking  on  different  aspects  of  the  theme  scripture.  Acts  2:42-47. 

Participants  could  also  choose  from  seven  workshops  focusing 
on  specific  ways  to  work  at  renewal  in  the  life  of  the  individual 
and  the  church,  ranging  from  a  Bible  study  of  Acts  2  to  a  session 
on  "hot  potatoes"  (controversial  subjects)  in  the  denomination. 

During  the  conference  BRF  also  held  its  annual  meeting,  at  which 
Carl  Brubaker,  Lititz,  Pa.,  and  Dean  Garrett,  West  Alexandria,  Ohio, 
were  re-elected  to  serve  five-year  terms  on  the  BRF  Committee. 

Brethren  Alive  2000  was  followed  by  the  annual  Brethren  Bible 
Institute,  which  had  122  students  registered  for  the  week  of 
classes  on  the  Elizabethtown  campus. 


CNI  officials  postpone 
delegation's  visit  to  US 

A  mid-August  meeting  sched- 
uled between  three 
high-ranking  representatives 
from  the  Church  of  North  India 
and  General  Board  members 
and  staff  was  postponed  after  a 
member  of  the  delegation  was 
unable  to  make  the  trip. 

The  Most  Rev.  Vinod  Peter, 
moderator  of  CNI,  experienced 
back  problems  that  prevented 
him  from  traveling;  other  sched- 
uled participants  in  the  visit  were 
the  Right  Rev.  V.M.  Malaviya, 
bishop  of  Gujarat  State;  and  Dr. 
V.S.  Lall,  general  secretary  of 
CNI.  The  meetings  are  to  be 
rescheduled  at  a  later  date. 

The  visit  was  to  continue  con- 
versations regarding  the 
"separated"  Brethren  in  India, 
many  of  them  in  Gujarat  State. 
The  Church  of  the  Brethren  in 
India  joined  CNI  in  1970,  but 
some  congregations  seceded  in 
1978  and  have  sought  formal 
recognition  since  then.  CNI  repre- 
sentatives planned  to  meet  with  a 
recognition  committee  that  vis- 
ited India  this  past  spring,  as  well 
as  with  General  Board  executive 
director  Judy  Mills  Reimer, 
Global  Mission  Partnerships 
director  Merv  Keeney,  and  others. 


Personnel  changes 

Bob  Gross  and  Barbara  Sayler 

have  been  called  as  team  execu- 
tive directors  of  On  Earth  Peace 
Assembly,  beginning  this  fall. 

Gross,  who  has  been  coordina- 
tor of  OEPA's  Ministry  of 
Reconciliation  program  since 
1995,  had  been  serving  as  interim 
staff  coordinator  for  the  New 
Windsor,  Md.-based  agency  since 
April.  He  will  continue  as  director 
of  ministries  for  MoR,  working 
out  of  North  Manchester,  Ind. 

Sayler,  a  licensed  minister 


Messenger  October  2000 


and  Bethany  Theological  Semi- 
nary graduate,  has  served  with 
several  organizations,  including 
Brethren  Volunteer  Service,  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  Wash- 
ington Office,  and  Disaster 
Child  Care.  Her  work  with  OEPA 
will  include  planning  peace 
action/witness  components. 

Ron  and  Shirley  Spire 
have  announced  their  retire- 
ment as  co-executives  of 
Southeastern  District,  effective 
March  31,  2001.  At  that  time 
they  will  have  completed  15 
years  of  service  in  the  role. 

David  Longenecker 
resigned  as  associate  district 
executive  of  Atlantic  Northeast 
District  effective  Aug.  31.  He 
had  served  in  that  position 
since  1994.  Longenecker  was 
called  as  pastor  of  the  Myer- 
stown  (Pa.)  Church  of  the 
Brethren  beginning  Sept.  1. 

Kristi  Kellerman  resigned 
as  conference  assistant  in  the 
Annual  Conference  office 
effective  Aug.  25.  She  had 
been  serving  in  the  position 
since  1998. 


Conference  theme 
centers  on  revival 

Annual  Conference  Program  & 
Arrangements  Committee  has 
announced  that  "Revive  Us 
Again,"  a  phrase  taken  from 
Psalms  85:6  and  part  of  a  pop- 
ular hymn,  will  be  the  theme 
for  the  2001  Annual  Confer- 
ence in  Baltimore,  Md. 
Conference  is  scheduled  for 
June  30-July  4. 

The  theme  statement  from 
moderator  Phill  Carlos  Arch- 
bold  says,  "There  is  an  urgent 
need  for  revival  in  this  new  mil- 
lennium. At  the  2001  Annual 
Conference,  the  worship  ser- 
vices will  focus  our  attention  on 
the  need  for  revival  in  God's 
church  in  our  time." 


Campus  ministers  of  the  six  Church  of  the  Brethren 
colleges  came  together  in  Elgin,  III.,  before  the  fall  semester 
to  get  better  acquainted,  share  resources,  and  gather  ideas  for 
future  collaboration.  They  are,  from  left,  Debbie  Roberts  (La 
Verne),  Dave  Witkovsky  (Juniata),  Joan  Austin  (Elizabethtown), 
Jim  Chinworth  (Manchester),  Manny  Diaz  (McPherson),  and 
Robbie  Miller  (Bridgewater). 


Preachers  and  worship  lead- 
ers for  services  during 
Conference  are  as  follows: 

•Saturday  evening, 
preacher:  Phill  Carlos  Archbold, 
moderator  of  the  2001  Confer- 
ence and  associate  pastor  of 
Brooklyn  (N.Y.)  First  Church  of 
the  Brethren;  worship  leader: 
Paul  Grout,  2001  Annual  Con- 
ference moderator-elect. 

•Sunday  morning, 
preacher:  Tom  Zuercher,  North- 
ern Ohio  District  executive 
minister;  worship  leader:  Linda 
Lambert,  Keymar,  Md. 

•Monday  evening, 
preacher:  Harold  Carter,  New 
Shiloh  Baptist  Church,  Balti- 
more, Md.;  worship  leader: 
Marilyn  Montauban,  Brooklyn, 
N.Y. 

•Tuesday  evening, 
preacher:  Frank  Ramirez,  pastor 
of  Elkhart  (Ind.)  Valley  Church 
of  the  Brethren;  worship  leader: 
Paula  Bowser,  Nokesville,  Va. 

•Wednesday  morning, 
preacher:  Christy  Waltersdorff, 
pastor  of  York  Center  Church  of 
the  Brethren,  Lombard,  ML; 
worship  leader:  Joe  Mason, 
North  Manchester,  Ind. 

Worship  coordinator  for  the 
Conference  is  Paul  Roth  of 
Broadway,  Va.,  serving  in  his 
final  year  on  Program  & 
Arrangements  Committee. 


Summer  campaign 
brings  Brethren  to  D.C. 

Thousands  of  people  went  to 
Washington,  D.C,  this  summer 
to  maintain  a  40-day  peacemak- 
ing presence  through  the 
"People's  Campaign  for  Nonvi- 
olence," sponsored  by  The 
Fellowship  of  Reconciliation. 
Demanding  disarmament, 
peace  and  justice  organizations 
from  across  the  country  hosted 
daily  activities  and  nonviolent 
direct  action  at  the  Pentagon, 
White  House,  or  the  US  Capitol 
from  July  1  to  Aug.  9. 

The  event  opened  with  a  day 
of  panel  discussion  and  non- 
violence training.  The  following 
days  were  a  call  for  peace  and 
social  justice  through  rallies, 
workshops,  peaceful  protests, 
interfaith  prayer  services, 
marches,  and  discussion. 
Each  day  concluded  with 
prayer  and  reflection  led  by  a 
guest  speaker. 

Brethren  participated  in  a 
number  of  events,  including 
the  Abolish  the  Death  Penalty 
vigil  July  26  near  the  White 
House.  In  drizzling  rain  about 
100  people  participated  in  a 
two-hour  litany,  which  was  fol- 
lowed by  speeches  and 
discussion  pointing  out  the 
faults  of  the  death  penalty. 


UPCOMINGEVENTS 

Oct.  6-7  Mid-Atlantic 
District  Conference,  St 

Mark's  United  Methodist 
Church,  Easton,  Md. 

Oc*    7  On  Earth 
Peace  Assembly 
board  meetings 

Oct.  S  World  Mission 
offering 

Oct.  13-14  Atlantic 
Northeast  District  Con- 
ference, Elizabethtown 
(Pa.)  College;  Atlantic 
Southeast  District 
Conference,  Camp  Ithiel, 
Gotha,  Fla,;  Southern 
Ohio  District  Confer- 
ence, Beavercreek  Church 
of  the  Brethren;  Middle 
Pennsylvania  District 
Conference,  Methodist 
Church  of  the  Good  Shep- 
herd, Tyrone 

Oct.  13-15  Pacific 
Southwest  District 
Conference,  Sacramento 
(Calif.)  Church  of  the 
Brethren 

Oct.  21  Western 
Pennsylvania  District 
Conference,  Pleasant 
Hill  Church  of  the 
Brethren,  Johnstown 

Oct.  21-24  General 
Board  meetings,  Elgin,  III 

Oct.  27-28  Idaho  Dis- 
trict Conference, 

Fruitland  Church  of  the 
Brethren 

Oct.  27-29  Bethany 
Theological  Seminary 
board  meetings, 

Richmond,  Ind. 


Messenger  October  2000 


Remembering  Brethreil 


13  d 


Sixty  years  ago  this  month, 
loci  for  thoir  faith  arid  witness 


by  Jeff  Bach 


Three  of  the 

Chinese  Brethren 

martyrs  are  in  this 

picture.  Lui  Chin 

Lan,  left,  was  a 

'eacher  in  the  girls' 

school.  Wang  Kuei 

Jung,  second  from 

ght,  was  a  teacher, 

-■     deacon,  and 

Treacher  Chang 

Shu  Mei,  at  far 

^'^W;ieacher 

atthe'women  's 

Bible  school. 


On  the  morning  of  Oct.  19,  1940,  Japanese 
soldiers  led  a  group  of  eight  Chinese 
Brethren  to  an  empty  lot  in  the  southeast 
corner  of  Liao  Chou  in  Shansi 
Province,  northern  China.  The 
soldiers  placed  the  eight  in  a  row 
and  shot  them  to  death.  The  wit- 
nesses who  told  Brethren 
missionaries  about  the  killings 
dared  to  watch  only  through  a 
crack  in  the  door  of  their  home 
adjacent  to  the  lot.  The  soldiers 
dumped  the  victims  in  a  common 
grave  and  covered  the  bodies. 

Sixty  years  ago  the  war  result- 
ing from  lapan's  invasion  of  China 
raged  across  northern  China.  In 
the  summer  of  1940,  Japanese 
forces  suffered  heavy  losses  from 
Chinese  resistance.  Liao  Chou,  the 
second  Brethren  mission  point  and 
congregation  in  China,  organized 
in  1912,  sat  amid  the  contest 
between  the  Japanese  and  Chinese. 
The  nearby  congregation.  Ping  Ting,  had  already 
begun  to  face  the  arrest  of  some  members. 


Messenger  October  2000 


aartyrs  in  China 


In  addition,  wartime  devastation  and  famine 
reduced  the  food  supply.  The  Brethren  at  Liao 
Chou  offered  a  camp  for  children  to  help  feed 
them,  and  tried  to  keep  their  school  open.  The 
Brethren  hospital  at  Liao  Chou  served  as  an 
important  medical  center  for  Chinese  civilians. 
War  conditions  so  taxed  the  Brethren  hospital 
that  one  of  the  nurses,  Martha  Pollack  from 
Monitor,  Kan.,  died  of  typhus  in  January  1940 
while  caring  for  the  patients  who  had  it. 

As  lapanese  reverses  continued  in  the  summer 
of  1940,  the  initial  mild  treatment  from  the  Japan- 
ese changed.  Occupying  officials  regularly 
questioned  the  inhabitants  of  the  Brethren  mission 
compound  at  Liao  Chou  outside  the  city  wall. 
Because  the  Brethren  fed  the  hungry  and  cared  for 
the  sick,  Chinese  and  American  Christians  were 
accused  of  being  Communists  and  aiding  the  Chi- 
nese guerrillas  in  the  hills  around  Liao  Chou. 

Japanese  antipathy  toward  the  Christians 
came  to  a  head  beginning  on  Aug.  19,  when  sol- 
diers arrested  Li  Che'ng  Chang,  one  of  the 
leading  teachers  of  the  mission  boys'  school,  and 
Wang  Kuei  Lin,  the  52-year-old  cook  in  the 
house  for  the  women  missionaries,  who  had  been 
associated  with  the  mission  for  decades.  The 
cook  was  released,  only  to  be  arrested  again  later. 
Li  Che"ng  Chang  was  30  and  from  an  old  and 
respected  family  of  Liao  Chou.  He  had  become 
an  active  leader  since  his  conversion  to  Chris- 
tianity, teaching  and  preaching  at  the  mission. 

Five  days  later,  on  Aug.  23,  soldiers  returned  to 
the  mission  compound  and  arrested  seven  more. 
They  included  Dr.  Wang  Yu  Kang,  the  only  physi- 


I 


1^^ 


d< 


L'* 


cian  at  the  mission  hospital;  Liu  Fu  lung,  the  head 
male  nurse;  and  Wang  Kuei  Jung,  a  brother  to  the 
cook.  Wang  Kuei  Jung  was  a  deacon,  preacher, 
and  evangelist,  as  well  as  a  teacher.  Two  women, 
Liu  Chin  Lan  and  Ti'en  Mei  Siu,  both  teachers  in 
the  girls  school,  were  arrested.  Liu  Chin  Lan's  22- 
year-old  brother,  Liu  Ch'un  lung,  was  also 
arrested,  along  with  Wang  Pao  Lo,  the  20-year-old 
son  of  the  cook  arrested  earlier.  The  two  young 
men  were  just  finishing  high  school. 

These  seven,  along  with  Li  Ch'eng  Chang, 
were  interrogated  and  tortured.  They  finally 
agreed  to  false  charges  of  being  members  of  the 
Communist  Party,  even  though  missionaries 


:     V. 

^  =11  Ch'u|- 

w.pndfrc 
helped  Bp 
missionary  nowar.^, 
Sollenberger,  secant 
from_  left,  with  relief 
wo^A^Qli'un  Jung 
wa^rnpnsoned  with 
h/s'iiJ^egiMf  Chin  Lan 
on  AuQ:  23  and  both 
were  shot  on 
Oct.  19,  1940.  / 


Messenger  October  2000 


Chao  Su  Ti>  near 
the  center  marked 
with  an  X,  iS  shown 
here  with  the 
members  of  the 
Thousand- 
Characters  Class 
vith  their  diplomas. 
She  was  killed  on 
»^-"0m.  13,  1940. 


Ernest  Wampler  and  Frank  Crumpacker  repeat- 
edly assured  Japanese  officials  that  the  eight 
were  not  Communists. 

On  Oct.  7,  lapanese  soldiers  returned  to  the 
compound  and  lined  up  all  the  Chinese  in  the 
courtyard  of  the  Brethren  hospital.  They  forced 
missionaries  Ernest  Wampler  and  Anna  Hutchi- 
son to  leave  the  courtyard  with  the  threat  of 
arresting  all  the  Chinese.  The  soldiers  then 
picked  eight  random  prisoners  and  arrested 
them.  They  included  six  women:  Chang  Shu 
Mei,  a  teacher  in  the  Bible  school;  Chao  Su  Ti 
and  Chao  Yu,  both  adult  pupils  in  the  school; 
Chang  Kai  Hsien  and  Chao  Kai  Hsien,  both 
nurses  in  the  hospital;  and  another  student,  Tsao 
Yu  Fen.  Two  men  were  arrested  with  this  group, 
Chao  Ch'un  [en,  the  hospital  cook,  and  Wang 
Kuei  Lin,  the  cook  in  the  women's  house  who 
had  been  arrested  and  released  in  August. 

Ironically,  Wang  Kuei  Lin  had  been  so  dis- 
tressed over  the  imprisonment  of  his  brother 
and  son  that  he  found  it  difficult  to  do  his 
work.  He  had  said  that  if  they  were  released, 
he  would  feel  able  to  do  anything.  Instead,  on 
Oct.  7  he  joined  them  again  in  prison. 

Now  the  Japanese  struck  at  the  Christians. 
Of  the  last  eight  arrested  on  Oct.  7,  soldiers 
selected  three  women  and  stabbed  them  to 
death  by  sword  on  Oct.  13.  The  victims  were 
the  teacher,  Chang  Shu  Mei,  and  the  two  stu- 
dents, Chao  Su  Ti  and  Chao  Yu.  Their  bodies 
were  thrown  into  an  air  raid  dugout  and  cov- 
ered with  dirt. 

The  next  morning  the  soldiers  released  the 
other  three  women  from  this  group  after  repeat- 
edly raping  them.  Those  released  were  the  two 


nurses,  Chao  Kai  Hsien  and  Chang  Kai  Hsien, 
and  Yu  Fen.  Two  of  these  were  1 6-year-old  girls. 
They  learned  later  that  a  city  official  had  over- 
stepped one  of  the  military  authorities  and 
ordered  the  release  of  the  girls,  who  were 
intended  for  execution  the  day  after  their  release. 

Meanwhile,  Chinese  guerrilla  attacks  in  the 
countryside  inflicted  heavy  casualties  on  Japan- 
ese forces.  The  American  embassy  ordered  all 
American  women  and  children  to  leave  China. 
Missionary  personnel  began  efforts  to  plan  the 
departure  of  their  children  and  women. 

The  lapanese,  antagonized  by  their  losses, 
struck  again  at  the  Christians  in  Liao.  Soldiers 
gathered  the  eight  Brethren  who  had  first  been 
arrested  in  August  and  shot  them  on  Oct.  19. 

The  executions  took  place  at  the  same  time  that 
Ernest  Wampler  was  convening  a  meeting  for 
American  Brethren  to  consider  who  would  go  and 
who  would  attempt  to  stay.  Of  the  few  Chinese 
Brethren  who  hadn't  already  fled  Liao,  most  were 
dead  or  under  arrest.  Those  who  had  fled  to  the 
hills  advised  the  American  mission  workers  to 
leave.  Missionary  staff  believed  this  could  alleviate 
the  persecution  against  the  Chinese  Brethren. 

But  by  December  1940,  the  remaining 
American  Brethren  evacuated  Liao  perma- 
nently. As  they  left,  they  learned  that  the  two 
cooks,  Wang  Kuei  Lin  and  Chao  Ch'un  Jen, 
were  shot  on  Nov.  1  6,  bringing  the  total  to  1 3 
Brethren  killed  at  Liao. 

The  1  3  martyrs  of  Liao  Chou  were  mostly  lead- 


Hong  Kong 


a  of  Brethren  mission  fi 

by  the  shaded  area.  Liao  y 
**~  where  then 


Messenger  October  2000 


ers  in  the  Christian  congregation,  some  with 
professional  training.  Although  Dr.  Wang  Ku 
Kang  had  not  yet  received  baptism,  he  was 
preparing  by  learning  more  about  the  Christian 
faith.  The  day  before  his  execution  he  sent  a 
letter  to  his  Christian  wife,  encouraging  her  to 
continue  praying  and  reading  the  Bible,  and  to 
raise  their  children  to  become  Christians.  The 
teacher,  Liu  Chin  Lan,  had  declared  during  a 
worship  service  some  months  before  her  death 
that  she  would  be  willing  to  die  rather  than 
renounce  her  faith  in  Christ. 

Her  brother,  Liu  Ch'un  lung,  told  mis- 
sionary Anna  Hutchison  shortly  before  his 
arrest  that  he  and  his  sister  had  discussed 
whether  they  would  be  able  to  remain  faith- 
ful to  death,  given  the  unrest  of  the  war 
situation.  Both  had  been  beaten  for  their 
conversions  by  their  father,  who  in  turn  soon 
joined  them  as  Christians.  Sister  and  brother 
both  proved  to  be  faithful  even  in  death. 

The  teacher,  Ti'en  Mei  Hsiu,  left  behind  a 
Christian  husband  who  was  evangelizing  in  the 
rural  area  outside  Liao  Chou  when  she  was 
arrested.  Their  two-year-old  son  was  cared  for 
by  Baptists  until  the  father  could  be  reunited  to 
him.  Chang  Shu  Mei,  a  3 1  -year-old  teacher  in 
the  women's  Bible  classes,  also  spoke  at  wor- 
ship services.  Chao  Ch'un  |en,  the  hospital 
cook,  was  3 1  when  he  was  killed.  He  had  been 
baptized  only  in  May  of  the  same  year. 

The  13  Brethren  martyrs  of  60  years 
ago  were  only  a  few  of  the  many  vic- 
tims of  atrocities  during  the  Sino-Japanese 
war.  Their  deaths  removed  any  lasting  Christ- 
ian presence  in  Liao  Chou.  On  later  trips  to 
China,  former  missionary  Wendell  Flory  has 
found  no  traces  of  the  Christian  congregation 
there.  Some  of  the  descendants  of  the  martyrs 
now  live  in  the  United  States.  The  name  of 
the  town,  Liao  Chou,  has  been  changed  to 
Zuo  Xien.  The  new  name  honors  a  local  Chi- 
nese military  leader,  Zuo  Chuan,  whose 
tactics  allowed  a  large  number  of  Chinese 
troops  to  escape  a  Japanese  assault. 

While  the  Brethren  congregation  at  Liao 
Chou  ended  with  their  deaths,  it  is  all  the  more 
important  that  Brethren  today  continue  to 
remember  them.  They  counted  the  cost  of 
trusting  in  Christ  and  ministered  readily  in 
Christ's  name  to  the  sick  and  hungry  in  the 
midst  of  war.  Such  a  faith  cannot  be  destroyed 
by  death.  Neither  should  our  political  and  cul- 
tural drifts  hide  the  memory  of  their  suffering 
and  faith.  The  martyrs  of  Liao  Chou  can  inspire 


Brethren  in  the  comforts  of  North  America  to 
hold  and  share  our  faith  in  |esus  Christ,  and 
minister  to  the  sick  and  hungry  in  areas 
today  ravaged  by  war,  famine,  and 
disease,  regardless  of  the  cost. 


SQ 


Jeff  Bach  is  associate  professor  of  Brethren  and  Historical  Stud- 
ies at  Bethany  Theological  Seminary,  where  he  has  taught  the 
past  SIX  years.  His  doctoral  degree  in  religion  from  Duke  Uni- 
versity focused  on  the  history  of  Anabaptism  and  the  Pietist 
movement.  He  also  served  seven  years  as  pastor  of  the  Prairie 
City  (Iowa)  Church  of  the  Brethren. 


Spealcing  of  Jesus. , . 

Theological  Conference 
December  29,  2000  -  January  1,  2001 


Who: 
Place: 
Cost: 


Up  to  250  Brethren 
Cincinnati  Airport  Holiday  Inn 
$250  covers  registration,  meals,  lodging 
and  contribution  to  travel  pool 

^Special  rate  and  daily  activities  for  children 
^Travel  Aid  provided  for  those  coming  from  over 
600  miles  (half-off  air  fare-up  to  $250) 

Sessions 

Friday  Evening  Opening  Session: 

Dawn  Wilhelm 
Saturday  Morning  Bible  Study: 

Sue  Wagner  Fields,  Belita  Mitchell  and  David  Valeta 
Sunday  Morning  Bible  Study: 

Galen  Hackman,  Valentina  Sai:vedi  and  Virginia  Wiles 
"Who  Do  You  Say"  Plenary  Sessions: 

Mary  Jane  Button-Harrison,  Scott  Holland, 
Stephen  Breck  Reid  and  David  Rittenhouse 

Monday  Morning  Closing  Session: 

Kurt  Borgmann 

*Plus  many  thought-provoking  and  participatory  workshops* 

Sponsored  by  Bethany  Theological  Seminary  and 
the  Church  of  the  Brethren  General  Board 

For  information  please  call  (800)  323-8039,  ext.  228 


Messenger  October  2000 


MAKING  A  DIFFERENCE 

at  the  Washington  City  Church  of  the  Brethren  Nutrition  Program 


by  Michael  Lawrence 
with  Georg  Krause-Vilmar 

We  hear  it  all  the  time.  Whether  we  listen  to 
advertisements  for  Jobs.com,  speeches  from 
campaigning  politicians,  or  read  through  the 
Brethren  Volunteer  Service  project  booklet, 

we  hear  the  idea  of  going  out  into  the  world 
and  changing  it  for  the  better.  Georg  and  I 
know  from  working  and  serving  in  the  Wash- 
ington City  Church  of  Brethren  Nutrition 
Program  that  "making  a  difference"  as  BVSers 
can  truly  "ruin  you  for  hfe,"  as  veterans  of  the 
hfe-changing  program  hke  to  say. 

The  Brethren  Nutrition  Program,  or  Wash- 
ington City  Soup  Kitchen,  as  it  is  commonly 
called,  is  responsible  for  serving  meals  five  days 
a  week  to  50  to  75  guests  who  are  hungry  and 


BVS  volunteers  Michael  Lawrence, 

left,  and  Georg  Krause-Vilmar  at 

work  in  the  soup  kitchen. 

lessenger  October  2000 


often  homeless.  Since  beginning  our  BVS 
assignments,  we  have  seen  positive  changes  in 
the  kitchen,  where  our  continual  contact  with 
regular  clients  has  spawned  many  friendships. 

The  kitchen  is  transformed  daily  from  just  a 
place  to  get  a  free  meal  to  a  place  of  fellowship. 
When  guests  come  in  we  recognize  them  by 
face,  name,  or  nickname.  I  am  friends  with 
guys  named  Speedy,  Doc,  Roadrunner, 
Smokey,  and  of  course  Eat  'Em  Up.  Our  free 
minutes  after  the  main  noon  rush  are  spent  sit- 
ting in  the  dining  room  and  listening  to  them, 
hearing  their  problems,  sharing  in  their  positive 
moments,  and  basically  just  being  a  friend. 

Another  side  to  our  BVS  role  involves  making 
decisions  about  the  overall  program  and  how  that 
will  affect  our  guests.  By  providing  a  free  meal, 
as  well  as  other  social  services  like  food  stamp 
referrals,  clothing  distribution,  and  legal  counsel- 
ing, we  find  that  guests  appreciate  people  who 
take  the  time  to  help  them  out.  The  thank-yous 
received  by  guests  who  take  food  "home"  is  a 
good  indicator  of  how  important  a  simple  bowl  of 
soup  can  be  over  mere  words  without  action. 

Georg  and  I  have  been  growing  in  our  open- 
ness toward  all  people,  and  reservations  about 
talking  to  those  less  fortunate  are  slowly  dying 
away.  When  we  see  our  guests  out  on  the 
streets,  they  recognize  us,  and  we  begin  talking 
to  them  while  other  pedestrians  quickly  walk 
around  us,  afraid  to  even  glance  our  way.  One 
time  when  I  was  talking  with  a  guest  about 
modern  art  outside  the  National  Art  Museum,  I 
was  wondering  if  anyone  else  in  Washington, 
D.C.,  was  having  the  kind  of  honest,  shared 
moment  of  human  contact  that  we  were. 

Georg  and  1  have  also  been  learning  about 
how  we  respond  to  difficult  circumstances.  It  is 
said  that  character  is  formed  in  adversity,  that 
there  is  no  progress  without  struggle.  Both  of  us 
are  still  technically  teenagers,  yet  we  have  had  to 
coordinate  incoming  volunteer  groups,  make 
food  bank  pickups,  settle  down  fights  in  the 
dining  room,  keep  track  of  our  donations  and 


Youth  from  the  Washington  City 
and  University  Park  Churches  of 

the  Brethren  participated  in  the 
1999  Fannie  Mae  Help  the 
Homeless  Walkathon 


Department  of  Agriculture  food  usage,  and  actu- 
ally run  the  entire  program  without  a  director  for 
two  weeks.  While  some  days  may  be  difficult, 
these  experiences  have  really  strengthened  our 
confidence  to  live  beyond  our  comfort  zones. 

I  have  personally  felt  the  differences  that 
God  has  made  in  my  life  by  following  his  will 
and  setting  it  before  my  personal  wants  and 
desires.  The  Gospels  of  Matthew,  Mark,  and 
Luke  all  record  Jesus'  teaching  to  a  rich  young 
man  who  was  dismayed  at  Christ's  command  to 
sell  his  possessions  and  give  to  the  poor.  Luke 
18:  29  and  30  state:  "Truly  I  tell  you,  there  is  no 
one  who  has  left  house  or  wife  or  brothers  or 
parents  or  children,  for  the  sake  of  the  kingdom 
of  God,  who  will  not  get  back  very  much  more 
in  this  age,  and  in  the  age  to  come  eternal  life." 

Five  months  ago  I  was  a  fresh,  young,  some- 


what hesitant  teenager  who  was  not  sure  about 
his  cooking  skills.  Now  I  have  gained  experi- 
ence, wisdom,  confidence,  friends,  brothers, 
some  peace  of  mind,  and  a  deeper  appreciation 
for  how  God  cares  for  all  his  children  (even 
me).  I  give  thanks  to  God  daily  for  all  he's 
blessed  me  with,  and  I  thank  BVS  for  providing 
me  the  chance  to  work  with  Georg  in  "making 
a  difference"  at  the  Washington  City  Church  of 
the  Brethren  Nutrition  Program. 


For  more  information  on  how  to  get  involved  in  the  Brethren  Nutri- 
tion Program,  contact  the  director,  Fred  Anderson,  at  202-546-8706 
or  202-547-5924  or  send  e-mail  to:  alicem-a@juno.com  or  ntfum- 
bela@aol-Com- 

Michael  J.  Lawrence,  19,  is  a  BVSer  from  Florin  Church  of  the 
Brethren  in  Mount  Joy,  Pa.  Georg  Krause-Vilmar,  20,  is  a  BVSer/Eirene 
volunteer  from  Kassel,  Germany. 


Help  the  Homeless  Walkathon 

Brethren  Nutrition  Program  supporters  will  be  among  the 
hundreds  participating  in  the  Help  the  Homeless  Walkathon 
in  Washington,  D.C.,  Nov.  18.  The  walkathon  will  help  raise 
money  for  the  Brethren  Nutrition  Program  at  the  Washington 
City  Church  of  the  Brethren  as  well  as  other  organizations 
working  to  overcome  homelessness  and  hunger.  Brethren, 
3specially  youth  and  young  adults  in  the  Mid-Atlantic  Dis- 


trict, are  asked  to  join  in  the  walk  and  to  help  collect  spon- 
sors. The  Washington  City  church  group  will  gather  at  F  and 
13th  St.  NW  before  heading  to  Freedom  Plaza  in  Washington, 
D.C.,  where  the  walk  will  begin  at  10:15  a.m.  on  Saturday, 
Nov.  18.  If  you  cannot  walk,  but  would  be  interested  in  spon- 
soring a  walker,  contact  Ntfombi  Penner  at 
ntfumbela@aol.com  or  the  Washington  City  Church  of  the 
Brethren  at  202-546-8706  or  202-547-5924.  More  information 
on  the  walkathon  is  available  at  www.brethren.org. 


Messenger  October  2000 


The  Brethren  C  O  1  ITI  1" 
connection  to  a  i3  CM.  X  -1.X  t^ 


Saint  Katharine  Drexel 

in  the  habit  of  her  order, 

Sisters  of  the  Blessed 

Sacrament. 


by  Walt  Wiltschek 

Katharine  Drexel,  scheduled  for 
canonization  by  the  Roman 
k  Catholic  Church  this  month, 
had  close  family  connections  to  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren. 

She  is  only  the  second  American-born 
woman  to  become  a  saint,  joining  Eliza- 
beth Ann  Seton,  founder  of  the  Sisters  of 
Charity.  She  gave  up  a  life  of  luxury  as 


part  of  a  prominent  Philadelphia  family 
to  become  a  nun,  working  tirelessly  for 
the  poor  until  her  death  in  1955. 

Her  mother,  Hannah  Jane  Langstroth 
Drexel,  was  baptized  by  the  then- 
German  Baptist  Brethren  in  1850  and 
was  buried  in  the  Germantown  Brethren 
cemetery  in  Philadelphia  when  she  died 
just  34  days  after  Katharine's  birth. 
(Her  body  was  moved  to  a  family  chapel 
in  1946.)  Katharine's  grandmother, 
whom  she  visited  weekly,  wore  tradi- 
tional "plain  dress,"  and  other  relatives 
on  the  Langstroth  side  were  also 
Brethren.  The  Drexel  family  who  raised 
her,  however,  was  Roman  Catholic. 

Not  surprisingly,  Katharine  Drexel  is 
the  first  Catholic  saint  to  have  a 
Brethren  parent.  Her  unusual  story  is 
among  those  featured  in  the  Brethren 
Press  book  Preaching  in  a  Tavern,  by 
Kenneth  I.  Morse. 

Calls  for  Drexel's  canonization 
began  soon  after  her  death  on  March 
3,  1955,  and  Cardinal  lohn  KjoI  of 
Philadelphia  introduced  a  formal  peti- 
tion to  this  effect  in  1964. 

She  was  beatified  by  Pope  John  Paul  II, 
earning  the  title  of  "Blessed"  on  Nov.  20, 
1988.  The  step  came  after  the  Vatican 
confirmed  Drexel's  first  miracle,  a  cure 
of  deafness  attributed  to  her  intercession 
for  which  "no  natural  cause"  could  be 
found.  Last  January  the  Pope  credited 
her  with  a  second  miracle,  the  1 994  cure 
of  a  seven-year-old's  deafness  in  Penn- 
sylvania, paving  the  way  for  Drexel's 
sainthood.  Philadelphia  becomes  the  first 
US  diocese  to  have  two  canonized  saints. 

"This  is  a  truly  joyous  occasion  for 
all  of  us,"  Cardinal  Anthony  Bevilac- 
qua.  Archbishop  of  Philadelphia,  said 
in  a  press  release.  He  called  Drexel  "a 
shining  example  to  all  believers  and  to 
all  people  of  good  will." 

Drexel  became  a  nun  when  she  took  a 
vow  of  poverty  at  age  30,  giving  her 
share  of  the  significant  family  inheritance! 


to  charity  and  educational  projects. 
Believing  that  "we  are  all  people  of 
God,"  she  became  particularly  involved 
in  the  welfare  of  blacks  and  American 
Indians.  She  founded  numerous  schools 
for  children  in  these  groups — including 
the  first  mission  school  for  American 
Indians,  in  New  Mexico,  and  Xavier 
University  in  New  Orleans,  La. 

She  also  founded  a  religious  order 
called  Sisters  of  the  Blessed  Sacra- 
ment near  Philadelphia  in  1891.  The 
order  continues  today  in  Bensalem 
with  a  focus  on  social  justice  issues, 
and  Dre.xel  is  buried  in  a  shrine  at  the 
site.  Thousands  of  people  per  month 
have  visited  the  shrine  this  year,  fol- 
lowing news  of  the  impending 
canonization.  A  church  parish  near 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  a  chapel  in 
Carlisle,  Pa.,  where  she  established  a 
convent  in  1905,  also  bear  her  name. 


"She  was  a  remarkable  woman.  To 
think  she  had  all  that  wealth  and  gave  it 
up.  She  tried  to  use  every  penny  she 
could  for  the  poor,"  said  Sister  Ruth 
Catherine  Spain,  guild  director  at  Sisters 
of  the  Blessed  Sacrament.  "She  was  just 
one  fantastic  person,  and  a  very  holy 
person.  We're  ecstatic  about  her  being 
canonized,  and  she's  due  it,  believe  me. 
We're  just  beside  ourselves  with  joy." 

The  order  planned  several  special 
observances  to  celebrate  the  canoniza- 
tion. Many  of  the  sisters  even  planned 
to  travel  to  the  Vatican  in  Rome  for  the 
ceremony,  according  to  Sister  Ruth 
Catherine,  who  marveled  at  how 
quickly  the  often-lengthy  canonization 
process  occurred. 

Though  Drexel  was  never  Brethren 
herself,  her  ministry  embodied  many 
ideals  that  Brethren  would  embrace. 
She  tried  to  live  simply,  using  pencils 


to  the  nubs  and  insisting  on  a  hand- 
made, improvised  wheelchair  when  she 
grew  old.  She  had  a  heart  of  great 
caring  for  the  poor  and  marginalized. 
And  she  believed  in  being  a  servant, 
never  asking  others  to  do  something 
she  wouldn't  do  herself.  She  once  said, 
"Oh,  how  far  I  am  at  84  years  of  age 
from  being  an  image  of  Jesus  in  his 
sacred  life  on  earth!" 

Sister  Monica  Laughlin,  president 
of  Sisters  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament, 
said  she  hoped  Drexel's  life  and  work 
would  "inspire  many  to  work  and  pray 
for  greater  unity,  justice,  and  peace 
for  all  peoples." 

Additional  details  on  Drexel's 
life  and  ministry  can  be  found        WTM 
at  www.katharinedrexel.org.  ■■■ 

Sources:  The  Brethren  Encyclopedia;  Brethren 
Historical  Library  &  Archives;  The  Patriot,  Harrisburg, 
Pa.;  Catholic  Online;  Sisters  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament. 


BRETHRENING 


Clothespin  memories 


I  didn't  get  to  direct  Kid's  Camp  at  Camp  Koinonia  this  year.  After 
eight  years,  our  kids  had  outgrown  that  youngest  camp  age  and 
my  co-director  (my  wife)  and  I  had  moved  on  to  more  challenging 
jobs  that  made  taking  the  time  to  direct  just  a  little  harder  now. 

But  as  I  opened  the  bag  of  chips  and  removed  the  clothes- 
pin holding  it  shut,  all  the  memories  of  camp  came  flooding 
back.  For  on  the  clothespin  was  written  "Andy."  I'm  sorry  I 
don't  remember  Andy,  but  I  had  to  quickly  look  for  the  bag  of 
wooden  clothes  pins  that  we  now  use  to  close  chips  and  cere- 
als. A  gold  mine  of  memories!  There  were  the  pins  with  names 
of  dozens  of  campers  and  counselors:  Chelsea,  Tony,  Bob, 
Kate,  Mike,  Aubrey,  Piper. . . . 

What  fun  those  camps  for  second  and  third  graders  had 
been!  Large  group  relays,  horizontal  hour,  swimming  at  the 
pond,  the  hay  ride,  earthball  bowling,  the  three-story  egg 
drop,  and,  of  course,  the  love  note  clothesline! 

The  clothesline  was  an  amazing  success  and  a  wonderful 
example  of  the  power  of  positive  thinking  and  affirmation.  All 
we  did  was  string  the  line  along  a  wall  in  the  lodge.  Have  each 
camper  decorate  a  clothespin  with  his  or  her  name.  Provide  the 
small  pieces  of  note  paper  and  a  few  pens.  Then  give  this 
simple  instruction:  write  as  much  as  you  want,  to  as  many  as 


you  want,  but  it  must  be 
a  positive,  friendly  note. 

It  usually  began 
slowly.  A  note  here  or 
there.  We  often  wrote 
notes  to  all  the  campers  thanking  them  for  coming  and 
saying  we  were  glad  they  were  there.  The  counselors,  often 
afraid  that  someone  might  be  left  out,  wrote  to  each  one 
also.  The  kids,  not  wanting  to  hurt  anyone's  feelings,  often 
wrote  to  as  many  as  they  could.  The  notes  flew!  By  the 
second  day  the  line  was  smiling  with  messages  sagging  the 
rope.  By  the  last  day  of  camp  the  paper  was  gone  and  the 
well  wishes  and  positive  messages  were  being  written  on 
napkins  and  envelopes  and  tree  bark  and. . . . 

What  a  joy  to  be  part  of  something  so  fun,  so  exciting,  so 
meaningful,  so  wonder-full.  I  hope  the  kids  are  just  a  little 
more  confident,  or  caring,  or  loving  because  of  their  clothes- 
pin and  a  love  note  or  two.  And  perhaps,  Andy  can  forgive  me 
for  not  remembering  him.  I'm  sorry  Andy.  I  hope  you  remem- 
ber our  camp  as  fondly  as  I  do. — Ken  Neher 

Ken  Neher,  of  Wenatchee,  Wash,,  is  director  of  funding  for  the  Church  of  the  Brethren 
General  Board, 


Messenger  October  2000 


Adventures  with 


by  Berwyn  L.  Oltman 


'randparents'  Day  is  celebrated 
once  a  year,  with  only  a  mini- 
1?|  mum  amount  of  emphasis  by  the 
media  and  Hmited  participation  by  the 
pubHc.  As  families  become  scattered  in 
today's  society,  many  children  have 
little  opportunity  for  contact  with  their 
grandparents.  And  many  grandparents 
lament  the  fact  that  they  do  not  get  to 
see  their  grandchildren  with  the  fre- 


quency that  they  would  like.  A  visit  with 
the  whole  family  or  participation  in  a 
large  family  reunion  does  not  provide 
the  one-on-one  contacts  that  are 
needed  to  build  helpful  relationships. 
Merle  and  lean  Crouse,  members  of 
New  Covenant  Fellowship  Church  of  the 
Brethren,  Gotha,  Fla.,  are  typical  of  many 
Florida  residents  who  are  geographically 
separated  from  the  majority  of  their 
grandchildren.  Their  rural  home  at  St. 
Cloud,  Fla.,  is  a  perfect  setting  for  hosting 
children.  A  small  barn,  a  treehouse,  a 


The  Crouse  grandfamily.  Front  row,  left  to 
right:  Matt  Thode,  Philip  Morris,  Christy  Bail 
Crouse,  Andrew  Thode,  Jacob  Baile  Crouse 
Second  row:  Steve  Baile  Crouse,  Jean 
Crouse,  William  Morris,  Merle  Crouse. 

pond  which  entices  fishermen,  and  a  litde 
garden  house  are  great  play  spaces. 
Grandfather  Merle  shares  his  interest  in 
birds  and  nature  and  fishing.  Grand- 
mother lean  shares  her  interest  in  music 
and  books  and  stories.  When  the  adult 
Crouse  children  bring  their  families  for 
visits,  everyone  always  has  a  great  time. 
There  are  also  enjoyable  visits  in  the 
homes  of  those  families,  and  an  occa- 
sional whole  family  campout  in  the  family 
cottage  in  the  mountains  of  West  Virginia. 

The  total  family  gatherings  are  great, 
but  Merle  and  lean  wanted  to  get  to 
know  their  growing  grandchildren  as 
individuals.  Borrowing  an  idea  from  their 
friends,  Theresa  and  John  Herr,  who  had 
served  with  them  on  the  mission  field  in 
Ecuador,  the  Crouses  decided  to  plan  a 
special  time  with  each  grandchild  on  his 
or  her  1 0th  birthday.  Arrangements  are 
made  for  the  10-year-old  (so  far  it  is 
grandsons)  to  travel  to  Florida.  Then  his 
grandparents  take  him  to  wherever  he 
chooses  to  go.  Four  or  five  days  are  set 


TC)C)irHI,E$Ss  A  great-grandchild  adventure 


On  weekends,  we  great-grandparents  pick  up  65 -year-old 
great-granddaughter  Amanda  for  a  weekend  at  our  house,  and 
yard,  bike,  wagon,  swings,  for  Sunday  school  and  church,  and 
some  fun.  She  is  enjoyable  and  learns  checkers,  trionimos,  and 
how  to  go  through  1 0  workbooks  on  math,  reading,  and  writ- 
ing. Great-granddad  handles  the  math  and  checker  games, 
and  Great-grandma  learns  primary  printing  all  over  again.  The 
"I"  is  like  this  "j"  nowadays,  and  the  middle  lines  of  "M"  come 
clear  down,  not  halfway.  On  Sunday  mornings  we  struggle 
through  pantyhose  and  shoe  buckles,  and  we  are  surprised 
how  quickly  the  season's  dresses  have  shrunk,  and  are  hard  to 
button.  Great-granddad  is  ready  early  because  he  has  class  to 
teach  and  "people  to  see"  and  we  ladies  are  never  quite  ready 
to  leave  home  when  he  is  ready. 

Last  Saturday  afternoon  she  lost  her  tooth  at  the  play- 
ground, "somewhere  over  by  the  swings,  the  bars,  the  slide, 
and  the  climbing  tower."  It  had  been  loose,  but  was  still 


Messenger  October  2000 


intact  before  she  discovered  it  was  "out,"  "lost,"  "gone," 
and  her  mom  would  need  that  tooth  to  assist  the  Tooth 
Fairy,  under  her  pillow. 

So  we  searched  every  stone,  gravel,  sand,  wood  chunk, 
underneath  the  play  equipment  for  hours,  looking  for  one 
small  disappeared  tooth.  One  non-exerciser  (Great- 
grandma),  was  chilly  and  cold  and  suggested  she'd  give  one 
of  her  own  old  teeth  to  use  under  the  pillow.  Loud  "no!" 
and  "keep  looking!" 

She  discovered  a  pale  cream-colored  (maybe)  tooth  under 
the  climbing  ladder  and  we  hallelujahed  like  we'd  found 
gold  and  silver,  immediately  transporting  it  in  a  tissue  back 
to  her  mom  for  safekeeping.  Her  mother  said  to  me,  "This 
isn't  a  tooth!"  I  suggested  she  accept  it  as  a  bona  fide  pri- 
mary tooth  or  she  would  spend  her  next  few  hours  bent  over 
sifting  playground  sand  and  gravel. -Dixie  McKibben 


aside  for  these  adventures. 

The  first  grandchild  to  reach  a  10th 
birthday  was  William  Morris,  son  of  the 
Grouses'  daughter,  Debbie,  and  Rob 
Morris,  pastor  of  the  Charlottesville 
(Va.)  Church  of  the  Brethren.  This  1998 
Florida  adventure  included  visits  to 
Splendid  China,  Busch  Gardens,  and  to 
Aunt  Karen  Crouse  and  her  ferrets  in 
south  Florida.  A  day  was  spent  swim- 
ming at  a  beach  on  the  Gulf  coast,  and 
there  was  pool  swimming  and  fishing 
with  Granddad. 

In  1999  two  grandsons  celebrated 
10th  birthdays.  Matthew  Thode,  who 
resides  in  Orlando  with  his  parents,  Peter 
and  Kelly  Crouse,  chose  for  his  principal 
activity  a  round-trip  train  ride  to  Miami, 
including  meals  in  the  dining  car.  The 
threesome  enjoyed  a  visit  to  the  Miami 
zoo,  a  stage  play,  and  a  symphony  con- 
cert in  a  park.  Matthew  helped  his 
grandpa  build  a  bridge  over  a  ditch. 

Steve  Crouse  made  his  first  airplane 
trip  alone  from  the  Dominican  Republic 
to  spend  his  days  with  his  grandparents. 
Steve's  parents,  Jerry  and  Becky  Baile 
Crouse,  are  coordinators  for  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren  mission  work  in  the  D.R. 
Steve  chose  a  trip  to  the  Everglades  and 
an  alligator  farm,  and  to  the  Florida 
Keys.  A  day  was  spent  at  Theater  of  the 
Sea  on  Islamorada,  and  there  was  deep 
sea  fishing  off  Key  West,  swimming,  and 
snorkeling.  A  visit  to  Aunt  Karen  and 
her  ferrets,  a  sailboat  ride,  and  a  day  at 
Busch  Gardens  rounded  out  the  week. 

Andrew  Thode,  a  member  of  the  Peter 
Crouse  family  in  Orlando,  celebrated 
his  10th  birthday  this  year.  Activities  he 
chose  included  a  visit  to  Walt  Disney's 
Animal  Kingdom,  a  trip  to  Tallahassee 
to  see  the  Florida  state  capitol,  travel 
along  the  Florida  Panhandle,  a  day  at 
the  National  Naval  Aviation  Museum  at 
Pensacola,  wading  and  beachcombing 
on  the  Panhandle  beaches,  a  hike  in  the 
Suwanee  River  State  Park,  and  a  visit  to 
the  Stephen  Foster  Folk  Culture  Center. 

Each  of  the  grandsons  has  expressed 
appreciation  for  and  delight  with  his 
1  special  time  with  grandparents.  Younger 


siblings,  including  the  one  granddaugh- 
ter, Christy,  who  lives  with  her  parents 
in  the  Dominican  Republic,  look  for- 
ward to  their  special  time.  These  have 
been  special  times  for  the  grandparents 
also,  lean  Crouse  comments,  "These 
trips  have  been  a  wonderful  treat  for 


Grandma  and  Granddad,  too,  as  we 
become  better  acquainted  with 
each  lovable,  unique  grandchild        WfU 
at  this  stage  of  his  life."  aiS 


Berwyn  L.  Oltman  is  pastor  of  New  Covenant  Fellow- 
ship Church  of  the  Brethren,  Gotha,  Fla. 


'Teacher,  which  commandment  is  the  greatest?"  Jesus  said 

to  him,  "You  shall  love  the  Lord  your  God  vuith  all  your 

heart,  and  with  all  your  soul,  and  with  all  your  mind. 

This  is  the  greatest  and  first  commandment. " 

Matthew  22:36-38 


Giving  God  your  heart,  soul,  and  mind  is  central 
to  the  decision  to  be  baptized  as  a  Christian  and 
become  a  member  of  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren.  Heart,  Soul,  and  Mind  is  an  adaptable 
membership  curriculum  tor  congregations  to  use 
with  youth  and  adults  who  are  exploring  a 
deeper  commitment  to  Christian  discipleship. 


T^'U/^ 


I  Member  of  the  Church  of  the 


Four  units  of  study  explore  what  Brethren 
should  know  about  the  Bible,  church  history, 
living  the  taith,  and  church  membership.  The 
Leader's  Guide  (#9922,  $24.95)  includes  reproducible  handouts  for  students,  ideas  tor  a 
mentor  program,  and  an  apprenticeship  program.  The  Membership  Handbook  for  students 
(#9923,  $9.95)  contains  readings,  exercises,  and  journal  starters,  and  is  valuable  as  a 
keepsake  and  benchmark  of  faith  development.  A  video  (#9924,  $19.95)  featuring  Brethren 
youth  talking  about  taith  is  also  available  to  supplement  the  curriculum. 

Candidates  for  membership  will  be  engaged  — heart,  soul,  and  mind — to  love  God, 
love  their  neighbor,  and  join  in  the  community  of  faith. 


Brethren  Press* 

This  day. 


I45I  Dundee  Avenue,  Elgm.  Illinois  60I20-I694 
phone  800-441-3712        fax  800-667-8188       c-mail  brcthrcnprcss_gh@brethren.org 


Messenger  October  2000 


Summer  mit. 

Ministry  interns  share  monnents 
that  may  change  their  lives 


They  came  together  for  orientation  in  Richmond. 
Ind..  in  early  June,  12  young  adults  exploring  min- 
istry in  the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  Only  one  of 
them  had  tried  Ministry  Summer  Service  before, 
and  most  of  them  weren't  sure  that  ministry  was 
where  they  wanted  to  end  up. 

They  became  acquainted  with  each  other  and 
participated  in  a  service  project.  They  heard  from 
General  Board  ministry  director  Allen  Hansell  and 
from  Bethany  Theological  Seminary  professors. 
They  studied  scripture  and  church  polity.  They 
learned  about  each  other  and  about  themselves. 

Then  they  met  the  mentors  with  whom  they'd  be 
spending  the  next  two  months,  and  they  learned 
something  interesting:  Most  of  these  ministers  now 
serving  the  church  never  expected  that  they  would 
end  up  in  ministry  either! 

Through  conversation,  building  a  position 
description  together,  sharing  in  worship,  and  learn- 
ing about  one  another's  personality,  the  teams 
prepared  to  take  the  next  step. 

They  heard  former  Bethany  professor  Earle  Fike. 
one  of  the  guest  speakers  for  tiie  week,  tell  them,  "God 
does  not  expect  persons  to  be  fully  prepared  at  the  time 
of  the  call.  God  does  expect  people  to  use  the  creative 
gifts  God  has  given  them. " 

General  Board  Youth/Young  Adult  Ministries 
coordinator  Chris  Douglas  led  a  commissioning  ser- 
vice in  which  mentors  gave  a  blessing  to  their 
respective  interns.  Then  it  was  time  to  launch,  and 
the  teams  scattered  to  ministry  settings  across  the 
country.  One  intern  called  it  time  to  "test  our  wings. " 

Fike  also  warned  the  interns  that  they  would  be 
changed  people  by  the  end  of  the  summer.  "That's 
what  God  expects  when  we  answer  a  call, "  he  said. 
And  he  was  right. 

The  summer  of  ministry  taught  many  lessons. 
Those  are  best  told  in  the  interns'  own  )vords.  On 
the  following  pages  are  some  of  their  stories. 

At  Ministry  Summer  Service  orientation, 

intern  Daniel  House  gets  aquainted 
with  mentor  Richard  Sisco. 


sters 


Beth 
Rhodes 

Intern  at  York  Center 
Church  of  the  Brethren, 
Lombard,  III. 

As  I  approached  the 
podium,  my  first 
sermon  in  hand,  my 
stomach  was  churning 
and  my  hands  were 
shaking.  I  was  nervous. 
But  as  I  looked  out  into 
the  sanctuary,  I  saw  the 
faces  of  all  the  people 
who  had  come  to  mean 


Taking  the  pulpit,  Beth 
Rhodes  delivers  her  first 
sermon  at  York  Center. 

so  much  to  me  over  the 
course  of  the  summer. 
Smiling  up  at  me  were 
all  the  children  I  had 
babysat,  the  youth  I 
had  become  friends 
with,  all  the  people  who 
had  invited  me  to  their 
homes  for  delicious 
meals,  and  folks  1  had 
visited  while  they  were 


in  the  hospital.  The 
support  and  encour- 
agement they  had  given 
me  all  summer  was  evi- 
dent now  as  they  slid 
forward  in  the  pews 
and  listened  intendy  to 
what  I  had  to  say. 

As  I  preached,  1 
slowly  relaxed  and 
found  that  I  enjoyed 
giving  that  sermon. 
While  my  friends  were 
sequestered  in  offices 
or  waiting  tables,  I 
was  planning  worship, 
teaching  Bible  school, 
coordinating  special 
music,  and  spending 
time  with  people  of  all 
ages.  I  woke  up  every 
morning  excited  about 
my  job,  excited  about 
the  people,  and 
excited  about  what  the 
day  might  bring. 

I  loved  every  minute 
of  the  experience, 
from  preaching  to 
typing  the  bulletin, 
because  I  was  invested 
in  the  entire  process. 
My  mentor,  Christy 
Waltersdorff,  is  a  key 
to  that  enthusiasm; 
her  guidance  and 
example  have  helped 
me  to  grow  and  envi- 
sion what  the  future 
may  hold. 

When  I  came  to  York 
Center,  I  had  no  inten- 
tion of  pursuing  the 
ministry  as  a  career, 
and  now  there  are 
times  when  I  cannot 
imagine  doing  any- 
thing else  with  my  life. 


Randall 
Westfall 

Intern  at  Franklin  Grove  (III.) 
Church  of  the  Brethren 

This  summer  has  been 
a  true  spiritual  journey. 
At  the  beginning  of 
summer  I  thought  I 
had  everything  I'd  need 
for  this  journey,  but  I 
found  out  differently  in 
the  weeks  to  come. 

Ministry  Summer 
Service  has  enabled 
my  calling  to  go  from 
abstract  to  concrete. 
For  two  years  it  was 
just  a  "calling";  this 
summer,  however,  has 
been  "reality."  I  have 
grown  more  this 
summer  than  in  the 
past  two  years  com- 
bined! And  God  still 
continues  to  open 
doors  and  bless  me.  I 
am  eternally  grateful 
for  that. 

In  the  midst  of  help- 
ing to  plan  worship, 
preaching  a  whopping 
six  times,  and  visiting 
members  of  the  con- 
gregation, I  was  also 
able  to  explore  many 
other  forms  of  min- 


istry. I  spent  a  week  as 
a  camp  counselor,  I 
was  a  leader  for  the 
community  Vacation 
Bible  School,  and  I 
taught  a  class.  I  have 
helped  with  a  wedding 
and  a  funeral,  which 
gave  me  an  under- 
standing of  how 
people  can  be  minis- 
tered to  at  the  start  of 
a  new  life  together  and 
as  life  draws  to  a  close. 

I  also  spent  a  day  in 
a  state  juvenile  prison 
shadowing  with  the 
chaplain.  Though  I  do 
not  feel  a  calling  to  this 
ministry,  the  chaplain 
explained  it  best  to  me 
that  "these  are  the 
people  that  jesus  was 
ministering  to!"  Wow! 
I  had  never  thought  of 
it  that  way.  It  was  a 
great  experience  to  be 
with  him  that  day. 

Overall,  this  summer 
has  allowed  me  to  find 
my  gifts  and  weak- 
nesses. I  truly  feel  as 
though  I  am  headed 
down  the  path  that 
[esus  wants  me  to 
walk.  Most  impor- 
tantly, it  is  the  path 
that  He  walks  with  me! 


Worship  planning. 

Beth  Rhodes  and  pastor 
Christy  Waltersdorff 
confer  on  worship  ideas 
and  plans  for  the  week. 


Rochelle 
Hershey 

Intern  at  Wilmington 
(Del.)  Church  of  the 
Brethren 

Growing  up  in  Lan- 
caster County,  Pa.,  pro- 
vided me  little  experi- 
ence with  urban  culture, 
so  my  Ministry  Sum- 
mer Service  experience 
at  the  Wilmington 
Church  of  the  Brethren 
in  Delaware  was  some- 
what of  a  challenge. 

During  my  time  in 
Wilmington  I  worked 
a  great  deal  with  their 
summer  lunch  pro- 
gram, which  provides 
free  lunches  for  kids 
in  the  surrounding 
neighborhood.  Every 
morning  we  would 
receive  packaged 
lunches  delivered  to 
us  by  the  state.  After 
the  kids  were  finished 
eating,  there  were 

Messenger  October  2000 


games  for  them  to 
play,  and  every  other 
day  I  provided  a  craft 
for  them  to  work  on. 
We  averaged  20  to  25 
kids  each  day. 

In  addition  to  the 
lunch  program,  1  par- 
ticipated in  the  church 
by  leading  worship, 
doing  the  children's 
time,  performing  a 
skit,  and  preaching. 
The  congregation  was 
great  at  including  me 
in  church  activities.  I 
assisted  with  Vacation 
Bible  School  in  several 
different  capacities 
and  had  a  blast.  I  also 
attended  all  board 
meetings  and  a  major- 
ity of  the  commission 
meetings.  It  was  a 
learning  experience 
for  me  to  see  all  the 
business  behind  the 
scenes  of  the  church. 

The  best  parts  of  my 
experience  were  the 
friendships  1  gained 
throughout  the 
summer.  The  Wilm- 
ington congregation 
will  forever  be  my 
second  church  family. 


Rochelle  Hershey 
meets  with  one  of  the 
children  in  the 

Wilmington  Church  of 
the  Brethren's  summer 
lunch  program,  held  in 
the  church's  basement. 


Scott 
McDearmon 

Intern  at  Crest  Manor 
Church  of  the  Brethren, 
South  Bend,  Ind. 

One  more  Thursday 
with  Merrilyn.  I  have 
been  looking  forward 
to  Thursday  all  week. 
Merrilyn,  her  daugh- 
ter Carol,  and  Carol's 
husband,  Roger,  have 
taken  me  out  to  dinner 
on  most  Thursdays 
this  summer.  It  has 
been  a  great  time  for 
me  to  relax  and  just 
visit  for  an  hour  or 
two.  They  have  shared 
with  me  openly,  and  I 
with  them.  I  think  that 
openness  has  been  the 
most  surprising  aspect 
of  the  summer. 
The  people  here  in 


the  congregation 
shared  their  stories 
with  me  whether  it 
was  at  dinner,  church 
school  class,  or  a 
birthday  party.  This 
sharing,  along  with 
other  experiences  like 
worship  leading  and 
preaching,  has  given 
me  a  taste  of  what 
ministry  can  be  like. 
While  I  was  in  high 
school  I  was  not  very 
active  in  the  life  of  the 
church.  I  came  to  the 
Sunday  morning  wor- 
ship service  and  usually 
stayed  for  youth  class.  I 
didn't  know  what  was 
involved  in  other  areas 
of  ministry.  I  heard 
announcements  about 
the  nurture  commis- 
sion, but  I  didn't  know 
anything  about  what  its 
role  was.  I  received  a 
bulletin  before  the 
morning  service,  but  1 
had  no  idea  where  it 
came  from,  and  what 
kind  of  work  went  into 
putting  a  worship  ser- 


vice together. 

After  this  summer 
experience  I  have  a 
new  view  of  what  the 
life  of  a  congregation 
is  like,  and  for  that 
I'm  very  grateful. 

Kendra 
Flory 

Intern  at  Brethren  Press 
Communications  Office, 
Elgin,  III. 

It  was  deja  vu.  As  I 
walked  into  my  new 
office  in  Elgin,  I 
remembered  standing 
in  that  same  doorway 
only  a  few  years  before 
talking  to  a  family 
friend  who  was  work- 
ing there  at  the  time. 
(My  family  had 
stopped  for  a  tour  of 
the  General  Offices 
that  summer.)  Our 
friend  told  us  briefly 
about  his  role  in  the 
communications 
department  at  Brethren 


Press,  and  I  listened 
with  much  excitement; 
that  was  something  I 
wanted  to  try. 

My  interest  in  com- 
munications sparked 
in  high  school,  and 
my  experience  and 
skills  in  that  area  have 
been  growing  slowly 
but  steadily  ever 
since.  I  have  often 
thought  about  pursu- 
ing this  field  further, 
but  at  this  point  in  my 
life  I  have  had  a  hard 
time  envisioning 
myself  in  careers 
straying  far  from  the 
central  life  of  the 
church.  So  when  the 
idea  to  spend  Ministry 
Summer  Service  at 
Brethren  Press  was 
suggested,  I  jumped 
on  the  opportunity. 

The  short  summer 
was  full  of  writing  arti- 
cles of  denominational 
happenings,  working 
with  layouts  and  desk- 
top publishing,  taking 
pictures,  visiting  with 
"family"  members  of 
the  wider  church, 
building  new  and  won- 
derful relationships, 
learning  more  about 
the  church  from  the 
denominational  view, 
and  continuing  to  dis- 
cern where  God  is 
leading  me. 

The  call  to  work  for 
God  through  the 
Church  of  the 
Brethren — whether  it 


Kendra  Flory 

I  concentrates  on  an 
5  issue  of  Agenda  in  the 
s    Brethren  Press 
%  communications  office. 


Messenger  October  2000 


be  denominational, 
pastoral,  educational, 
or  a  direction  I 
haven't  even  consid- 
ered yet — has  been 
churning  inside  of  me 
for  a  long  time.  My 
time  spent  in  MSS 
has  assured  me  that 
the  call  is  very  real 
and  helped  me  to 
explore  another 
avenue  for  min- 
istry within  the      WfM 
church.  ^^ 


This  was  the  fifth  summer  for 
Ministry  Summer  Service,  a  joint 
program  of  the  General  Board's 
Youth/Young  Adult  and  Ministry 
offices  and  Bethany  Theological 
Seminan/,  Applications  for  both 
interns  and  congregations  or  other 
ministry  locations  for  summer 
2001  will  be  due  in  February.  Con- 
tact the  Youth/Young  Adult  Office 
at  800-323-8039  for  more  details. 

Walt  Wiltschek  and  Kendra  Flory 
edited  this  feature. 


Where  interns  wor\ed 


The  name  of  the  mentor  is  listed  in 
parentheses. 

Jessica  Baker,  of  Palmyra,  Pa.,  interned  at 
Palmyra  (Pa.)  Church  of  the  Brethren 
(Dennis  Lohr) 

Stacey  Bowman,  of  McAlisterville,  Pa., 
interned  at  Modesto  (Calif.)  Church  of 
the  Brethren  (Bonnie  KJine  Smeltzer) 

Eric  Christiansen,  of  Franklin  Grove,  111., 
interned  at  Bella  Vista  Church  of  the 
Brethren,  Los  Angeles,  Calif.  (Dan  Moody) 

Kendra  Flory,  of  McPherson,  Kan., 
interned  at  Brethren  Press  Communica- 
tions Office,  Elgin,  111.  (Walt  Wiltschek) 

Rochelle  Hershey,  of  Ephrata,  Pa., 
interned  at  Wilmington  (Del.)  Church 
of  the  Brethren 

Josih  Hostetler,  of  Bremen,  Ind., 
interned  at  Chambersburg  (Pa.)  Church 
of  the  Brethren  (Ken  Gibble) 


Daniel  House,  of  Nokesville,  Va., 
interned  at  Akron  (Pa.)  Church  of  the 
Brethren  (Richard  Sisco) 

Jill  Noffsinger,  of  Elkhart,  Ind., 
interned  at  Oakton  (Va.)  Church  of  the 
Brethren  (Kurt  Borgmann) 

Scott  McDearmon,  of  Milledgeville, 
111.,  interned  at  Crest  Manor  Church  of 
the  Brethren,  South  Bend,  Ind.  (Larry 
Fourman) 

Beth  Rhodes,  of  Roanoke,  Va.,  interned 
at  York  Center  Church  of  the  Brethren, 
Lombard,  111.  (Christy  WaltersdorfO 

Dion  Stephey,  of  Johnstown,  Pa., 
interned  at  Tire  Hill  (Pa.)  Church  of  the 
Brethren  (lack  Rupert) 

Randall  Westfall,  of  Greenville,  Ohio, 
interned  at  Franklin  Grove  (111.)  Church 
of  the  Brethren  (Bill  Christiansen) 


BRETHRENING 


Directions  and  connections 


Last  spring,  my  daughter  and  I  traveled  from  Indiana  to 
visit  my  sister  in  Chapel  Hill,  N.C.  Because  it  had 
been  two  years  since  our  last  trip,  and  because  our 
map  was  old,  I  decided  to  stop  at  the  North  Car- 
olina Welcome  Center  to  check  the  route. 

I  was  grateful  to  find  a  very  helpful  gentle- 
man who  told  me  that  a  new  highway  had 
been  completed  which  would  make  the  rest 
of  our  trip  shorter  than  I  had  anticipated.  He  told 
me  what  to  watch  for  and  how  long  it  would  take.  I 
breathed  a  silent  prayer  of  thanks  as  I  left  the  Wel- 
come Center;  if  I  had  not  stopped  to  ask  directions,  I'm 
sure  our  trip  would've  taken  an  extra  hour. 

Two  months  later,  I  was  volunteering  for  the  Brethren  Press 
bookstore  at  Annual  Conference  in  Kansas  City.  As  a  couple 
came  to  the  cash  register,  I  noticed  that  their  name  tags  indi- 
cated they  were  from  Mt.  Airy,  North  Carolina.  I  said,  "Mt.  Airy. 
Isn't  that  close  to  Interstate  77?"  (Making  connections  is  half  of 
■what  Annual  Conference  is  for,  right?)  They  said  yes.  Then  I 
said,  "Isn't  that  where  the  new  highway  is?"  Again,  they  agreed 


As  I  rang  up  their  purchase,  I  told  them  about  my 
visit  to  North  Carolina  in  the  spring,  how  I  had  stopped 
at  the  Welcome  Center  to  get  directions,  and  how 
glad  I  was  that  I  had  done  that.  They  both  looked  at 
me  rather  intently  and  then  one  of  them  asked, 
"Was  it  an  older  gentleman  who  gave  you 
directions?"  I  said  that  it  was. 

Three  minutes  later,  they  returned  to  the 
cash  register  accompanied  by  another  person, 
and  said,  "Is  this  the  man  you  talked  to?"  He  asked 
me  what  day  I  had  come  through,  and  we  decided  it 
was  certainly  him! 

Some  times  I  think  I  talk  too  much,  but  that  day  at 
Brethren  Press,  I'm  glad  I  tried  to  make  a  connection.  I 
look  forward  to  stopping  at  the  North  Carolina  Welcome 
Center  next  time  I  make  the  trip;  even  if  I  don't  need  direc- 
tions, I  can  say  hi  to  brother  Bobby  Hiatt,  a  member  of  First 
Church  of  the  Brethren,  Mount  Airy,  N.C— Rachel  Gross 

Rachel  Gross  is  a  member  of  Manchester  Church  of  the  Brethren,  North  Manchester,  Ind. 

Messenger  October  2000  V 


What  to  do  unto  BTRflSj 

Engage  them,  as  part  of  the  covenant  community 


If  we  only 
see  each 
"other"  as 
threat  or 
competition, 
we  lose  the 
opening  for 
life  through 
the  biblical 
concept  of 
covenant. 


by  Chris  Bowman 

An  old  artic  .■  L  -  :-i-  Brueggemann 

recently  cauiiht  my  eye.  He  was  writing 
about  the  relationship  between  the  "people  of 
faith"  and  the  "other"  (insiders  and  outsiders). 
Though  the  "other"  is  usually  seen  as  a  threat, 
Brueggemann  points  out  that  the  "other"  often 
becomes  an  opening  for  life  through  the  biblical 
concept  of  covenant. 

In  the  biblical  concept  of  covenant,  we  form  a 
community  in  which  we  say  to  each  other  and  to 
God  that  we're  in  this  together,  we're  in  it  for  the 
long  run,  we're  moving  toward  the  same  goal, 
searching  for  the  same  treasure,  and  following 
the  same  God.  It  is  as  though  we  enter  a  "quest" 
together.  It's  not  so  much  a  caravan  or  pilgrim- 
age, both  of  which  have  some  predetermined 
destination  in  mind.  Rather,  we  enter  a  journey 
together  in  which  we  search  for  a  shared  goal.  In 
our  case,  we  quest  for  the  Kingdom  of  God. 

In  joining  this  quest,  the  "other"  often  brings  an 
opening  for  life  to  the  community  they  join.  Think 
of  the  biblical  story  of  Ruth.  She  was  a  Moabite 
woman.  Her  "type"  was  not  allowed  into  the 
assembly  of  worship — not  even  to  the  tenth  gener- 
ation (Deut.  23:3).  Yet  she  was  the  mother  of 
Obed  who  was  the  grandfather  of  King  David 
(Ruth  4:13ff).  Obed  traced  his  father's  family  back 
to  Tamar — an  "other"  of  another  sort  (Gen.  38). 
Unfortunately,  the  line  between  insider  and 
outside  is  not  easily  crossed.  Today's  news  is 
filled  with  fodder  for  otherness  thinking.  Racial 
quota  language  is  replacing  that  of  affirmative 
action.  States  are  trying  to  find  ways  to  avoid 
paying  for  the  needs  of  illegal  aliens.  Several 
shooting  sprees  by  white  supremacists  turn  the 
divisions  deadly.  One  political  candidate  argues 
that  the  influx  of  "other  folks"  is  an  issue  of 
national  security.  We  are  constantly  barraged 
with  news  about  who  is  "us"  and  who  is  "not  us." 
Grandma  saw  a  time  when  women  could  not 
vote.  Dad  remembers  the  time  when  blacks  were 
not  allowed  to  sit  in  the  front  of  the  bus.  In  my 
generation  we  have  people  like  Henry  Jordan,  a 
member  of  South  Carolina's  board  of  educa- 


tion, who  said,  "Screw  the  Buddhists  and  kill 
the  Muslims!  And  put  that  in  the  minutes." 
(Later,  trying  to  defend  his  statement,  he  said, 
"All  I  want  to  do  is  promote  Christianity.") 

Sometimes  it  seems  that  we  believe  that  evil, 
sin,  or  perversity  are  outgrowths  of  the  ideol- 
ogy of  the  "other."  We  forget  that  there's  plenty 
of  evil,  sin,  and  perversity  to  go  around.  Out- 
siders and  insiders  share  an  original  ability  to 
fall  prey  to  these  powers.  The  line  between 
good  and  evil  runs  through  the  individual  heart, 
not  neatly  around  groups  or  prejudices. 

The  church,  as  a  microcosm  of  our  prejudiced 
world,  also  struggles  with  issues  of  "other."  As 
we  experience  the  broadening  of  the  church,  we 
recognize  that  the  old  ways  of  doing  things  no 
longer  apply  with  the  same  universal  quality  they 
once  did.  New  diversity  breaks  into  our  struc- 
tured worlds.  The  first  time  1  saw  purple  hair  at 
Annual  Conference  I  realized  that  the  business 
we  are  about  is  no  longer  business  as  usual. 

When  the  "other"  infiltrates  our  world,  we 
often  renew  our  interest  in  a  fundamentalism  of 
belief,  or  structure,  or  truth.  We  redouble  our 
efforts  to  make  things  like  they  used  to  be  (or  like 
we  remember  them  being) — when  there  was  cer- 
tainty, authority,  and  order.  The  church  works  to 
recapture  a  time  when  we  spoke  for  God  and 
God  spoke  for  us.  We  compile  creeds,  reiterate 
doctrinal  teachings,  and  pass  denominational 
statements  clarifying  "truth."  Our  first  response 
to  the  influx  of  change  is  to  circle  the  wagons. 

The  second  response  is  to  fragment  the  foe.  We 
so  splinter  the  new  voices  that  none  is  taken  seri- 
ously by  the  body  or  by  each  other.  "Others"  are 
divided  into  caucuses,  fellowships,  and  special  in- 
terest groups.  They  grapple  for  power.  Each  group 
claims  to  carry  the  "truth"  irrespective  of  and  un- 
related to  the  other  "others."  We  associate  through 
liaison  relationships.  If  they  are  feeling  particularly 
generous,  the  "powers  that  be"  name  an  office  or 
staff  position  to  care  for  a  particular  "other." 

Currently,  conservatives  and  liberals,  evan- 
gelicals and  traditionalists,  fundamentalists 
and  mainline  folks  can't  see  eye  to  eye.  Urban, 
suburban,  and  rural  congregations  look  at  life 


^ 


Messenger  October  2000 


k 


and  each  other  differently.  Red  and  yellow, 
black  and  white  may  be  precious  in  God's 
sight,  but  often  less  so  to  each  other.  Flomo- 
sexuals  are  at  the  front  line  of  "other-ness" 
theology  in  our  day. 

If  we  only  see  each  "other"  as  threat  or  com- 
petition, we  lose  the  opening  for  life  through  the 
biblical  concept  of  covenant.  Unless  we  fully 
engage  each  "other"  in  the  community  of  faith, 
we  face  a  stunted,  tunnel-vision  view  of  God. 

To  engage  each  other  is  to  see  ourselves 
together  as  full  partners  in  the  covenant  com- 
munity. We  share  together  honestly  about  our 
differences  while  affirming  our  common  quest. 
We  do  not  ignore  our  differences  but  instead 
see  beyond  them  to  God's  claim  on  our  lives  as 
individuals  and  on  our  life  together. 

By  "engage"  1  do  not  mean  that  we  idolize 
other-ness  because  it  is  different,  new,  and 
"other."  We  falter  as  we  assume  that  every  new 
or  different  voice  is  God-spoken.  Instead  of 
looking  afresh  for  the  word  of  God  within  the 
"other"  we  sometimes  celebrate  diversity  for 
the  sake  of  diversity.  The  "other"  is  not  God. 

Nor  does  "engage"  suggest  that  the  body 
remains  unchanged  by  the  encounter.  We  cannot 
suppose  that  the  way  things  always  have  been  is  the 
way  God  intends  them  to  be.  Too  often  we  stumble 
by  assuming  that  a  new  voice  is  not  God-spoken. 

Those  in  charge  tend  to  believe  that  God  wants 
them  to  be  in  charge.  On  the  other  hand,  those 
who  rally  behind  the  flag  of  "other"  tend  to 
believe  that  God  predominantly  resides  with  those 
on  the  margins  of  society.  All  the  while  God's 
spirit  is  dancing  between  the  two,  refusing  to  be 
confined  by  our  boundaries  or  our  tolerance. 

The  wonder  is  that  within  this  "dance"  the 


Spirit  calls  us  to  a  Holy  Quest.  The  insiders  and 
the  outsiders,  the  "us"  and  the  "not-so-us,"  are 
invited  to  join  in  the  journey  expecting,  through 
the  covenant  community,  to  find  new  openings  for 
discovering  and  entering  the  Kingdom  of  God. 
Our  goal  should  be  to  fully  engage  each  other  and 
thus  break  down  the  distinction  between  slave  and 
free,  Greek  or  Jew,  male  or  female  ". .  .so  that  we 
may  become  co-workers  with  the  truth." 

Look  at  what  happened  when  the  earliest 
church  faced  this  same  challenge.  Acts  15  is'the 
story  of  the  Jerusalem  Council.  The  "new 
brethren"  up  in  the  Gentile  country  wanted  to 
know  if  they  had  to  become  Jewish  before  they 
could  become  Christian.  Must  we  follow  the 
616  Jewish  regulations  in  order  to  follow  Jesus? 

The  response  of  the  earliest  church  is  enlight- 
ening. They  did  not  circle  the  wagons  and 
defend  their  historic  way  of  being  faithful.  They 
did  not  fragment  the  foe  by  creating  liaison  rela- 
tionships with  the  various  Gentile  churches. 
They  engaged  the  other!  More  than  just  compro- 
mise, their  response  was  one  of  relationship.  A 
letter  was  written.  Apostles  visited  the  "other" 
congregation.  There  "was  much  rejoicing." 

The  influx  of  "other"  into  the  earliest 
church,  and  the  way  the  church  responded  to 
that  challenge,  paved  the  way  for  the  explo- 
sion of  their  evangelistic  efforts.  The  church 
had  clarified  to  itself  and  to  others  what  it 
meant  to  be  a  covenant  community.  Engaging 
each  "other"  in  the  common  quest  opened 
the  church  then,  and  invites  the  church 
now,  to  encounter  the  Spirit  which 
brings  new  life. 

Chris  Bowman,  former  chair  of  the  General  Board,  Is 
pastor  of  Memorial  Church  of  the  Brethren,  Martinsburg,  Pa. 


EQ 


Within  this 

"dance,"  the 

insiders  and 

the  outsiders 

are  invited  to 

join  in  the 

journey 

expecting  to 

find  new 

openings  for 

discovering 

and  entering 

the  Kingdom 

of  God. 


Messenger  October  2000 


i 


LETTERS 


^^  I've  lived  more  with  a  feeling  of  the  disconnect  between  Boy  Scouts 

and  Church  of  the  Brethren  values  than  any  sense  of  harnnony, 

although  connpleting  requirennents  for  my  God  and  Country  Award 

turned  me  toward  Youth  Camp  at  Camp  Mack,  a  fork  in  the  road  which 

made  all  the  difference  in  my  life's  direction. '' 


Memories  of  scouting 

Thanks,  Fletcher,  for  your  thoughts 
and  meditations  on  life  lessons 
learned  through  scouting  experi- 
ences (see  Editorial,  July).  Boy  Scout 
activities  (hiking,  camping,  knots. 


and  first  aid)  were  also  a  significant 
part  of  my  early  adolescence.  Your 
memories  of  your  Order  of  the  Arrow 
initiation  rekindled  my  own  (includ- 
ing raw  eggs  for  breakfast  after  my 
flickering  fire  failed). 

I've  lived  more  with  a  feeling  of  the 


Open  letter  of  gratitude 
from  the  past  moderator 

Dear  sisters  and  brothers, 

For  nearly  two  years,  many  cards,  e-mails,  and  letters  have  been  received  with 
words  of  encouragement,  pledges  of  prayer,  verses  of  scripture,  and  other 
words  of  wisdom.  Upon  our  return  from  Annual  Conference,  there  were  dozens 
more  and  they  continue  to  trickle  in.  I  am  in  awe  of  so  many  expressions  of 
loving  support,  of  genuine  caring  for  the  church  as  well  as  for  me  personally.  A 
leadership  role  can  be  lonely.  Thank  you  for  keeping  me  company  on  the  path 
to  seek  God's  yearning  for  us  as  a  denomination. 

My  preference  would  be  to  respond  to  each  individually  so  you  could  know 
in  what  ways  your  particular  words  have  touched  my  life  with  God's  grace. 
Realizing  that  to  respond  personally  is  hardly  possible,  I  take  this  opportunity 
to  express  my  heartfelt  gratitude  to  each  of  you.  During  Conference  there  were 
little  treats  and  notes  left  at  the  officers  table  with  no  name.  I'm  glad  God 
knows  your  name  and  will  bless  you  for  your  thoughtfulness. 

I'm  asking  that  you  continue  this  kind  of  support  with  Bros.  Phill  Carlos 
Archbold,  our  current  moderator,  and  Paul  Grout,  moderator-elect.  And  how 
about  words  of  appreciation  for  others  in  leadership  roles?  These  include  the 
Annual  Conference  office,  Program  and  Arrangements  Committee,  as  well  as 
staff  and  board  members  of  the  five  accountable/reportable  agencies.  A  human 
tendency  is  to  be  quick  to  criticize  and  slow  to  offer  words  of  appreciation. 
Let's  work  together  to  reverse  that  trend!  You've  already  made  a  great  start! 

"Always  be  joyful  in  your  union  with  the  Lord . . .  show  a  gentle  attitude 
toward  everyone  . .  .fill  your  minds  with  those  things  that  deserve 
praise. . .  "  (from  Philippians  4,  Good  News) . 

"Love  as  1  have  loved  you"  (fohn  15:12). 

Emily  Mumma 

Duncansville,  Pa. 


disconnect  between  Boy  Scouts  and 
Church  of  the  Brethren  values  than  any 
sense  of  harmony,  although  complet- 
ing requirements  for  my  God  and 
Country  Award  turned  me  toward 
Youth  Camp  at  Camp  Mack,  a  fork  in 
the  road  which  made  all  the  difference 
in  my  life's  direction. 

So  thanks  for  reminders  of  a  circle 
"lodge"  enough  to  include  some  that 
our  beloved  church  has  more  trouble 
including — even  the  likes  of  such  a  one 
as  me — and  for  a  bit  of  yeast  to  help 
hallow  my  memories  of  scouting. 

Tim  Sollenberger  Morphew 
New  Pans.  Ind. 


Simple  name  suggestion 

A  simple  name  for  ourselves  can  be  like 
a  flower  that  has  its  own  beauty  and 
also  shares  beauty  with  others. 

"Christian"  immediately  points  to 
our  Christ-centered  relatedness. 
"Community"  is  a  word  with  positive 
connotations  and  points  toward 
togetherness,  equality,  and  peace. 

Trying  to  put  too  much  in  our  name 
becomes  cumbersome.  We  can  leave  a 
few  more  specifics  for  our  tag  line:  Con- 
tinuing the  work  of  Jesus.  Peacefully. 
Simply.  Together. 

Christian  Community  Church  is 
simple  and  yet  communicates  positively 
and  powerfully. 

Roger  Eberly 
Milford,  Ind. 


iVIinistry  of  Brethren  homes 

Thank  you  for  the  excellent  featured 
section  of  the  August  Messenger  which 


i 


Messenger  October  2000 


focused  on  the  24  Church  of  the 
Brethren  homes  across  the  country.  It 
was  exciting  to  read  of  the  services  pro- 
vided by  these  organizations  and  the 
recognition  of  our  work  as  a  vital  aging 
and  health  care  ministry  within  the 
denomination. 

Gary  N.  Clouser,  President 

Bretlnren  Village,  Lancaster,  Pa. 


Ask  growing  churches 

It  was  a  bit  disconcerting  to  read  in  the 
July  Messenger  that  membership  in 
the  denomination  continues  to  decline, 
(1.2  percent  in  1999  and  5.7  percent 
since  1993).  This  is  a  struggle  we  have 
had  since  the  mid-1960s.  As  I  recall  we 
started  excusing  it  by  saying  that 
churches  were  purging  their  rolls.  It 
sounds  good  but  the  decline  has  contin- 
ued through  the  70s  then  the  80s  and 


now  the  90s. 

I  think  it's  fair  to  say,  though,  that 
some  congregations  grew  during  that 
period.  Some  doubled  and  almost 
tripled.  There  may  well  be  some 
answers  as  to  how  that  happened  and 
what  was  effective  in  accomplishing 
those  increases. 

I  realize  that  some  of  those  pastors 
in  growing  churches  do  not  have  long 
pedigrees  following  their  names,  and  I 
know  that  the  things  we  have  tried  at 
the  recommendation  of  folks  who  do 
have  the  list  of  letters  haven't  worked 
for  more  than  three  decades.  So 
maybe  it's  time  to  swallow  our  pride 
and  visit  some  of  the  smaller  churches 
that  have  grown  and  find  out  what 
they  are  doing  and  then  follow  the 
example. 

After  all,  we  are  all  serving  the  same 
God  and  preaching  the  same  forgive- 
ness through  the  same  Christ.  So  if 


Mai 

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phon^^ 

Uncommon 
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TlieLije  mid  Times 
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erinq  Frye,  Brethren  Press-  Infamous  in 
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er  Sarah  bravelij  preached  the  gospel 
eople  invited  her  to  speak.  Nancy 
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ife  of  the  first  female  Brethren  preacher, 
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Community 


The  Olive  Tree  has  been  a  source  of  food,  fuel,  furnishings  and  oil 
for  anointing  for  over  6,000  years.   Because  it  matures  very  slowly- 
one  tree  can  live  for  over  a  thousand  years — parents  and 
grandparents  plant  olive  trees  for  their  children,  leaving  a  valuable 
legacy  for  the  next  generation. 

Bethany's  Olive  Tree  Community  ]o\ns  together  a  special  group 
of  friends  who  have  a  similar  commitment  to  the  Seminary. 
Through  deferred  and  estate  gifts,  they  are  leaving  a  legacy  for 
future  generations  to  nurture  the  leadership  needed  for  our 
children,  grandchildren  and  new  children  in  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren. 


We  invite  you  to  become  a  member  of  the  Olive  Tree 
Community.  When  you  make  your  will,  purchase  life 
insurance,  start  a  retirement  plan  or  review  your  current 
estate  plan,  why  not  consider  including  BETHANY  as  a 
beneficiary  for  part  or  all  of  the  proceeds. 

Contact  Lowell  Flory  at  800-287-8822  for  more  Information. 


Messenger  October  2000 


LETTERS 


^^  So  maybe  it's  time  to  swallow  our  pride  and  visit  some  of  the 
smaller  churches  that  have  grown  and  find  out  what  they  are 
doing  and  then  follow  the  example. 


## 


we  can  learn  something,  even  if  it  is 
from  a  country  bumpkin  preacher,  we 
oughtto  do  it  if  itwill  furtherthe  king- 
dom of  God. 

Bill  Stovall 
Retired  pastor,  Bassett,  Va, 


Tell  someone  about  Jesus 

I  am  back  home  from  Annual  Confer- 
ence in  Kansas  City.  As  a  delegate,  I 
voted  on  Standing  Committee's 
answer  to  the  query  on  Personal 


Evangelism  and  Church  Growth, 
which  affirms  the  intent  of  calling  for 
a  stronger  emphasis  on  evangelism, 
and  calling  congregations  to  a  more 
concerted  effort  for  an  evangelistic 
emphasis. 

We  do  not  have  to  wait  for  another 
program  or  committee.  Because  of  this 
query,  I  went  to  the  display  booth  for 
New  Life  Ministries.  The  New  Life  Min- 
istries program  is  a  cooperative 
initiative  for  evangelism  and  church 
vitality  in  the  Anabaptist/Believers 
Church  tradition.  It  has  an  abundance 


of  helpful  resources. 

Yet  I  know  that  over  98  percent  of  my 
own  home  congregation  has  never 
heard  of  NLM.  The  resources  are  plen- 
tiful. The  programs  for  evangelism 
have  been  available.  But  who  will  do 
evangelism? 

The  bottom  line  for  me  is:  I  must 
tell  someone  about  Jesus.  Jesus 
promises  to  enable  us  with  power  to 
be  his  witnesses  (Acts  1:8),  but  few 
want  to  try  it.  I  have  the  resources 
from  my  denomination  and  others, 
and  I  am  empowered  by  Jesus  him- 


CLASSIFIED 


Christian  Family  Practice  group  is  seelting  a 
family  physician  and/or  a  physician  extender 
(PA-C  or  RN-FI\IP)  to  join  our  growing  practice. 

We  are  located  in  North  Central  Indiana,  near  Goshen. 
We  provide  obstetrics  with  many  deliveries  done 
at  an  Amish  Birthing  Center  near  Shipshewana. 
Opportunities  for  short-  or  long-term  missions.  Inde- 
pendently owned  (six  physicians  &  one  PA)  and 
committed  to  remaining  sensitive  to  the  needs  of 
the  local  community.  Option  to  buy  in.  Contact  Steve 
Wendler,  Administrator,  at  Middlebury  Family  Physi- 
cians, PO  Box  459,  Middlebury,  IN  46540.  Day 
telephone:  219-825-2900  Evening:  219-825-7506. 

North  Manchester  Indiana  Family  Practice 
Clinic  is  seeking  Board  Certified  Family  Prac- 
tice Physicians.  You  would  be  joining  our  group 
of  3  FP's  and  1  NP  who  practice  the  full  continuum 
of  Primary  Care  including  Obstetrics,  Inpatient 
and  Preventative  Medicine  in  a  small  college  town. 
Our  clinic  is  across  the  street  from  Manchester 
College,  a  liberal  arts  college  with  an  enrollment 
of  1100  students.  Located  in  NE  Indiana  on  the  Eel 
River,  North  Manchester,  population  6500,  is  only 
20  minutes  form  Wabash  County  Hospital  with 
OB/GYN  and  a  wide  range  of  specialty  support 
available.  Tertiary  hospital  available  in  nearby  Fort 
Wayne.  Our  community  has  its  own  symphony,  a 
superb  new  library  with  childrens  programs,  fine 
schools  and  two  major  non-profit  retirement 
homes(one  CoB).  Tour  our  town  at  www.nman- 
chester.com.  For  additional  information  about  our 
opportunity  please  contact  Lynn  Hatfield,  Direc- 
tor of  Physician  Recruitment  at  1-800-727-8439, 
ext.  22183  or  email  at  lhat(S)parkview.com. 


The  Association  of  Brethren  Caregivers  is 
seeking  a  full-time  Coordinator  of  Shared  Ser- 
vices to  assist  the  Executive  Director  with 
programming  and  services  to  the  association  and 
the  Fellowship  of  Brethren  Homes,  a  ministry  with 
Brethren  retirement  communities.  Ideal  candi- 
dates will  demonstrate  the  following  qualifications: 
working  knowledge  of  the  mechanisms  and 
processes  which  impact  services  to  the  aging;  expe- 
rience in  retirement  community  management; 
understanding  of  Church  of  the  Brethren  heritage; 
bachelor's  degree  in  a  related  field;  proficiency  in 
interpretation  and  consensus  building;  comfort 
providing  leadership  in  an  environment  with  diverse 
interests;  excellent  communication,  organization 
and  computer  skills.  The  position,  located  in  Elgin, 
Illinois,  is  available  on  January  1,  2001.  Direct 
inquiries  or  send  letters  of  application  with  resume 
and  three  references  to  Steve  Mason,  Executive 
Director,  ABC,  1451  Dundee  Avenue,  Elgin,  IL  60120. 

Position  available:  Full-time  additional  staff 
needed  at  Goshen  City  Church  of  the  Brethren, 
Goshen,  IN.  Person  will  assist  in  areas  of  com- 
munity outreach,  young  adult  and  youth  ministries, 
contemporary  worship,  and  Christian  education. 
Bachelors  degree  minimum.  Contact  Northern 
Indiana  District  Office,  (219)  773-3149. 

Position  available:  Executive  Director  for  COBYS 
Family  Services,  an  agency  of  the  Atlantic  North- 
east District.  Programs  include  Foster  Care,  Adoption, 
Teen  Mother  and  Child  Group  Home,  Counseling 
and  Parent  Education.  Graduate  degree  required; 
MSW  preferred.  Should  have  experience  in  the 


human  service  setting.  Supervisory  and/or  admin- 
istrative experience  required.  Send  resume  by 
December  1,  2000  to  Search  committee,  COBYS 
Family  Services,  1417  Oregon  Road,  Leola,  PA  17540. 

Travel  with  a  purpose.  Visit  the  "Cradle  of  Civ- 
ilization," March  16-29,  2001.  Featuring:  crossing 
the  Red  Sea,  visiting  Mt.  Sinai,  cruising  on  the  Sea 
of  Galilee,  cable  car  ride  to  Massada.  Visit  Petra, 
the  rose  city,  Jerusalem,  The  Holy  Land,  St.  Cather- 
ine Monastery  on  Mt.  Sinai.  Full  breakfast  and 
dinner  throughout.  For  information  write  Wendell 
and  Joan  Bohrer,  8520  Royal  Meadow  Drive,  Indi- 
anapolis, IN.  46217.  Tel/fax  317-882-5067.  E-mail 
rdwboh(2)aol.com. 

Travel  to  the  White  Continent— Cruise  to 

Antarctica— including  visits  to  Argentina  and 
Uruguay,  January  7-20,  2001.  Optional  visits  to 
Chile  and  Iguassau  Falls  available.  For  informa- 
tion please  write  to  J.  Kenneth  Kreider,  1300 
Sheaffer  Road,  Elizabethtown,  PA  17022. 

Palms  Estates  in  Florida.  Come  and  join  73 
year-round  homeowners  and  36  RV-site  campers 
at  the  growing  Palms  Estates  in  Lorida,  Florida, 
while  enjoying  Florida's  heartland  and  ready 
access  to  theme  parks,  urban  attractions  and  air- 
ports. Member  of  the  Fellowship  of  Brethren 
Homes,  our  independent  living  community  offers 
fishing  on  Lake  Istokpoga  and  our  connecting 
canal,  extensive  fellowship,  recreational  and  craft 
activities,  friendly  wildlife,  adjacent  Church  of  the 
Brethren,  and  nearby  golf,  cattle  ranches,  citrus 
groves  and  Amtrak.  Call  863-655-1909. 


m 


Messenger  October  2000 


self.  Girded  by  prayer,  and  allowing 
God  to  use  me,  do  I  have  the  courage 
to  take  the  step  to  tell  someone 
about  Jesus? 

Sarah  L.  Markey 

York,  Pa 

Keep  working  on  racism 

Thank  you  for  your  editorial,  "Let's 
talk  about  race"  (August).  I  find  it 
interesting  how  racism  seems  to  get 
our  attention  when  it  is  between 
whites  and  others  of  a  different  color. 
It  is  my  observation  that  every  group 
engages  in  discrimination  within  their 
own  group. 

The  problem  is  accentuated  by  the 
growing  emphasis  on  the  rights  of 
every  individual.  A  part  of  the  prob- 
lem is  the  lack  of  recognizing  and 
accepting  that  the  desires  of  Individ- 

^^  I  find  it  interesting 
how  racism  seems  to 
get  our  attention  when 
it  is  between  whites 
and  others  of  a 
different  color.  It  is  my 
observation  that  every 
group  engages  in 
discrimination  within 
their  own  group.  '^ 


uals  are  often  in  conflict  with  the 
desires  of  others.  There  used  to  be  a 
saying:  "My  freedom  ends  where 
your  nose  begins."  My  belief  that 
God  is  the  sole  creator,  and  the 
source  of  our  different  temperaments 
increases  the  mystery  of  how  to  deal 
with  the  whole  problem. 

My  only  answer  is,  "Keep  working 
at  it." 

Phil  Zinn 

Tampa,  Fla 


Put  Gospel  back  in  Messenger 

I  was  intrigued  by  the  disappearing 
word  "Gospel"  in  Wendy  McFadden's 
message  "From  the  publisher"  in  the 
July  issue.  The  evolutionary  designs  [of 
the  Messenger  nameplate]  first  gave 
equal  billing  to  the  word,  then  shrink- 
ing, and  in  the  last  several  designs,  it 
was  gone  completely.  It  occurred  to  me 
to  look  to  see  if  other  old  standby  words 
were  missing  as  well. 

There  were  a  few  acknowledgments 
of  God  here  and  there  but,  in  the  entire 
issue,  I  saw  no  other  reference  to  the 
Gospel  and  the  only  mentions  of  Jesus 
that  I  saw  were  on  an  unnumbered 
advertisement  insert  between  pages  24 
and  25  and  in  the  letters.  A  computer 
search  of  the  text  might  pick  up  a 
couple  that  I  missed  but  not  the  mes- 
sage of  the  Messenger.  We  have  a 
social  gospel  message,  and  that  is 


"if  we  suddenly  find 
ourselves  face  to  face  with 
dying,  we  come  up  against 
ultimate  questions.. .  .After  I 
received  the  diagnosis  of 
advanced  lung  cancer,  I 
needed  to  deal  with  those 
questions  more  intensely 
than  I  ever  had  before.'' 

—  Dale  Aukerma 

»pe 
Beyond 
Healing 


Hope  Beyond  Healing:  A  Cancer  Journal 
by  Dale  Aukerman  available  now  from 
Brethren  Press  for  $14.95  P'us  shipping 
and  handling  charges. 


I- 

Brethren  Press 

I45I  Dundee  Avenue.  Elgin,  IL  60I20-I694 

phone  800-441-3712     "fax  800-667-8188 

e-m.i.lbrcthrcnpres5_gb@brechren.ore 


Join  other  Brethren  in  business  for  support,  networking,  learning,  and  service. 

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infoCgbrethrenbusinessnetwork.net 

(219)982-5232 


Messenger  October  2000 


LETTERS 


good,  but  except  for  some  advertising 
and  some  letters  to  the  editor,  we  have 
no  Good  News.  Perhaps  the  gradual 
demise  of  our  denomination  is  the  Holy 
Spirit  working  in  our  world? 

Wayne  Bishop 

Pasadena,  Caiif. 


Churches  need  Christlike  vision 

Robin  Wentworth  Mayer's  article  in  the 
July  Messenger  is  on  target.  The  local 
church  loses  out  when  it  has  no  vision. 

As  a  pastor  for  35  years  and  having 
served  on  district  boards  and  commit- 
tees, I  have  seen  churches  close  their 
doors  due  to  a  dwindling  population,  no 
interest,  and  no  vision.  I  have  wondered 
what  happened. 

Currently  there  are  churches  struggling 
with  decreased  budgets,  suffering  a  low 
morale  and  relational  tensions,  as  well  as 
conflicts  over  leadership  and  polity 


^^The  local  church 
can  overcome  barriers 
where  there  is  a 
positive  vision  of  love, 
and  where  Jesus 
Christ  is  Lord  over  all. 
Any  church  renewal 
progrann  will  fail  if  the 
people  don't  share  a 
Christlike  vision.  ^^ 


values.  I  have  recently  experienced  the 
downward  spiral  of  a  Church  of  the 
Brethren  congregation  because  of  con- 
flicts in  pastoral  leadership  and  the  laity. 
The  local  church  can  overcome  barri- 
ers where  there  is  a  positive  vision  of 
love,  and  where  Jesus  Christ  is  Lord 
over  all.  New  Life  Ministries,  or  any 
church  renewal  program,  will  fail  if  the 
people  don't  share  a  Christlike  vision. 

Earl  Hammer 

Retired  pastor,  Waynesboro,  Va. 

•J  Messenger  October  2000 


This  month's  Turning  Points 
includes  all  listings  received  prior  to 
8/25/00  not  previously  published. 
Forms  for  submitting  Turning  Points 
information  are  available  by  calling 
Peggy  Reinacher  at  800-323-8039. 


New  members 

Ankeny,  Iowa:  Alice  Draper 

Blue  Ridge,  Va.:  Polly  Creasy 

Carlisle.  Pa.:  Marion  Bachleda, 
Glenn  Bowser,  Bill  Crouse, 
Sandy  Crouse,  Doris  Fair, 
Rebecca  Gates,  Donja 
Hinson,  George  Smith, 
Elaine  Smith,  laclyn  Bailey, 
Kristen  Bailey,  Lyndsey  Mul- 
holland 

Cedar  Creek.  Garrett,  Ind.: 
Sheena  Gerber,  Travis 
Putnam,  Dylan  Graft,  Colby 
Knott,  Kyle  Yarde 

Cincinnati,  Ohio;  |im  Deeter, 
leanne  Deeter,  IVIel  Sim- 
mons, Renee  Wilson 

Coventry,  Pottstown,  Pa.:  Lisa 
O'Brien,  Christine  High, 
Crystal  Moore,  Janet 
Swavely 

Dupont,  Ohio:  Cheryl  Geckle, 
Rylee  Ulm,  Emily  Workman, 
Terry  Webb,  Crystal  Webb, 
Michelle  Noffsinger,  Alicia 
Simindinger,  Sheena 
Simindinger 

East  Chippewa,  Orrville,  Ohio: 
Samantha  Durtschi 

First  Central,  Kansas  City, 
Kan,:  Eunice  Wachira 

Four  Mile,  Liberty,  Ind,: 

Dustin  Collett,  Matt  Deaton, 
Brian  Deaton,  Vince  Deaton, 
Lori  Deaton,  Brian  Creek, 
Linda  McCashland,  Donna 
Leverton,  Larry  Raper, 

Harrisburg,  Pa,:  Butch  Eisen- 
hour,  Lois  Strickland,  Roger 
Stefly,  Carol  Steffy,  Dave 
Weaver-Zercher,  Valerie 
Weaver-Zercher,  Brcndon 
McCabe 

Maple  Grove,  Ashland,  Ohio: 
Paul  Myers,  Ella  Myers, 
Brenda  Henderson,  June 
Tritle.  Joe  Woodring,  Bar- 
bara Woodring 

Montezuma,  Dayton,  Va.: 
Dennis  Huffman,  Wayne 
Huffman,  Erika  Kinkead, 
|osh  Kinkead,  Greg  Losh, 
Lori  Losh,  Austin  McNett, 
Kalhryn  Roche,  Kaly  Roche 

Mounlville,  Pa,:  Miriam  Plack. 
Tom  Ritchie.  Frances  Shaub, 
Brandon  Shenk,  Laura 
Wagner,  Zachary  Musser,  |. 
Michael  Long,  Geoffrey 
Hess,  Christopher  Barto, 


lacob  Thomas,  Lauren 
Ortega,  Lisa  Boshnaugle, 
Gina  Ruffini,  loseph  Ruffini. 
Nicholas  Ruffini,  |oel  B. 
Musser,  Cody  Staab,  Erin 
Staab,  Sarah  Over 

Moxham,  lohnstown.  Pa.:  Gre- 
gory lacoby,  loyce  Mahon, 
Steven  Wilson 

Palmyra,  Pa.:  George  Hinkle, 
Arthur  Zellers,  Craig  Biddle. 
Michelle  Biddle.  Amanda 
Sweeney,  Heather  Houff, 
Todd  Albaugh,  Cindy 
Albaugh,  ]eff  Rudder,  Ira 
Light,  |r. 

Panther  Creek,  Adel,  Iowa: 
Missy  Buchman,  Kyle 
McCord,  Robert  Sells,  |r,, 
Lynn  Swinger,  Courtney 
Zeimet,  |ason  Hughes,  Rick 
Rice,  Denise  Rice.  Rustin 
Rice,  Brandi  Rice,  Deena 
Rice,  lohna  Sells 

Pine  Creek,  North  Liberty, 
Ind.:  Hanna  Bachtel, 
Shoshanna  Bachtel 

Pleasant  Dale.  Decatur,  Ind.: 
Haley  Byerly,  David  Manley, 
Michelle  Manley 

Poplar  Ridge,  Defiance,  Ohio: 
Howard  Peuhler,  Vicki  Peuh- 
ler 

Prairie  City,  Iowa:  Dean  Tim- 
mons,  Molly  Timmons,  Dan 
Graham,  |ulie  Marlinache, 
Jessica  [ohnson,  lennifer 
Nolin,  Dana  Ayers,  Garnet 
Van  Winkle,  Linda  Graham 

Ridgeway  Community,  Harris- 
burg, Pa,,  Christopher  Roof, 
Kelsey  Yost,  Dustin 
Bauknight,  lames  Evans, 
Stephen  Zug,  |r. 

Scalp  Level,  Windber,  Pa,: 
Dennis  Berkey,  Marilyn 
aerkey,  Ruth  Felix,  Robert 
Hostetler,  Wilma  Hosteller 

Skyridge,  Kalamazoo,  Mich.: 
Beverly  Brady 

Spring  Creek,  Hershey,  Pa.: 
Daniel  Ackerman,  Kristine 
Ackerman,  Denise  Fair,  Allen 
Grow,  ludy  Grow,  Rachael 
Jordan,  Peter  Kontra,  Shelley 
Kontra,  Joseph  Lipinsky, 
Kathi  Lipinsky,  Robert 
Rhodes.  Donna  Rhodes. 
Brandon  Rhodes 

Spring  Run,  McVeytown,  Pa.: 
Ashley  Gromis,  Daniel 
Swigart,  Shannon  Himes 

Stone,  Huntingdon.  Pa.:  Dale 
Dowdy,  Christy  Dowdy, 
David  Witkovsky,  Kim 
Witkovsky,  Matthew 
Witkovsky,  Rachel 
Witkovsky,  Hanna  Pingry, 
Jacob  Wenger 

Sugar  Creek,  West,  Lima, 


Ohio:  Phyllis  Borger,  Kristin 
Hackworth,  Jennifer  Jones, 
Matthew  Jones,  Stephanie 
White,  Nancy  Burnett,  Lynne 
Alger,  Karen  Applegate 

Sugar  Ridge,  Custer,  Mich,: 
Pamela  Rose  Clark 

Swatara  Hill,  Middletown,  Pa.: 
Crystal  Dehmey,  Melissa 
Carn,  Mark  Messick 

Trotwood,  Ohio:  Tom  Barnes 

Welly,  Smithsburg,  Md.:  Clark 
A.  Clipp.  Susie  Clipp 

West  Goshen,  Goshen,  Ind.: 
Beth  Hochstetler 

Wichita,  Kan.:  Holly  Hulbert. 
Carol  Hulbert,  Duane  and 
Jane  Ramsey,  Gerald  and 
Nancy  Minns,  Danielle 
Wilson,  Christopher  Minns. 
Chris  Blurton,  Aaron  Mel- 
horn.  Katie  Hill 


Wedding 
anniversaries 

Brandt.  Robert  and  Anna.  Eliz- 

abethtown.  Pa..  50 
Brannan.  Nelson  and  Ruth. 

Lewistown,  Pa..  bO 
Carothers,  Charles  II  and 

Ethel,  Boiling  Springs, 

Pa.,  60 
Cressman,  Clark  and  Fay, 

Phoenixville,  Pa.,  60 
Fickes,  Leroy  and  Doris. 

Newville,  Pa.,  50 
Flora,  Russell  and  Lucille,  Tipp 

City,  Ohio,  50 
Foust.  R.  Kenneth  and  Alice. 

New  Oxford,  Pa.,  60 
Hefner,  joe  and  Rosella,  Lima, 

Ohio,  60 
Herr,  Albert  and  Helen,  Roy- 

ersford.  Pa,,  55 
Hummel,  Robert  and  E\'a. 

Hummelstown,  Pa,,  50 
Kroft,  Joe  and  Gladys,  Akron, 

Ind.,  60 
Krull,  David  and  Myrtle,  New 

Paris,  Ind.,  65 
Leedy.  John  R.  and  Catherine. 

Gettysburg.  Pa.,  50 
Mallott,  Floyd  and  Donna. 

Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  50 
Marsden,  Charles  and  Dottie, 

San  Diego,  Calif.,  50 
Merkey,  Sam  and  Shirley.  Man- 

heim.  Pa.,  50 
Melzger,  Myron  and  Grace, 

North  Manchester,  Ind.,  50 
Millet,  Angel  and  Lucille, 

Adrian.  Mich.,  50 
Miner.  Emmert  Lindy  and 

Doris  lean.  Gettysburg, 

Pa.,  50 
Parker,  Lawrence  and  Ruth, 

Norristown,  Pa.,  50 


TURNING  POINTS 


Patrick,  Norman  and  Beryl, 

llcrshey.  Pa.,  72 
Robi&on.  Ralph  and  Lucille  C, 

Millcrcsl,  CaliC,  65 
Rusmiscl.  David  and  Maigaicl. 

Lima,  Ohio.  60 
Shcplcr.  Roy  and  Martha. 

Wabash.  Ind.,  60 
Smith,  Arthur.  )r,  and  Kalher- 

iiu-,  Ashland.  Ohio.  60 
Smith.  Karlton  and  I'eg.  Mont 

Clare.  Pa..  50 
Tinkcy.  Norman  and  Rozella. 

Akron.  Ind.,  50 
Tomlonson,  John  D.  and  Veva 

M..  Goshen.  Ind.,  50 
Ward,  Chet  and  Freda.  Troy. 

Ohio,  60 
Witmer.  Harry  and  Sara.  Oaks. 

Pa..  60 
Zell.  Carl  and  Mary  Ellen. 

Sidney,  Ohio  60 


Deaths 

Allslot.  Richard  E.  (Dick),  East 

Wenatchee.  Wash..  Dec.  15 
Amslutz.  Earl.  Orrville.  Ohio 

\pril  3.  1999 
Armcnlroul.  Arreta  Virginia. 

91.  Harrisonburg.  Va.. 

July  31 
Ausherman.  Dorothy  M..  92. 

York,  Pa,.  Aug.  7 
Baughman.  Carl  E.,  86.  St. 

Petersburg.  Fla..  May  24 
Bock.  loe.  II.  Waynesboro.  Pa.. 

Dec.  3 
Bollinger.  Amnion.  87.  Man- 

heim.  Pa..  Ian.  19 
Bomberger.  Grace.  85.  Man- 

heim.  Pa..  Feb.  19 
Bosseman.  Willis  O..  80.  Ship- 

pensburg.  Pa..  Aug.  12 
Bouse,  Marie  E..  85.  Silver 

Lake,  Ind,,  Aug,  21 
Boyer,  Stuart  E.,  69,  Glen 

Rock,  Pa„  July  21 
Brown,  Alvera,  86,  McPherson, 

Kan.,  luly  31 
Brubaker.  Robert.  59.  Lititz. 

Pa.,  Ian.  27 
Buckwalter.  Marie.  83. 

Orrville.  Ohio.  Aug.  10 
Burch.  Frances  Helen  Holler. 

85,  Woodstock.  Va..  July  18 
Bush.  Richard,  66.  Spring  City. 

Pa..  May  17 
Carey.  Cora.  Waynesboro,  Pa.. 

Nov.  8 
Clatlerbuck.  Gordon  Douglas. 

Sr..  77.  Edinburg.  Va.. 

luly  12 
Cline.  Quentin  Garber.  72. 

Weyers  Cave.  Va..  July  8 
'Conrad.  Kenneth,  Danville, 

Ohio,  Feb.  13,  1999 
Croasmun.  Paul  A..  55. 


Hanover.  Pa..  Aug.  7 
Dell.  Helen  Rebecca  Click.  96, 

Bridgewater.  Va..  luly  14 
Dcntlcr.  Hazel  E..  93,  York, 

Pa.,  Aug.  6 
Delwilcr,  Rebecca,  90. 

Harleysville,  Pa.,  July  1 
Dews.  Marlyn  L.,  67,  East 

Canton,  Ohio.  July  3 
DIek.  Catherine  L..  73.  Gettys- 
burg. Pa..  May  7 
Durand.  Beatrice.  91,  Troy, 

Ohio,  luly  17 
Eichclbcrger,  Dale  W.,  64,  East 

Berlin.  Pa.,  |uly  30 
Forror.  Elizabeth  (Beth).  87.  El 

Cajon.  CaliL.  July  5 
Foust.  R.  Kenneth.  80.  New 

Oxford,  Pa,,  July  9 
Garber,  Eston  Levi,  88,  Bridge- 
water,  Va..  luly  25 
Good.  Ira.  Orrville.  Ohio,  luly 

11,  1998 
Grim.  Nora,  96.  Overland 

Park.  Kan.,  June  29 
Harrison.  Mildred  A.,  88. 

Windber.  Pa.,  |uly  19 
Harville.  Helen  Marie.  77. 

Overland  Park.  Kan.,  luly  10 
Hevener.  Sain.  66.  Lititz.  Pa.. 

Dec.  1  1 
Hoffman.  Harry  W..  71.  |ohn- 

stown.  Pa..  Aug.  7 
Hosteller.  Amnion.  |r., 

Orrville.  Pa.,  Aug.  24,  1998 
HoufL  Mary  Frances.  82. 

Staunton.  Va..  |uly  28 
llyes,  Charles  E..  74.  York.  Pa.. 

Aug.  6 
Johnson.  Clara  Thelma.  93. 

Modesto.  CaliL,  Aug.  9 
Keyser.  Marguerite,  95,  Oaks. 

Pa.,  luly  7 
King.  Elsie.  Waynesboro.  Pa.. 

Aug.  15,  1999 
King,  Steve,  Smithville,  Ohio, 

Feb.  21.  1998 
KIracofe.  Helen  E..  99.  Holli- 

daysburg.  Pa.,  luly  14 
Riser.  David  Austin.  90. 

Churchville.  Va..  June  25 
Kissinger,  Margaret.  Waynes- 
boro. Pa..  Ian.  1  3 
Klim.  Florine.  Waynesboro.  Pa.. 

Oct.  26 
Kurtz.  Alice.  84.  Lebanon.  Pa.. 

Aug.  3 
Layman,  Cubia  jeanette.  97. 

Keezletown.  Va.,  July  19 
Lehman.  Dorthea.  74.  |ohn- 

stown.  Pa..  April  4 
Lehman.  Ralph  Edwin.  79. 

lohnstown.  Pa.,  April  20 
Lewis,  Violet  H..  95,  Glen 

Burnie,  Md.,  Nov.  29 
Maser.  Alice.  Johnstown.  Pa.. 

May  31 
Mauck.  Roy  Edward.  Sr..  75. 

Winchester.  Va..  luly  18 
McCalla.  Donald,  82.  Sidney, 


Ohio,  luly  22 
Mecklcy,  Donald,  Waynesboro, 

Pa.,  Dec,  27 
Mclzger,  Gale  E.,  89,  Warsaw, 

Ind.,  Aug.  6 
Meyerhocffer,  Margaret  Rodef- 

ter.  93.  Bridgewater.  Va.. 

luly  12 
Miller.  1,  Raymond,  67,  East 

Berlin,  Pa.,  luly  29 
Mumma.  Glenda,  Waynesboro, 

Pa.,  luly  15,  1999 
Murray.  Nevin,  Waynesboro, 

Pa.,  Feb.  24.  1999 
Myer.  Bertha.  87.  Manheim. 

Pa.,  lune  8 
Moore.  Willie.  Wooster,  Ohio. 

March  19.  1997 
Parson.  Robert.  70.  Oaks.  Pa.. 

Dec.  18 
Pepple.  Robert  ]..  88,  New 

Paris.  Ind.,  luly  16 
Porter,  Anna  M.,  52,  York,  Pa.. 

luly  29 
Raysor.  Kathryn.  92.  Royers- 

ford.  Pa,,  May  14 
Richards.  Olive,  89,  Kokomo, 

Ind.,  luly  14 
Rieley.  Lois,  88,  Thaxton,  Va,, 

lune  14 
Riffey,  Ruby  Mae,  91,  Toms 

Brook,  Va.,  luly  19 
Rivers,  Stella.  91.  Kokomo. 

Ind..  luly  9 
Rodeffer.  Minnie  Shores.  79. 

McGaheysville,  Va.,  luly  6 
Royer,  Anna  Mae,  93,  Dallas 

Center,  Iowa,  Aug.  15,  1999 
Runkle,  Esther,  81,  Gettysburg. 

Pa..  Aug.  10 
Schneider.  Nettie,  Wooster, 

Ohio,  April  3,  1999 
Schiffbaeur,  losephine,  83, 

Akron,  Ohio,  July  25 
Sherfy,  Ralph  E.,  86. 

Greenville,  Ohio,  lune  22 
Shie,  Richard,  85,  Wooster, 

Ohio.  Aug.  14 
Shively,  Abraham.  95.  Sidney. 

Ohio.  May  17 
Shoup.  Olin.  51.  Orrville. 

Ohio,  Sept.  3,  1999 
Smucker,  lay,  84,  Orrville, 

Ohio,  lune  24.  1999 
Snyder.  Eileen  E.,  80.  North 

Manchester.  Ind..  April  2 
Snyder.  Margaret.  Waynesboro. 

Pa..  April  20,  1999 
Steiner.  Harold,  Wooster, 

Ohio.  Ian.  27,  1998 
Sleinle.  Ruth.  90.  Titusville. 

Fla..  luly  28 
Strapel.  Gladys  Nadine.  83. 

Windber,  Pa.,  Aug.  15 
Sirawderman,  Lucille  Fleta.  73. 

Mathias.  W.Va..  |uly  25 
Sykora.  Margaret  (Maggie). 

45.  Sarasota.  Fla..  luly  24 
Tarr.  Eunice.  93.  Monroeville. 

Pa.,  luly  8 


Timmons.  Laura.  93,  Orrville, 

Ohio  luly  I,  1999 
Toms,  loseph.  Waynesboro,  Pa,, 

luly  30,  1999 
Toomey,  Florence  L,  68,  York, 

Pa..  Aug.  7 
Utz,  Norman  Taylor.  Ir..  73. 

Brightwood,  Va..  March  lb 
Wampler.  Rel'a  Pearl.  87.  New 

Market.  Va..  July  25 
Warner.  lefL  42,  San  Fran- 
cisco, Calif,,  luly  22 
Weaver,  Farrell,  71,  Kokomo. 

Ind..  May  29 
Weaver,  lames  P..  90.  Windber, 

Pa.,  luly  21 
Weaver.  .Millard  H..  90.  Wind- 
ber. Pa..  Aug.  3 
Webster,  Lola  Catherine,  80. 

Moorefield,  W.Va.,  luly  21 
Weddell,  Stanley,  Wooster. 

Ohio,  Nov.  30,  1997 
Wise.  Oscar.  89,  Lancaster.  Pa.. 

May  29 
WolL  Samuel  E..  77.  East 

Berlin,  Pa.,  luly  8 
Yohe,  Winafred  V,  82, 

Abbottstown,  Pa.,  luly  21 
Younkin.  Mary  R..  Tucson. 

Ariz.,  luly  18 
Zimmerman.  Russell  Cline.  89, 

Dayton.  Va..  July  12 


Licensings 

Bcrkey.  Holly  lo.  Aug.  b.  Maple 

Spring,  Hollsopple,  Pa. 
Good.  Nancy  D..  luly  30, 

Maple  Spring. 

Hollsopple.  Pa. 
Herring.  David  L..  luly  23. 

Uniontown.  Pa. 
Kuruzovich.  Beth  Anne. 

March  26.  Lower  Claar. 

Claysburg,  Pa. 
O'Neill.  Lawrence.  Dec.  5. 

Green  Tree.  Oaks,  Pa. 
Ritenour.  Eric  R.,  Aug.  I  3. 

Geiger.  Friedens.  Pa. 
Yinkey.  Christopher  R..  Aug. 

13,  Geiger,  Friedens,  Pa. 
Zepp,  Christopher  W.,  Aug.  27. 

Lancaster,  Pa, 


Ordinations 

Barber,  Howard,  |r.,  lune  25, 

Prince  of  Peace,  Kettering. 

Ohio 
Fix.  Eleanor  A.,  luly  2.  Cherry 

Lane.  Clearville.  Pa. 
llyes,  lohn  Samuel.  June  1  I. 

New  Fairview,  York.  Pa. 
(ones.  Gregory  Lee.  luly  23. 

Shippensburg,  Pa. 
King.  Kevin  Daniel.  |une  25, 

Community,  Orlando,  Fla, 
Ramsey.  Dwight.  |an.  24. 


1999,  Midway,  Lebanon.  Pa. 
Ray.  Mark  Alan,  |une  4,  Blue 

River,  Columbia  City,  Ind. 
Weaver,  Herbert,  luly  2.  |ack- 

sonville,  Fla. 
Williams,  Edward  Thoinas, 

luly  1,  Midland,  Va. 


Pastoral 
placement 

Booz.  Donald  R..  from  pastor. 
McPherson.  Kan.  to  district 
executive/minister.  Mid- 
Atlantic  District.  Ellicott 
City.  Md..  lune  1  5 

Carroll,  lames  U..  to  East 
Nimishillen,  North  Canton, 
Ohio,  part-time,  lune  4 

Daggett,  Kevin,  from  interim, 
Wakeman's  Grove,  Edinburg, 
Va.  to  permanent. 
Sangerville.  Bridgewater. 
Va..  lune  1 

Fairchild.  lanice,  to  pastor, 
Springfield.  Ore.,  August  1 

Hess,  lohn  F.,  from  pastor, 
Roxbury,  lohnstown.  Pa.,  to 
pastor,  Newville,  Pa.,  Aug.  27 

lohnson,  Daniel  M.,  from 
pastor,  Schuylkill,  Pine 
Grove.  Pa.,  to  pastor, 
Brownsville,  Md,.  August  20 

lones,  Gregory  Lee,  to  pastor, 
Fairview,  Unionville,  Iowa, 
Aug.  16 

Keeney.  Gregory  R..  from  asso- 
ciate pastor.  East  Fairview, 
Manheim,  Pa.,  to  BVS  Food 
Bank  coordinator.  Lewiston, 
Maine.  Aug.  26 

Layman,  lohn  P..  from  pastor, 
Fairview,  Cordova,  Md..  to 
Director  of  Pastoral  Care 
and  Healthcare  Chaplain, 
The  Brethren  Home  Com- 
munity. New  Oxford.  Pa., 
luly  1 

Peacock.  Martin  L..  from  youth 
minister  to  senior  pastor. 
Eaton,  Ohio,  Aug.  27 

Remillet,  Charles,  to  Buffalo, 
Ind.,  part-time,  March  19 

Sanders,  Cynthia  S,,  from 
Cabool,  Mo.,  to  Broadwater. 
Essex.  Mo.  and  Farrenburg, 
New  Madrid.  Mo.  (yoked 
parish),  lune  2 

Zepp.  Christopher  W..  to  youth 
pastor.  Lancaster.  Pa.,  part- 
time.  Aug.  I 


Messenger  October  2000 


EDITORIAL! 


Christians 

should  avoid 

cynicism 

about  politics 

and  realize 

that  many 

who  work  in 

the  political 

arena  are 

motivated  by 

faith  in  God, 

whether  they 

say  so  or  not. 


Beware  the  politics  of  God-talk 


There  has  been  so  much  God-talk  in  the  cur- 
rent presidential  campaign  that  church 
members  don't  ttnow  whether  to  rejoice 
or  run  for  cover.  "Our  nation  is  chosen  by  God  and 
commissioned  by  history  to  be  a  model  to  the  world 
of  justice  and  inclusion  and  diversity,"  said  George 
W.  Bush.  Al  Gore  said  he's  a  born-again  Christian 
and  Bush  said  lesus  is  his  favorite  philosopher, 
loseph  Lieberman,  the  Democratic  candidate  for 
vice  president,  incorporated  God  into  his  standard 
stump  speech.  "As  a  people,  we  need  to  reaffirm 
our  faith  and  renew  the  dedication  of  our  nation 
and  ourselves  to  God  and  God's  purposes,"  Lieber- 
man said  again  and  again. 

Pollsters  explain  that  they  have  detected 
uneasiness  among  voters  about  morality  in  the 
White  House,  and  politicians  have  decided  that 
invoking  religious  language  is  an  easy  way  to 
reassure  them  on  this  point.  It  usually  works,  as 
long  as  politicians  keep  their  talk  mild  and  don't 
claim  the  Lord  endorses  particular  legislation  or 
tells  them  to  vote  a  certain  way.  The  Christian 
Century  says  Joseph  Lieberman's  "God-talk"  is 
harmless,  that  it  is  "not  likely  to  conjure  up  fears 
of  coercion  or  domination,"  and  they  praise  him 
for  observing  the  sabbath.  Others  thank  Lieber- 
man for  rescuing  God  from  the  religious  right, 
demonstrating  that  liberals  too  know  how  to  pray. 
But  there  is  much  that  should  worry  Christians 
about  what  one  commentator  called  "parading 
piety"  to  win  votes.  "When  religion  and  politics 
are  too  closely  aligned,  it's  more  often  the  religion 
than  the  politics  that  is  compromised,"  writes 
columnist  Cal  Thomas.  Stephen  Carter,  a  law  pro- 
fessor at  Yale  who  has  written  a  book  on  religion 
in  politics,  says  when  candidates  make  a  public 
show  of  their  religion  it  violates  the  Third  Com- 
mandment, to  not  make  wrongful  use  of  the  name 
of  the  Lord.  And  Barry  W.  Lynn,  executive  director 
of  Americans  United  for  Separation  of  Church 
and  State,  explains  why  the  political  use  of  religion 
should  be  discouraged:  "When  religion  is  used 
repeatedly  in  the  context  of  a  presidential  cam- 
paign, faith  then  becomes  a  political  tool. 
Manipulation  of  religion  in  this  fashion  not  only 
does  damage  to  the  political  process,  it  cheapens 
and  exploits  religion  for  partisan  ends."  Recall 
that  lesus  had  plenty  to  say  against  politicians  of 
his  day  making  a  display  of  their  religion  while 
ignoring  the  sick  and  the  poor. 

Early  Brethren  steered  clear  of  politics  alto- 
gether. "Throughout  the  first  two  centuries  of 


Brethren  existence,  the  church  frowned  on  mem- 
bers participating  in  civil  elections,"  says  The 
Brethren  Encyclopedia.  The  reasoning  was  tied  to 
fears  that  participation  in  public  affairs  like  elec- 
tions would  compromise  the  church's  position  of 
"nonresistance"  and  refusal  to  participate  in  the 
military.  Many  Brethren  of  today  stay  aloof  from 
politics  also,  but  the  reason  is  more  likely  to  be 
cynicism.  Too  many  church  people,  rightly  con- 
cerned about  morality,  join  the  familiar  chorus, 
"You  can't  trust  any  of  them.  They're  out  to  line 
their  own  pockets.  They're  all  alike." 

As  a  reporter,  I  have  been  up  close  to  enough 
politicians  to  know  they're  not  all  alike.  Some  of 
them  are  honest  to  the  core  and  are  motivated  by  a 
sincere  desire  to  serve  the  public  good.  They  have 
chosen  a  difficult  life  because  it  offers  them  the 
potential  to  do  so  much  good.  As  Andrew  Oliver 
said  in  Boston  in  the  mid- 1 700s,  "Politics  is  the 
most  hazardous  of  all  professions.  There  is  not 
another  in  which  a  man  can  hope  to  do  so  much 
good  to  his  fellow  creatures;  neither  is  there  any  in 
which  by  a  mere  loss  of  nerve  he  may  do  such  wide- 
spread harm;  nor  is  there  another  in  which  he  may 
so  easily  lose  his  own  soul;  nor  is  there  another  in 
which  a  positive  and  strict  veracity  is  so  difficult.  But 
danger  is  the  inseparable  companion  of  honor.  With 
all  the  temptations  and  degradations  that  beset  it, 
politics  is  still  the  noblest  career  any  man  can 
choose."  Today,  I  might  add,  women  can  choose 
that  career  too,  and,  for  both  women  and  men,  it  is  a 
good  way  to  improve  the  lives  of  many  people. 

Christians  should  avoid  cynicism  about  politics 
and  realize  that  many  who  work  in  the  political 
arena  are  motivated  by  faith  in  God,  whether  they 
say  so  or  not.  Many  Brethren  will  identify  with  the 
comment  by  Paul  Simon,  the  former  US  senator 
from  Illinois:  "My  overall  impression  is,  the  deeply 
religious  people  don't  talk  about  it  as  much." 
Others  are  motivated  by  a  deep  sense  of  public 
morality,  which  may  not  find  expression  in  religious 
terms.  When  deciding  for  whom  to  vote  it  doesn't 
hurt  to  know  which  candidates  take  religion  seri- 
ously. But  in  the  end  it  matters  less  what  candidates 
say  about  their  faith  than  what  they  do  about  it. 

Our  task  as  Christians  is  not  to  be  religious, 
after  all,  but  to  follow  Jesus.  In  that  work  we  will 
do  well  to  join  hands  with  others  who  promote 
peace  and  strive  to  improve  the  lives  of  the  poor, 
who  battle  corruption,  and  seek  to  heal  divisions 
of  race  and  class.  These  are  God's  true  faithful. 
— Fletcher  Farrar 


l^g 


Messenger  October  2000 


rhe  First  One  Was  Great, 
rhe  Second  One  Was  Better! 

Don't  (VIrssth 


imjM^ 


Qa\)te[M^(§9[m 


lay  conference  will  provide  training  for  caregiving 
professionals  and  lay  people  through  keynote  presentations 
made  by  nationally  recognized  speakers;  daily  Bible  study; 
dozens  of  workshops    some  offering  continuing  education 
credits/academic  credits;  praise  and  worship  opportunities;  and 
networking  sessions. 

To  receive  registration  information  or  a    Fact  Sheet  of 
Estimated  Costs,  visit  ABC  s  website  at  www.brethren.org/abc/ 
or  call  (800)  323-8039. 


Here  s  What 
Attendees  Said  in 
Their  Evaluations  of 
the  Last  Caring 
Ministries  Assembly: 

This  conference 
exceeded  my  expecta- 
tions. I  was  elated  and 
inspired  by  so  many 
excellent  speakers 
and  worships.  This  is 
one  of  the  best 
conferences  I  have 
attended     more  than 
my  moneys  worth. 


I  can  t  imagine 
improving  this  confer- 
ence. The  speal<ers  were 
excellent,  the  worship 
superb  and  the  late 
evening  sessions  were 
varied  and  worthwhile. 
Keep  up  the  good  work. 
God  bless  you  all. 


The  planners  of 
Caring  Ministries  did  a 
marvelous  job!  I  feel 
so  blessed  to  have  had 
such  an  opportunity 
to  learn.  My  faith  was 
stretched  and  strength- 
ened. Many  thanks!! 


Somehow  the  word 
needs  to  get  out  about 
how  wonderful  the 
Caring  Ministries 
Conference  is! 


Sponsored  by  the  Association 
of  Brethren  Caregivers 


ABC  s  ministries  are 
made  possible  through 
individual  and  congrega- 
tional contributions. 


^^WlTHOUT  THE 
LP  OF  YOUR 
CH,  OUR 
S  COULD 
NO^H^VE  COME 


1  Ia.  %j». 


— the  women  of  El  Estribo,  Honduras 


A  women's  group  yearning  for  a  better  life.  A  partner  agency  equipping 
and  encouraging  them.A  Global  Food  Crisis  grant  providing  chickens  and 
pigs.The  good  Lord  creating  the  water  and  soil  and  life  itself.  It's  the  stuff 
dreams  are  made  of. 


And  now  we've  been  asked  by  our  partner, 
the  Christian  Commission  for  Development,  to 
assist  in  providing  animals  for  over  800  women  in 
dozens  of  other  communities. 


Other  agencies  had  turned  them  down.The  Global 
Food  Crisis  Fund  said  yes.  $42,676  worth  of  yes. 
The  funds  are  to  be  sent  over  the  coming  months. 


Now  you — yourself,  your  class,  your  Vacation 
Bible  School,  your  congregation— can  say  yes, 
too.  Support  this  and  other  life-giving,  dream- 
fulfilling  ministries  of  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren  through  the  Global  Food  Crisis  Fund. 


Give  'til  it  helps. 

Global  Food  Crisis  Fund 

Church  of  the  Brethren  General  Board 

1451  Dundee  Avenue 

Elgin,  Illinois  60120 

I -800-323-8039,  ext.  228 


^'MESSENGER 


y^  a/L  {lit  Li(M[  tft  U\t  \/do^X 


are  the 
experiences 

of  a  Lifetime! 

The  Brethren  Homes  of  the  Atlantic  Northeast  District  invite  you 
to  explore  the  care  and  refreshing  lifestyles  at  your  doorstep... 


"Life  as  good  as  it 
can  get!  -  in  a  reiaxed, 
care  -  free,  attractive 
environment  among 
congeniai  contempo- 
raries, supported  by 
Christian  iove  and 
sen/ice.  Praise  God! " 

-  FRANK  &  DOROTHY  HORST 


"  We  enjoy  iiving  at 
Bretfiren  Viilage  because 
it  provides  choices  for  us 
to  live  in  an  upbeat  weii- 
managed,  caring,  Christ- 
centered  community  of 
persons  from  diverse 
bacl<grounds." 

-  CURTIS  &  ANNA  MARY  DUBBLE 


"Living  at  Peter  Beci(er 
Community  offers  us 
the  opportunity  to  meet 
new  Christian  friends 
with  simitar  interests. 
We  have  peace  of  mind 
l<nowing  aii  our  needs 
wit  I  be  met." 

-  WILMER  &  RUTH  HARTLEY 


Lebanon  Valley 
Brethren  Home 


1200  Grubb  Street 
Palmyra.  PA  17078 
(717)  838-5406 


W^i. 


3001  LItltz  Pike 

PO  Box  5093 

Lancaster,  PA  17606 

(717)  569-2657 


h 


Peter 

Becker 

Community 


800  t\/lapte  Avenue 

Harteysville.  PA  19438 

(215)256-9501 


t2l 


NOVEMBER  2000   VOL.149  NO.10   WWW.BRETHREN.ORG 


MESSENGEI^ 

Fletcher  Farrar     Publisher;  Wendy  McFadden     Wewb  WaltWiltschek    Advertising;  Russ  Matteson     Subscriptions;  Peggy  Reinacher     uebiuii;  Cedar  House  Desigr 


lONTHECOVER 

It  takes  but  little  stretch  of  the  imagination  to  see  the 
cover  painting  as  a  symbol  of  the  community  of  Christ. 

Candlelighting,  no  less,  in  honor  of  the  One  who  said  to 
his  followers,  "You  are  the  light  of  the  world"  (Matt.  5:14). 

Artist  Young  June  Lew,  a  Korean  Christian  residing  in 
San  Francisco,  titles  her  mixed  media  painting  "Time." 
The  title  serves  to  remind  us  who  bear  the  Christlight 
today  that  we  are  not  alone;  we  stand  with  a  vast 
company  of  believers,  including  the  faithful  who  have 
gone  before. 

To  look  at  what  it  means  to  be  light  in  the  proverbial  sea 
of  darkness  and  to  nurture  the  bearers  of  light.  Messenger 
provides  a  cluster  of  articles  on  spiritual  formation.  The 
stories  and  testimonies  provide  grist  to  congregations  for 
lifting  up  the  theme  of  light  for  Advent  and  for  inviting 
support  for  the  Christmas  Offering  for  General  Board 
Ministries. 

Rich  and  wondrous  as  light  is  as  a  symbol,  we  who  are 
committed  to  following  Jesus  do  well  to  remember  our 
own  little  light  is  not  the  source  of  light,  but  only  a 
reflection  of  the  Light.  And  given  that  our  light  is  forever 
diminishing,  forever  in  need  of  tending,  how  crucial  it  is 
that  we  turn  again  and  again  to  the  Source  from  whom  all 
light  springs. — Howard  Royer 


DEPARTMENTS 


2 

From  the  Publisher 

3 

In  Touch 

6 

News 

33 

Letters 

35 

Turning  Points 

36 

Editorial 

10    John  Kline  rides  again 

Each  year  the  Elder  John  Kline  Memorial  Riders  retrace 
some  of  the  hoofmarks  of  the  famous  19th-century 
minister  who  logged  1 00,000  miles  on  horseback 
visiting  Brethren.  This  year's  travel  through  time  was  in 
western  Pennsylvania. 

14  The  inward  journey 

The  first  of  this  month's  cluster  of  articles  on  spiritual 
formation  describes  the  programs,  publications,  and 
events  that  have  grown  out  of  the  General  Board's 
emphasis  on  the  spiritual  life.  An  accompanying  article 
recommends  books  for  spiritual  growth. 

16    Seven  symptoms  of  wellness 

Presented  as  a  color  insert,  this  artistic  meditation  uses 
text  by  Paul  Grout  and  photography  by  Glenn  Mitchell  to 
evoke  the  joy  of  life  with  God.  Design  is  by  Cedar  House. 

1 5  Spirituality  for  the  young 

Preparing  youth  for  a  private  devotional  life  leads  adults  to 
model  prayer,  meditation  on  scripture,  and  quiet  reflection. 

2G    Finding  God  in  the  everyday 

Our  prayers  often  happen  in  the  midst  of  daily  routine. 
Four  Brethren  share  glimpses  of  how  they  seek  and 
know  God's  blessing. 

Walt  Witschel 


24    National  Older  Adult  Conference 

There  were  1 ,050  Brethren  over  50  at  Lake  Junaluska,  N.C., 
in  September  for  the  fifth  National  Older  Adult  Conference, 
sponsored  by  the  Association  of  Brethren  Caregivers. 
"We're  branches  on  a  vine,"  Marva  Dawn  told  participants. 
"If  you  don't  stay  stuck,  you  don't  bear  much  fruit." 


Messenger  November  2000 


FROM  THE  PUBLISHER 


In  many  quarters  it's  now  more  popular  to  talk  about  spirituality  than  about 
religion.  For  these  people,  religion  carries  all  the  connotations  of  shoulds  and 
.  oughts,  of  rules  and  rigidity,  of  institutions  marred  by  hypocrisy  and  other 
human  imperfections.  Spirituality,  on  the  other  hand,  is  more  like  those  websites 
that  customize  themselves  to  you  once  you've  registered.  It's  a  make-your-own- 
Sunday  bar,  where  you  pick  and  choose  whatever  elements  are  cool  for  you.  At  least 
that  appears  to  be  the  case  for  a  growing  number  of  people  in  the  US. 

"Spirituality  is  religion  with  all  the  things  you  don't  like  about  religion  taken 
out,"  was  Martin  Marty's  wry  observation  at  a  conference  I  attended  last  spring. 

Because  "spirituality"  is  so  vague  (as  evidenced  by  the  eclectic,  even  wacky,  set 
of  titles  in  this  section  of  your  local  bookstore),  the  term  doesn't  appeal  to  every- 
body. Some  assume  it's  just  a  synonym  for  New  Age.  (Actually,  the  rise  of 
"spirituality  lite"  in  the  1980s  and  1990s  has  given  way  to  books  with  considerably 
more  depth  and  breadth,  notes  Publishers  Weekly.) 

But  spirituality  belonged  to  the  church  before  it  belonged  to  the  booksellers, 
and  we  would  do  well  to  explore  what  the  interest  in  spirituality  means.  Pollster 
George  Gallup  has  researched  this  individualistic  spiritual  questing,  and  says, 
"Americans  are  seeking  something  more  meaningful,  deeper,  and  healthier.  I  think  it 
stems  in  part  from  what  they  perceive  to  be  a  failure  of  materialism  in  (the  20th) 
century  and  the  fact  that  there  are  so  many  problems  that  surround  us  without 
apparent  solutions. . . .  The  surge  in  this  desire  for  spiritual  growth  is  perhaps  one  of 
the  most  dramatic  movements  of  the  20th  century." 

Among  Gallup's  findings,  reported  in  Surveying  the  Religious  Landscape  (More- 
house Publishing):  1)  More  than  80  percent  of  Americans  desire  to  grow  spiritually. 
2)  There  is  a  glaring  lack  of  knowledge  about  the  Bible,  basic  doctrines,  and  the  tra- 
ditions of  one's  own  religion.  3)  Too  often  the  faith  professed  is  superficial,  with 
people  not  knowing  what  they  believe  or  why. 

Sociologist  Wade  Clark  Roof  has  also  studied  religion  in  America.  His  book 
Spiritual  Marketplace:  Baby  Boomers  and  the  Remaking  of  American  Religion 
(Princeton)  concludes  that  "while  religion  may  be  losing  some  of  its  influence  in 
public  life,  spirituality  is  becoming  a  more  important  component  of  people's  per- 
sonal lives." 

When  Oprah  Winfrey  debuted  her  new  magazine  O,  one  media  critic  who  noted 
that  the  magazine  makes  spirituality  its  centerpiece  concluded:  "O  will  likely  end  up 
being  more  for  people  who  like  the  idea  of  spirituality  and  change,  who  want  to  be 
associated  with  these  things,  without  necessarily  treating  it  as  scripture." 

It's  hard  to  compete  with  the  glitzy  spirituality  so  prevalent  in  our  culture,  but 
perhaps  the  best  response  is  to  strengthen  our  own  spirituality,  forming  it  daily 
through  closer  communion  with  God  and  a  faith  that  is  lived  out  by  modeling  our 
lives  after  Jesus.  The  spiritual  questing  around  us  is  a  search  for  something  authen- 
tic. I  trust  that  our  congregations  can  speak  the  simple  language  of  authenticity 
better  than  any  magazine  (even  this  one). 


How  to  reach  us 

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Messenger  is  the  official  publication  of  the  Chur 
of  the  Brethren.  Entered  as  periodical  postage  mat 
Aug.  20,  1918,  under  Act  of  Congress  of  Oct.  1 
1917,  Filing  date,  Nov,  1,  1984.  Member  oft 
Associated  Church  Press,  Subscriber  to  Religi 
News  Service  &  Ecumenical  Press  Service,  Biblii 
quotations,  unless  otherwise  indicated,  are  frc 
the  New  Revised  Standard  Version.  Messenger 
published  1 1  times  a  year  by  Brethren  Press,  Chur 
of  the  Brethren  General  Board,  Periodical  posta 
paid  at  Elgin,  III,,  and  at  additional  mailing  offit 
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My  Printed  on  recycled  paper 


Messenger  November  2000 


IN  TOUCH 


Bookmark  benefactors:  Ansley  Crull,  left,  and  Kelly  Remnant. 

How  bookmarks  help  people  In  need 

Summer  is  a  wonderful  time  for  the  entrepreneurial  spirit  of  children  to  kick 
in.  Many  children  opt  to  set  up  lemonade  stands,  but  Kelly  Remnant  and 
Ansley  Crull  were  looking  for  something  different.  They  chose  to  make 
bookmarks  instead.  While  designing,  cutting,  coloring,  and  decorating  their 
Dookmarks,  they  discussed  what  to  do  with  their  proceeds  and  decided  to 
donate  the  money  to  people  in  need.  They  made  a  sign  and  set  up  a  table 
along  East  College  Street,  just  down  the  street  from  Bridgewater  College, 
and  began  to  sell.  People  stopped  to  purchase  the  bookmarks  at  a  price  of 
25  cents  each.  When  they  were  done,  the  girls  had  collected  a  total  of  $16. 

Ansley,  who  attends  the  Spring  Creek  Church  of  the  Nazarene  in 
Bridgewater,  donated  her  share  to  church  missions.  Kelly,  of  the  Bridgewa- 
:er  Church  of  the  Brethren,  decided  to  put  her  share  of  the  money  into  the 
2-Cent  Club  Offering,  collected  every  second  Sunday  of  the  month.  At  2 
|:ents  a  meal,  her  contribution  of  $8  is  equivalent  to  400  meals!— Robert  Alley 


Dirty  cars  meet 
God's  love 

"Who's  taking  the 
donations?" 

"No  one.  We're  not 
accepting  donations." 

"What!   You've  got 
to  accept  donations." 

"We  just  want  to 
show  that  God  loves 
you,  and  that  God's 
love  is  free." 

This  was  the  conver- 
saton  repeated  in  some 
form  many  times  on 
Sept.  2  as  members  of 
the  Living  Stone  Church 
of  the  Brethren,  Cum- 
berland, Md.,  washed 
cars — for  FREE. 

Seventeen  adults 
and  children  washed 
45-plus  cars  in  three 
hours  between  9  a.m. 
and  noon — that's  one 
car  every  four  minutes. 

Many  drivers  had  a 
hard  time  believing 
that  the  group  actually 
didn't  want  anything 
for  their  services,  not 
even  a  donation.  As 
cars  were  being  wiped 
dry,  some  drivers  got 
out  and  wanted  to  talk. 
Some  asked  about  the 
church,  and  each  driver 


was  given  a  small  card 
with  the  church's 
name,  address,  and 
phone  number. 

Everyone  was  sent 
off  with  "Have  a  good 
day"  and  a  big  smile, 
and  they  left  with  a 
smile  of  their  own. 

— Lester  Boleyn 

Kelsey  Yost  brings 
home  the  gold 

Twelve-year-old  Kelsey 
Yost,  a  member  of  the 
Ridgeway  Community 
Church  of  the 
Brethren,  Harrisburg, 
Pa.,  returned  home 
from  California  as  a 
national  record-break- 
ing athlete.  She  won 
five  gold  medals  in 
swimming  and  archery 
events  at  the  Junior 
National  Wheelchair 
Championships,  held 
in  San  Jose.  The  event 
drew  200  young  ath- 
letes from  32  states 
and  several  countries. 
Kelsey  is  affected  by 
spina  bifida,  one  of  the 
most  common  dis- 
abling birth  defects. 
Kelsey,  whose  photo- 
graph was  on  the 
October  1995  cover  of 
Messenger,  was  the 
subject  of  a  recent  fea- 
ture article  in  the 
Harrisburg  Patriot- 
News.  Her  father,  Don 
Yost,  told  the  newspa- 
per his  daughter's 
determination  is  an 
inspiration.  He  said,  "If 
you  are  born  without 
something,  it  seems 
like  God  gives  you 
something  else  to 
make  up  for  it." 


Messenger  November  2000 


TOUCH 


-iizabethtowri  takes  get-acquainted 
trip  to  Dominican  Republic 

Fourteen  members  of  the  Elizabethtown  (Pa.)  Church  of  the  Brethren  have 
returned  from  a  10-day  intergenerational  workcamp  in  the  Dominican 
Republic.  They  went  to  work,  but  also  to  get  to  know  the  members  of  the 
emerging  Church  of  the  Brethren  there. 

The  congregation's  special  ties  to  the  people  of  the  DR  began  a  year 
ago  when  the  congregation  took  on  the  financial  support  of  a  Dominican 
physician.  Dr.  Hildas  Ricardo,  who  offered  to  work  among  the  poorest  of 
the  poor  in  her  land — illegal  Haitian  refugees  who  came  as  sugar  cane 
workers.  (See  "A  medical  doctor  with  a  mission,"  April.) 

To  prepare  for  the  workcamp,  participants  studied  Spanish  one  day  a 
week  for  several  months,  taught  by  Sheila  Rodriguez,  a  member  of  the 
church  and  a  Spanish  teacher  at  Elizabethtown  College. 

Dr.  Ricardo  took  the  group  by  burro  and  horseback  to  one  of  the  distant 
Haitian  villages  where  she  has  a  weekly  clinic. 

Ralph  Detrick,  co-pastor  of  the  Elizabethtown  church,  preached  in 
Spanish  on  Sunday  in  Dr.  Ricardo's  home  church,  Peniel,  in  Santo 

Domingo.— Wayne  Zunkel 


Elizabethtown 
co-pastor  Joyce 
Stoltzfus  learns  to 
know  one  of  the  young 
patients  of  Dr.  Hilcias 
Ricardo. 


Champaign 
marks  centennial 

The  Champaign  (III.) 
Church  of  the 
Brethren  will  cele- 
brate its  100th 
anniversary  Nov.  19. 
A  century  ago  several 
Church  of  the 
Brethren  families 
began  to  meet  infor- 
mally in  homes  for 
fellowship  and  Bible 
study.  Later,  space 
was  rented  in  adjoin- 
ing Urbana,  and  then 
there  were  tent  meet- 
ings as  the  interest 
and  ministries  grew. 
The  Brethren  bought 
property  on  Market 
Street  in  Champaign, 
the  fastest  growing 
area  of  the  city.  The 
present  building  was 
constructed  in  1950. 

The  anniversary 
celebration  theme  is 
"Keeping  on  in  the 
Spirit  of  the  Lord." 
The  church  is  served 
by  a  pastoral  team  of 
James  and  Mary 
Houff,  Paul  Kohler, 
and  Rex  Richardson. 


Remembered 

Russ  Flora,  chair  of 
the  board  of 
Brethren  Retirement 
Community, 


Greenville,  Ohio, 
died  unexpectedly 
Sept.  4.  He  was  a         ' 
member  of  West 
Charleston  Church  oV 
the  Brethren,  Tipp 
City,  Ohio. 

Russ  was  signifi- 
cantly involved  in 
the  creation  of  the 
Resident  Aid  Fund 
to  assist  residents 
of  The  Brethren's 
Home  during  its 
financial  reorgan- 
ization from  1976  to 
1982.  He  also  served 
1 1  years  on  its  board 
of  trustees,  the  last 
seven  years  as  chair. 

Owen  Shankster, 
of  Roann,  Ind., 
died  Sept.  5.    Known 
as  a  builder  and 
manager  of  the  wells 
program  in  Nigeria, 
Owen  had  retired 
from  General  Board 
mission  service  in 
1991  after  serving 
41  years. 

Dorothy  G.  Murray, 
84,  died  Aug.  24  at 
her  home  in 
Roanoke,  Va.  Her 
book  This  is  Stevie's 
Story  was  for  many 
years  the  guide 
given  by  the  National 
Association  for 
Retarded  Citizens  to 
parents  of  retarded 
children.  She  also 
wrote  Sister  Anna,  a 
biography  of  Anna 
Mow,  published  by 
Brethren  Press.  A 
member  of  the 
Cloverdale  (Va.) 
Church  of  the 
Brethren,  she  served 
on  the  General  Board 
and  on  Standing 
Committee. 


Messenger  November  2000 


Elmer  Frantz,  a  member  of  the  Prince  of  Peace  Church  of  the  Brethren, 

Littleton,  Colo.,  pictured  here  with  his  granddaughter,  Caitlin  Frantz, 
receiving  an  Outstanding  Volunteer  Award  from  Jan  West  Schrock,  director 
of  church-community  relations  for  Heifer  Project  International. 


'Hymns  for  Heifers'  gathers  a  unique 
men's  chorus  to  benefit  Heifer  Project 

\  men's  chorus  sang  "Hymns  for  Heifers"  at  a  benefit  concert  for  Heifer 
^roject  International  in  Greeley,  Colo.,  Aug.  27.  An  enthusiastic  audience 
esponded  with  generous  applause  and  the  choir's  rendition  of  "Angels 
tolled  the  Stone  Away"  earned  a  standing  ovation. 

What  has  been  dubbed  the  Rocky  Mountain  Men's  Chorus — made  up  of 
Tien  from  across  Colorado  and  neighboring  states — is  already  considering 
jinother  benefit  concert  next  year. 

Organizers  Elmer  and  Dan  Frantz — Elmer  a  long-term  volunteer  for 
HPI  and  his  son  Dan,  also  a  music  director  in  Greeley — were  encour- 
iged  by  the  response  and  want  to  widen  the  welcome  of  the  chorus 
lext  year.  A  variety  of  faith  backgrounds  were  represented,  including 
hurch  of  the  Brethren  congregations  in  Littleton  and  Windsor,  Colo., 
is  well  as  Lutherans,  Mennonites,  United  Church  of  Christ,  and  Latter- 
Day  Saints. 

During  the  concert,  HPI  recognized  Elmer  Frantz  for  years  of  vol- 
jnteer  work  spreading  the  word  about  Heifer  Project.  Jan  Schrock, 
daughter  of  HPI  founder  Dan  West  and  a  former  director  of  Brethren 
/olunteer  Service,  was  present  to  give  the  award. 

-Cheryl  Brumbaugh-Cayford 


The  Ridin'  Rev' 
preaches  to 
bicyclists 

More  than  1,100  bicy- 
clists took  part  in  the 
Amish  Land  and  Lakes 
Michiana  bicycle  tour 
in  September,  and  60 
of  them  attended  the 
first  Sunday  morning 
worship  service  offered 
in  the  annual  event. 
The  service  was 
planned  by  Ray 
Barkey,  a  bicyclist  and 
pastor  of  English 
Prairie  Church  of 
the  Brethren, 


Brighton,  Ind.  Nick- 
named "The  Ridin' 
Rev,'"  Barkey  chal- 
lenged the  youth  to  be 
"Dan  Henrys,"  mark- 
ers along  the  road,  for 
others.  He  based  his 
message  on  Hebrews 
12,  in  which  Paul 
admonishes  the  Chris- 
tians to  run  the  race 
set  before  them. 

— Wanda  Yoder 


Messenger  November  2000 


NEWS 


Jerry  Naff  of  Boones  Mill, 
Va.,  and  Earl  Traughber, 
Idaho  district  executive, 

discuss  visions  for  ctiurcli 
planting  during  a  mid- 
September  seminar  on  ttie 
topic  in  Ashland,  Ohio.  The 
seminar  was  sponsored  by 
the  General  Board's 
Congregational  Life 
Ministries  office  and  New 
Church  Development 
Advisory  Committee. 


Seminar  teaches  tools 
for  church  planting 

Nearly  five  dozen  Church  of  the  Brethren  pas- 
tors, district  executives,  and  others  interested  in 
new  church  development  gathered  Sept.  17-21  at 
Ashland  (Ohio)  Theological  Seminary  for  an 
intense  training  program  in  church  planting. 

The  event  was  sponsored  by  the  General 
Board's  Congregational  Life  Ministries  Office  and 
New  Church  Development  Advisory  Committee. 
They  offered  full  scholarships  to  two  members  of 
each  district  (most  of  which  were  represented), 
and  several  districts  sent  additional  people  at 
their  own  expense. 

Members  of  the  Ashland  faculty  who  special- 
ize in  church  planting  and  leadership  issues  led 
the  event,  which  packed  a  large  amount  of  mate- 


rial into  four  full  days.  A  look  at  the  various 
dimensions  of  one's  spiritual  journey,  postmod- 
ernism, and  ministry  philosophy  was  followed 
by  13  principles  of  church  planting. 

"I  think  we've  had  some  excellent  presenta- 
tions here,"  said  Marianne  Pittman  of 
Blacksburg,  Va.,  a  member  of  the  advisory  com- 
mittee. "They've  done  an  excellent  job,  I  think,  of 
covering  a  variety  of  very  important  issues  in  a 
short  time." 

Several  people  said  they  thought  the  event 
was  a  good  use  of  the  General  Board's  resources 
and  wished  there  would  be  more  such  opportu- 
nities and  emphasis;  some  said  they  wished 
such  training  could  be  offered  within  a  Church  of 
the  Brethren  theology.  Pittman  said  the  commit- 
tee will  be  exploring  the  possibilities  for  ongoing 
training. 


Volunteer  teachers  to 
begin  work  at  Brethren 
Mission  House 

Five  members  of  Brethren  Vol- 
unteer Service  unit  240  are 
forming  the  first  group  of  vol- 
unteers at  the  Brethren  Mission 
House  in  Azua,  Dominican 
Republic. 
The  new  project  is  a  joint 


effort  of  the  General  Board's 
Global  Mission  Partnerships 
Office,  BVS,  the  Dominican 
Brethren,  and  Brethren  Revival 
Fellowship,  with  a  main  focus 
of  teaching  English  as  a 
second  language.  Earl  and  Bar- 
bara Eby  arrived  there  from 
Pennsylvania  earlier  this 
summer  to  serve  a  three-year 
term  as  "house  parents," 
reporting  to  mission  coordina- 


tors Jerry  and  Becky  Crouse. 
Sally  Jo  Caracheo  of  Elgin, 
III.,  who  has  worked  in  the 
Dominican  Republic  previously, 
will  serve  as  teacher 
trainer/coordinator.  Daniel 
Greenawalt  of  Harrisonburg, 
Va.;  Denise  Negley  of  Green- 
castle,  Pa.;  Kenda  Negley  of 
Mercersburg,  Pa.;  and  Jewel 
Sheeler  of  Newville,  Va.,  will  be* 
English  teachers. 


Messenger  November  2000 


Brethren  Witness  office 
announces  2001  trips 

The  General  Board's  Brethren 
Witness  office  has  announced 
dates  for  Faith  Expeditions  to 
Central  America  and  the 
Caribbean  for  the  coming 
year.  The  trips  invite  Brethren 
to  grow  in  their  faith  while 
learning  about  peace,  justice, 
and  environmental  realities 
around  the  world.  Trips  are  as 
follows: 

•  Jan.  8-18:  Up  to  15  Brethren 
will  travel  to  Belize  and 
Guatemala  for  an  environment- 
oriented  trip.  Leadership  will  be 
provided  by  former  Brethren 
\/olunteer  Service  workers 
Samantha  Morris  and  Robert 
Stiles. 

•  May  7-17:  Jerry  and  Becky 
Crouse  of  the  General  Board's 
Global  Mission  Partnerships 
staff  will  host  a  learning  tour  to 
the  Dominican  Republic  and 
Haiti.  Focus  will  be  on  social 
justice  issues  facing  Christians 
and  others  in  these  Caribbean 
nations. 

•  June  13-22:  A  Guatemala 
delegation  will  be  led  by  Tom 
Benevento  of  the  Global  Mis- 
sion Partnerships  office.  This 
experience  will  have  an  envi- 
ronmental education  focus,  but 
will  also  deal  with  social  justice 
concerns  and  visit  Brethren- 
supported  development 
iprojects. 

•  June  18-27:  Brethren  will 
return  to  the  southern  coast  of 
Honduras  for  the  third  year  in  a 
row  to  live  and  work  in  a  poor 
^ural  community.  Participants 
will  visit  villages  where  Global 

ood  Crisis  Fund  grants  have 
supported  small  livestock  pro- 
ects  for  women's  groups. 
Brethren  Witness  director 
David  Radcliff  will  lead  the  trip. 
Requirements  for  all  Faith 


I 


More  than  150  Dominican  Brethren  gathered  on  Sept.  16 
for  the  dedication  of  the  new  San  Jose  Christ,  the  True  One 
church,  built  with  the  help  of  the  Indian  Creek  Church  of 
the  Brethren  (Harleysville,  Pa.).  It  is  part  of  a  growing 
ministry  in  the  Caribbean  nation  through  the  General 
Board's  Global  Mission  Partnerships. 


Expeditions  include  a  willing- 
ness to  grow  in  faith,  a  respect 
for  other  cultures,  openness 
for  adventure,  and  willingness 
to  endure  very  basic  living 
conditions.  Approximate  cost 
is  $200-$400  plus  airfare.  Spe- 
cial scholarships  are  available 
for  youth  and  young  adults. 
Contact  the  Brethren  Witness 
office  for  more  details,  800- 
323-8039,  ext.  228. 


NCC  delegation 
makes  visit  to  Cuba 

The  Cuban  and  US  national 
ecumenical  councils  met  in 
Cuba  Sept.  2-7  to  consider 
"what's  next?"  in  their  relation- 
ship that  has  held  fast  for  more 
than  40  years. 

Invited  and  hosted  by  the 


Cuban  Council  of  Churches, 
an  eight-member  National 
Council  of  Churches  delega- 
tion packed  12- to  15-hour 
days  with  visits  to  four  over- 
flowing Havana  churches  and 
the  dynamic,  ecumenical 
Matanzas  Theological  Semi- 
nary. They  also  toured  a 
polyclinic,  a  center  for  chil- 
dren and  adults  with  Downs 
Syndrome,  and  the  Latin 
American  School  of  Medicine. 

They  held  a  cordial,  first- 
ever  NCC  delegation  meeting 
with  Roman  Catholic  Cardinal 
Jaime  Ortega,  had  two  work- 
ing sessions  with  Cuban 
church  leaders,  met  with  rep- 
resentatives of  both  the 
Cuban  and  US  governments, 
and  delivered  1,500  Church 
World  Service  "Gifts  of  the 
Heart"  School  Kits  for  primary 
school  pupils. 


UPCOMINGEVENTS 

Oct.  26-Nov.  3 
Brethren  Witness  Faith 
Expedition  to  Honduras, 
women's  delegation 

Nov.  3-4  Shenandoah 
District  Conference, 

Bridgewater  (Va.)  Church  of 
the  Brethren 

IMov.  3-5  Illinois  and 
Wisconsin  District 
Conference,  Virden  (III.) 
Church  of  the  Brethren 

Nov.  5  National  Junior 
High  Sunday 

Nov.  10-11  Virlina 
District  Conference, 

Franklin  Heights  Baptist 
Church,  Rocky  Mount,  Va. 

Nov.  12-15  Outdoor 
Ministries  Association 
National  Conference, 

Camp  Mack,  Milford,  Ind. 

Nov.  17-18  Brethren 
Benefit  Trust  board 
meetings 

Nov.  18  National  Youth 
Ministry  Workshop, 

Chambersburg  (Pa.)  Church 
of  the  Brethren 

Nov.  29-Dec.  1 
Ecumenical  event  on 
"Stewardship:  A 
Celebration  of  Grace," 

Ft.  Lauderdale,  Fla.  Call 
800-835-5671 

Dec.  10  Christmas 
offering  emphasis 


Messenger  November  2000 


NEWS 


Red  Cross  office  plans 
to  Wew  Windsor 


BRETHRENSPEAK 

Know  that  the 
Sudanese 
churches  hold 
the  Church  of 
the  Brethren  in 
high  regard  and 
are  extremely 
thankful  for  our 
long  and  warm 
relationship. 


Mark  Sloan,  working  with 
tlie  New  Sudan  Council  of 
Cliurches  through  the 
General  Board. 


A  new  tenant  is  expected  soon 
at  the  Brethren  Service  Center 
in  New  Windsor,  Md. 

The  Carroll  County  (Md.)  Dis- 
trict of  the  American  Red  Cross 
announced  in  late  September 
that  it  would  be  opening  a  full- 
service  office  there  in 
November,  pending  final 
agreement  on  the  terms  of  the 
lease.  The  space  will  be  used 
for  health  and  safety  classes, 
board  and  disaster  team  meet- 
ings, for  volunteers  to  meet 
and  work,  and  for  general 


administration. 

"Emergency  Response/Ser- 
vice Ministries  has  had  a 
working  relationship  with  the 
national  office  of  the  American 
Red  Cross  for  many  years  in 
disaster  response  and  disaster 
child  care,"  said  Stan  Noff- 
singer,  director  of  the  Brethren 
Service  Center.  "The  Carroll 
County  Red  Cross  office  is  a 
wonderful  and  welcomed  addi- 
tion to  our  community." 

The  Red  Cross  will  be  utiliz- 
ing space  in  the  lower  level  of 
Windsor  Hall,  formerly  occu- 
pied by  On  Earth  Peace 
Assembly  and  its  bookstore, 


YOUTHSEM" 


The  General  Board's  Youth/Young  Adult  Office  has  announced 
several  new  resources  and  events  for  the  coming  year: 

•  The  junior  high  ministry  theme  for  2000-01  is  "Find  your 
place  in  this  world,"  based  on  Ephesians  1:11  in  The  Message.  A 
packet  of  materials  on  the  theme  is  available  to  use  on  Junior 
High  Sunday,  Nov.  5,  as  well  as  a  poster  to  display  the  theme. 

•  The  senior  high  ministry  theme  for  2001  is  "Be  an  example," 
based  on  I  Timothy  4:12.  Resource  materials  will  be  sent  out 
early  in  2001. 

•  An  application  form  is  available  for  the  2001  Youth  Peace 
Travel  Team,  which  will  be  composed  of  four  youth/young  adults 
age  16-22.  Applications  are  due  Jan.  1. 

•  Flyers  are  out  for  the  2001  National  Youth  Christian  Citizen- 
ship Seminar,  March  31-April  5  in  New  York  and  Washington, 
D.C.,  with  the  theme  "No  Fear:  Overcoming  Violence  in  Our 
Communities,  Our  Nation,  and  Our  World";  and  for  the  2001 
Young  Adult  Conference,  May  26-28  at  Brethren  Woods  in 
Keezletown,  Va.,  led  by  Paul  Grout. 

•  Additional  programs  are  also  being  planned  as  part  of  the 
"God-Centered  Life"  youth  spirituality  project.  A  retreat  for 
youth  advisors  will  be  held  March  9-1 1  at  Shepherd's  Spring 
Outdoor  Ministries  Center  in  Sharpsburg,  Md.,  and  a  week-long 
spirituality  camp  for  youth  will  be  July  29-Aug.  4  at  Camp  Mack 
in  Milford,  Ind. 

•  A  new  membership  curriculum  called  Heart,  Soul,  and  Mind: 
Becoming  a  Member  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren,  usable  by 
any  age  group  but  particularly  geared  toward  youth  in  grades 
6-12,  is  also  now  available  through  Brethren  Press. 


The  Peace  Place.  OEPA  closed 
the  bookstore  as  of  Sept.  30, 
and  the  agency's  offices  will 
move  into  the  campus'  Blue 
Ridge  Building  as  of  Nov.  1. 

The  Red  Cross  office  is 
moving  from  an  existing  office 
in  nearby  Westminster.  Its 
blood  donation  program  will 
continue  to  operate  there. 


McCullough  becomes 
new  director  of  CWS 

The  Rev.  John  L.  McCullough  of 
Montclair,  N.J.,  was  named  the 
new  executive  director  for 
Church  World  Service  Inc.,  fol- 
lowing a  unanimous  vote  by  the 
CWS  board  of  directors  Sept.  13. 
McCullough  had  served  since 
June  1  as  interim  director  and 
previously  was  associate  gen- 
eral secretary  of  the  United 
Methodist  Church  General 
Board  of  Global  Ministries.  He 
succeeds  the  Rev.  Dr.  Rodney  I. 
Page,  who  retired  May  31. 


Personnel  changes     i 

Allen  Hansell,  director  of  min- 
istry for  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren  General  Board,  has 
announced  his  retirement  effec- 
tive Dec.  31. 

He  will  continue  serving  in 
the  position  through  Dec.  31, 
2001,  however,  donating  most 
of  his  salary  to  special  General 
Board  projects  for  ministerial 
leadership.  Hansell  said  he 
wanted  to  encourage  other 
retirees  to  stay  active  in  the 
church  and  to  find  ways  to 
continue  to  serve. 

Hansell  began  as  director  of 
ministry  in  October  1997  after 
three  decades  as  a  pastor  and 
district  executive  minister.  He 
will  continue  to  maintain  an 
office  in  Elizabethtown,  Pa. 


Messenger  November  2000 


Guatemala.  The  General  Board's 
Global  Food  Crisis  Fund  sent  $15,000 
to  the  Central  American  nation  in 
September,  earmarked  to  help  fami- 
lies build  wood-conserving  stoves 
and  water-storing  cisterns  in  the 
Huehuetenango  region.  It's  the  third 
grant  for  the  project  in  two  years. 

2.  Nigeria.  President  Bill  Clinton  visited 
in  late  summer  to  encourage  the 
country's  new  democratic  govern- 
ment. John  Tubbs,  who  serves  as 
Global  Mission  Partnerships'  mission 
co-coordinator  in  Nigeria,  said, 
"Everybody  in  Nigeria,  except  for  a 
few  critics  perhaps,  is  very  happy  with 
Clinton's  visit.  They  are  saying  that  he 
has  made  the  world  aware  of  Nigeria." 

3.  Eritrea.  The  horn  of  Africa  received 
an  allocation  of  $5,000  from  the  Gen- 
eral Board's  Emergency  Disaster 
Fund,  designated  to  help  the  Eritrean 
Development  Association  ship  medi- 
cines and  medical  supplies  to  Eritrea. 
Many  people  have  been  displaced  by 
an  ongoing  war  with  Ethiopia. 

4.  Angelus  Oaks,  Calif.  Brethren 
Volunteer  Service  Unit  241  held  ori- 
entation at  Camp  La  Verne  Sept.  17- 
Oct.  7.  Twenty  people  participated  in 
the  unit,  preparing  to  head  out  to  a 
variety  of  projects. 

5.  Belize.  The  Brethren  Witness  office 
of  the  General  Board  sent  $4,000  to 
the  Eden  Conservancy,  an  initiative  to 
purchase  and  preserve  threatened 
rainforest  in  the  Central  American  na- 


tion. The  funds  were  raised  through 
the  "If  a  Tree  Falls"  campaign  and 
should  purchase  more  than  30  acres. 

6.  Sudan.  A  recent  report  from  the  US 
Committee  for  Refugees  indicates  that 
more  than  10  percent  of  the  world's 
estimated  35  million  uprooted  people 
are  in  the  African  nation,  engaged  in  a 
lengthy  civil  war. 

7.  Bridgewater,  Va.  Bridgewater 
College  dedicated  its  new  Carter 
Center  for  Worship  and  Music  on 
Sept.  24,  housed  in  the  former 
Bridgewater  Church  of  the  Brethren 
building  after  renovations.  The 
building  will  house  the  music  de- 
partment and  church  relations  and 
chaplain's  offices. 


8.  Dominican  Republic.  A  new  alloca- 
tion of  $13, 785  from  the  General 
Board's  Global  Food  Crisis  Fund  will 
aid  COTEDO,  a  Church  of  the  Brethren 
partner  agency,  in  a  project  to  obtain 
birth  certificates  for  children  born  of 
Haitian  parentage  in  the  Dominican — 
necessary  to  receive  public  education 
and  health  care. 

9.  Franklin,  Va.  A  special  ceremony 
in  mid-September  honored  the 
many  volunteers  who  helped  with 
Hurricane  Floyd  cleanup  in  the  area 
during  the  past  year.  A  new  statue 
was  unveiled  on  a  corner  that  had 
been  under  22  feet  of  water  a  year 
earlier.  Church  of  the  Brethren  dis- 
aster relief  had  an  ongoing  project 
in  the  Franklin  area. 


Brethren  Volunteer  Service  orientation  coordinator 
Sue  Grubb  and  orientation  assistant  Tracy  Stoddart 
traveled  to  Hiroshima,  Japan,  in  August  to  meet  with 
Allan  and  Vercey  Smyth.  BVS  workers  who  are  serving  as 
co-directors  of  the  World  Friendship  Center  there.  Grubb 
and  Stoddart  also  attended  ceremonies  for  remembering 
the  55th  anniversary  of  the  dropping  of  the  atomic  bomb. 


Messenger  November  2000 


A    DAY   WITH    THE 


John  Kline  riders 

Payi77g  homage  to  a  horsebac\preacher,  this  year's  ride  visits 
two  churches  that  hosted  seven  Annual  Meetings 


by  Emmert  F.  Bittinger 

Each  spring,  the  Eider  John  Kline 
Memorial  Riders  take  a  few  days 
to  retrace  one  of  the  famous  min- 
ister's liistoric  trips.  Between  1835  and 
1864  he  covered  100,000  miles  on 
horseback  visiting  scattered  Brethren 
families  in  several  eastern  states.  He 
made  66  trips  to  West  Virginia  and  19 
visits  to  Pennsylvania,  keeping  a  daily 
record  of  miles  traveled,  families  vis- 
ited, and  services  held. 

This  year,  our  ride  began  on  )une  9, 
2000.  We  visited  the  Maple  Grove,  Sal- 
isbury, Beachdale,  and  Brothersvalley 
churches,  as  well  as  the  building  that 
housed  the  former  Summit  Mills  con- 
gregation, all  in  Pennsylvania.  Services 
honoring  KJine  were  held  by  the  riders 
each  evening  and  on  Sunday  morning. 


This  ride  went  through  historic 
Brethren  lands  located  in  the  southeast- 
ern part  of  Somerset  County,  Pa.  The 
Pennsylvania  towns  of  Salisbury,  Mey- 
ersdale,  and  Berlin  are  at  the  heart  of 
two  early  Brethren  settlements,  one  on 
the  Casselman  River  and  the  other  on 
the  Glades.  Both  date  into  the  1700s. 

The  ride  would  take  us  through  the 
river  settlement  in  the  Salisbury  and 
Summit  Mills  sections.  The  Brethren 
arrived  here  by  1  783  and  John  Keagy 
was  elected  minister.  This  pioneer  con- 
gregation was  called  Elk  Lick.  Bound 
by  a  strong  tradition  of  worship  in 
Brethren  homes,  they  did  not  build 
their  first  meetinghouse  until  1846  at 
Summit  Mills,  three  miles  west  of  Mey- 
ersdale.  This  was  the  mother  church  of 
Elk  Lick.  It  was  a  marvel  of  wood  con- 
struction and  could  serve  680 


communicants.  An  Amish  businessman 
now  uses  it  as  a  pallet  factory. 

The  fame  and  importance  of  these 
two  congregations  is  revealed  in  the 
fact  that  they  hosted  a  total  of  seven 
Annual  Meetings  during  the  19th  Cen- 
tury—1811,  1821,  1841,  1849,  1859, 
1873,  and  1894. 

Elder  John  Kline  attended  the  con-    i 
ference  in  1849  at  the  Grove  church 
near  Berlin  and  one  in  1859  at  Summit 
Mills.  In  1869,  Elder  Holsinger 
presided  over  a  love  feast  in  Summit 
Mills  with  3,000  people  present. 

After  a  hearty  breakfast  on  )une  10 
provided  by  the  friendly  people  at  the 
Salisbury  church,  our  1  7  riders  set  out 
northward  along  the  Casselman  River 
to  Boynton  and  then  Summit  Mills.  To 
our  left  and  west  of  Salisbury  lay  the 
lands  of  Brethren  minister  Peter  Liven- 


•^^r^  ^■jB^'WfP^BF^    J 


'^^4W: 


-*'«*S 


*«*»**'* 


tf^^ 


•1  Messenger  November  2000 


good  ( I  730- 1 826)  and  his  neighbor, 
minister  [ohn  Hendrick.  On  the  right 
lay  the  Lichty  farm.  The  homes  of 
these  early  ministers  served  as  meeting 
places  for  the  Brethren. 

At  the  top  of  Tipton  Hill  on  Pleasant 
View  Road,  we  came  to  the  farm  of 
Elder  |ohn  Keagy  (1746-1806),  Elk 
Lick's  first  elected  minister.  Later,  the 
farm  was  in  the  possession  of  Bishop 
lohn  Buechly/Beechly,  an  elder  of 
Summit  Mills.  The  Annual  Meeting  of 
1811  was  held  on  this  farm,  hosted  by 
Elder  Buechly.  Elder  John  Kline  visited 
this  farm  on  several  occasions,  spend- 
ing nights  there  during  the  conference 
of  1859  with  David  Buechly/Beeghly, 
then  owner. 

At  the  northern  edge  of  Summit 
Mills,  we  came  to  the  Grace  Brethren 
church  on  the  left.  Looking  northward 
from  the  parking  lot,  we  could  see  the 
large  old  Summit  Mills  church.  Just 
beyond  were  the  farm  buildings  of 
minister  William  Miller,  now  owned  by 
the  Amish  Breneman  family.  These 
buildings  accommodated  the  Annual 
Meeting  of  1841.  The  Annual  Meeting 
of  1  859  also  used  these  farm  buildings 
along  with  the  meetinghouse.  The 
sermon  John  Kline  preached  at  this 
conference  is  preserved  in  his  diary. 
The  next  day  was  Sunday,  and  our 
riders  provided  a  John  Kline  service  at 
the  Brothersvalley  church.  Before  the 
service,  the  people  waited  on  the  church 
lawn  for  the  arrival  of  two  riders.  Elder 
John  KJine  and  traveling  companion 
Elder  Daniel  Thomas,  impersonated  by 
Emmert  Bittinger  and  Fred  Garber. 
Our  riders  have  developed  deep 
respect  for  Elder  John  Kline.  After  fol- 
lowing several  of  his  mountain  routes, 
we  agree  that  he  and  his  faithful  horse 
Nell  seem  totally  impervious  to  fatigue, 
weather,  and  all  trials.  E.xhausted  after 
3nly  20  miles  in  90-degree  heat,  we 
Found  it  difficult  to  imagine  his  travels 
From  Virginia  into  Maryland  and  Penn- 
sylvania, covering  30  or  40  miles  each 

The  John  Kline  Riders  take 
3  noon  break  in  the  forest. 


day.  At  the  end  of  each  day  he  still  had  short  by  an  assassin's  bullet  in  1  864, 

energy  left  to  hold  services  in  some  one  of  the  tragic  consequences 

mountain  home  where  neighbors  had  of  the  violent  emotions  stirred       WfM 

gathered.  He  appears  universally  loved  up  by  the  Civil  War.  ii2 

and  admired. 

In  his  final  years,  he  served  as  Emmert  B.tt.nger  of  Bndgewater.Va.,  retired  from  teach- 

moderator  Ot  Annual  Meeting  four  ing  at  Bridgewater  College,  has  authored  many  articles 

times.   His  life  was  prematurely  cut  on  church  and  family  history. 


, , ,  />  ^ur  midjt 


...ON  PRAYER 

Prayer  time,  prayer  discipline,  prayer  life,  prayer  rug.  Prayer 
space,  prayers  jor  the  journey,  praying  the  Bible,  learning  to  pray. 
Prayers  for  worship,  prayer  at  home,  prayers  for  children,  prayers 

for  those  who  are  dying.  "Pray  without  ceasing," pray  in  solitude,  pray  aloud,  pray  in 

silence.  Just  pray!  Always  pray!  Pray  today! 

This  newest  congregational  resource  from  the  General  Board's 
...in  our  midst  series,  provides  ample  opportunity  for  congregations 
to  e.xplore  the  world  of  prayer.  The  resource  provides;  lectionarv 
prayer  resources  for  the  season  of  Epiphany,  prayers  for 
congregational  life,  suggestions  for  individual  prayer  practices, 
prayers  for  and  about  children  and  youth,  a  lighter-hearted  look  at 
prayer,  and  a  sample  study  session  on  prayer. 

Other  resources  m  the  ...in  our  midst  series  include: 

•  Spiritual  Growth 

•  Mission  Education 

•  Children  &  Violence 

•  Lent  &  Easter  Resources 

•  Ministerial  Leadership 

To  order  additional  copies  of  these  resources,  contact  Brethren  Press 
at  800-441-3712.  Resources  are  $2.50  plus  shipping  and  handling. 


Messenger  November  2000 


edI 


y^  art 

iVlU  (//'7    the  ItliA/o^^C 

New  efforts  to  foster  spiritual  formation 


Ultimately, 

spiritual 

formation 

means  being 

shaped  by 

scripture  and  by 

spiritual 

practices,  and 

trying  to  form 

our  lives  after 

the  likeness  of 

Christ. 


by  Wendy  McFadden 

It  feels  like  a  long  time  ago,  but  just  last  year 
everyone  was  caught  up  in  the  frenzy  about 
Y2K.  People  were  focused  on  survival,  the 
threat  of  chaos,  fear  of  technology  run  amok, 
and  the  end  times. 

In  the  shadow  of  the  impending  disaster,  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  General  Board  decided  to 
reclaim  the  moment  as  the  birthday  of  jesus  and 
to  use  the  occasion  to  deepen  our  spiritual  roots. 
It  seemed  more  faithful  to  turn  toward  God  as  our 
never-failing  source  of  strength  than  to  become 
obsessed  about  the  limitations  of  computers. 

As  the  year  2000  draws  to  a  close,  it's  clear 
that  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  has  embraced 
this  counter-cultural  way  of  looking  at  the  calen- 
dar: Under  the  banner  of  "I2K,"  a  number  of 
congregations  and  districts  have  adopted  "New 
Hope,  New  Day"  as  their  own  theme.  Many  indi- 
viduals are  using  the  daily  scriptures  and  prayer 
reminders,  and  congregations  are  taking  special 
offerings.  The  year  culminates  with  a  conference 
on  "Speaking  of  Jesus"  (see  sidebar  p.  16). 

But  the  observance  doesn't  end  with  the  year 
2000.  Congregations  have  been  encouraged  to 
create  time  capsules  that  will  be  opened  in 
2033,  after  a  span  of  time  that  represents  the 


earthly  life  of  Jesus. 

The  J2K  emphasis  is  but  one  way  the  Gen- 
eral Board  is  working  at  spiritual  formation.  In 
the  Christmas  Offering  Emphasis,  the  board  is 
encouraging  congregations  to  lift  up  and  sup- 
port the  work  in  this  important  but 
sometimes-overlooked  area. 

What  is  spiritual  formation?  It's  going 
beyond  the  initial  decision  to  follow  Jesus.  It's 
discipleship.  It's  growing  in  faith.  It's  about 
depth,  not  just  breadth.  It's  about  being  as  well 
as  doing,  and  vice  versa. 

It  has  more  to  do  with  the  inward  journey 
than  the  outward,  says  Glenn  Timmons,  direc- 
tor of  the  General  Board's  Congregational  Life 
Ministries  unit.  "Hopefully,  the  inward  journe) 
shapes  the  outward. 

"We  as  Brethren  know  how  to  address  the 
question  of  what  or  how,"  Timmons  adds,  "bul 
we  don't  always  know  how  to  address  the  why 
Spiritual  formation  will  help  people  ground 
their  lives  in  traditional  spiritual  practices." 

For  Timmons  this  search  for  more  ground- 
edness  is  as  close  to  home  as  himself,  for  whori] 
spiritual  formation  is  a  "personal  corrective," 
and  as  far-flung  as  the  world  around  us.  "I 
think  the  last  50  years  of  uprootedness  of  the 
culture  has  increased  the  need  for  rooting  and 


ItA  Messenger  November  2000 


oorn^ 


7 


rounding.  When  spirituality  makes  tiie  cover 
f  major  secular  magazines,  something's  going 
n  in  the  culture — even  if  it's  not  a  particularly 
'hristian  form  of  spirituality." 

Ultimately,  spiritual  formation  means  being 
laped  by  scripture  and  by  spiritual  practices,  and 
ying  to  form  our  lives  after  the  likeness  of  Christ. 
Spiritual  formation  begins  more  with  God  than 
ith  "my  need.'"  says  Timmons.  "It  involves  listen- 
ig  to  God  more  than  speaking  to  God." 

Spiritual  formation  is  one  of  the  emphases 
f  Congregational  Life  Ministries,  and  is  borne 
ut  in  a  number  of  ways.  Congregational  Life 
;am  members  who  are  working  with  congre- 
Jtions  on  a  long-term  basis  are  building  into 
le  revitalization  process  some  form  of  spiritual 
ivelopment  "almost  as  a  prerequisite,"  on  the 
isis  that  revitalization  is  more  than  rearrang- 
g  the  church  or  doing  a  new  program. 

"Revitalization  begins  with  transformation  of 
people,  assuming  that  the  change  is  of  God 
ther  than  some  human  effort,"  says  Timmons. 
Another  quiet  effort  of  Congregational  Life 
inistries  is  development  of  a  spiritual  direc- 
rs  network,  a  group  of  about  35  people  who 
ive  either  completed  or  are  involved  in  a  certi- 
:ation  program  in  spiritual  direction.  The 
oup  has  gathered  at  the  past  two  Annual 


Conferences  and  also  communicates  via  a  list- 
serv  (a  forum  for  communicating  through 
electronic  mail).  The  networking  provides 
useful  interaction  among  people  with  a 
common  calling,  highlights  for  the  denomina- 
tion "what  is  often  a  rather  invisible  group," 
and  provides  a  sounding  board  for  staff. 

A  higher-profile  endeavor  is  Worshipful- 
Work,  a  CLIVl  effort  inspired  by  Chuck  Olsen's 
book  Transforming  Church  Boards  into  Spiri- 
tual Leaders.  Worshipful -Work  uses  the  four 
components  of  storytelling,  biblical  reflection 
and  study,  prayerful  discernment,  and  "vision- 
ing  the  future"  to  bring  more  discernment  into 
decisionmaking. 

CLM  has  trained  about  65  people  across  the 
denomination  who  are  on  call  to  help  congrega- 
tions begin  to  incorporate  these  elements  into 
their  decisionmaking  processes.  CLM  not  only 
funded  the  training,  but  has  made  available 
additional  funds  to  cover  mileage  and  other 
expenses  of  trainers. 

This  style  of  decisionmaking  begins  with  dif- 
ferent assumptions,  says  Timmons.  "Do  you 
begin  with  the  question  of  what  God  would 
yearn  for  the  church,  or  what  we  would  like  for 
the  church?  What  is  the  mind  of  Christ?" 

Use  of  this  new  resource  has  varied  from 
district  to  district,  but  Timmons  sees  from  con- 
gregational and  district  newsletters  that  a 
number  of  groups  are  adopting  elements  of 
Worshipful -Work.  "Some  of  those  are  very  cre- 
ative," says  Timmons.  He  adds  that  these 
spiritual  practices  "are  best  done  when  they 
don't  call  attention  to  themselves." 

A  host  of  printed  materials  from  Brethren 
Press  and  other  offices  of  the  General  Board 
also  nurture  spiritual  formation.  The  first  in  the 
In  Our  Midst  series  of  congregational  resources 
was  on  spiritual  growth;  the  sixth  in  the  series, 
soon  to  be  released,  is  on  prayer.  The  Lenten 
bulletins  in  the  2001  Church  of  the  Brethren 
bulletin  series  feature  seven  paintings  from  Paul 
Grout's  "Stations  of  the  Resurrection,"  provid- 
ing a  unique  focus  for  meditation  during  the 
weeks  leading  up  to  Easter.  A  new  book  titled 
The  Love  Feast,  a  treasury  of  images  and  words 
just  published  in  luly,  provides  a  way  for 
Brethren  to  reflect  on  the  way  this  profound 


"Spiritual 
formation  begins 
more  with  God 
than  with  'my 
need.'  It  involves 
listening  to  God 
more  than 
speaking  to  God. 
Revitalization 
begins  with 
transformation  of 
a  people, 
assuming  that  the 
change  is  of  God 
rather  than  some 
human  effort," 
says  Glenn 
Timmons. 


rcJ 


Underlining  tiie 

General  Board's 

varied  contributions 

to  spiritual  formation 

within  the  Church  of 

the  Brethren  is  its 

own  vision  statement, 

"Of  God,  for  God, 

with  God." 


JOYCE  RUPP 


CThe 
up 

OurJ-_jli\3 

A  Guide Jor  Spiritual  Gronth 


AW^KE 

MY  SOUL 


ordinance  shapes  our  identity. 

And  a  key  resource  for  shaping  the  next 
generation  of  Brethren  is  Heart,  Soul,  and, 
Mind  a  comprehensive  membership  curricu- 
lum from  Brethren  Press.  While  the  materials 
are  designed  to  convey  basic  information 
about  the  Bible,  church  history,  Brethren 
belief,  and  church  membership,  more  impor- 
tantly they  guide  learners  through  a  careful 
and  deliberate  process  that  involves  wrestling 
with  questions  about  faith,  being  mentored, 
and  serving  in  an  apprenticeship  program. 

"The  Brethren  commitment  to  disciple- 
ship  is,  at  its  heart,  a  commitment  to 
growth  with  God,"  says  the  leader's  guide 
for  Heart,  Soul,  and  Mind.  "Therefore,  the 
outward  disciplines  of  mutual  aid,  service, 
relief  work,  and  the  peace  testimony  serve 
to  balance  the  inward  disciplines  of  study, 
worship,  and  prayer.  All  the  disciplines, 
inward  and  outward,  are  the  outgrowth  of 
a  relationship  with  God  and  not  the  worth- 
less effort  to  earn  God's  grace"  (p.  110). 


The  board's  leadership  in  spiritual  for- 
mation is  no  accident,  but  rather  was 
identified  three  years  ago  as  one  of  its 
goals.  The  board  has  sought  to  establish  its 
own  balance  between  the  inward  and  the 
outward,  and  invites  congregations  and 
individuals  to  seek  that  balance  as  well. 

Underlining  the  General  Board's  varied 
contributions  to  spiritual  formation  within 
the  Church  of  the  Brethren  is  its  own  vision 
statement,  "Of  God,  for  God,  with  God." 
The  words  emerged  to  a  small  planning 
group  made  up  of  board  members  and 
staff,  who  held  a  spiritual  retreat  marked  by 
Bible  study,  prayer,  and  discernment. 

Rich  in  their  simplicity,  the  words  serve 
as  a  touchstone  for  all  the  General  Board's 
ministries — those  that  visibly  serve  the  world 
around  us  and  those  that  nurture  our 
own  souls  so  that  we  are  ever  more 
faithful  followers  of  Jesus  Christ. 


d 


Wendy  McFadden  is  director  and  publisher  of  Bretfiren  Press. 


Below  are  listed  five  excellent  books  on 
spiritual  growth  that  help  us  to  nurture 
our  relationship  with  God  in  practical, 
everyday  ways.  The  books  are  available 
through  Brethren  Press  by  calling 
800-441-3712. 

The  Cup  of  Our  Life:  A  Guide  for  Spiri- 
tual Growth,  by  Joyce  Rupp,  Ave  Maria 
Press,  1997.  $12.95. 

This  book  of  devotions  contains  six  weeks 
of  daily  meditations  for  spiritual  growth.  The 
author  is  a  Catholic  sister,  a  member  of  the 
Servite  (Servants  of  Mary)  community.  She 
is  a  popular  author  and  retreat  leader  who 
describes  how  the  ordinary  cups  that  we  use 
each  day  can  become  symbols  of  our  spiri- 
tual life.  For  each  day  she  uses  different 
images  like  the  broken  cup,  the  open  cup,  the 
chipped  cup,  the  blessing  cup.  Each  day's 


devotion  includes  a  short  essay,  a  scripture, 
suggestions  for  meditation/prayer,  and  ques- 
tions for  journaling. 

Rupp  reminds  us  that  our  spiritual  life  is 
not  limited  to  the  set  time  and  place  of  our 
prayer.  Rather,  it  involves  all  of  our  life. 
Therefore,  the  common,  ordinary  things  of 
life,  like  cups,  are  good  reminders  to  us 
that  God  is  always  present  in  our  lives. 
Through  our  regular,  daily  times  of  prayer 
and  scripture  study  we  are  re-alerted  to 
discover  God  throughout  our  entire  day. 

Awake  My  Soul:  Practical  Spirituality  for 
Busy  People,  by  Timothy  Jones, Doubleday 
Books,  2000.  $10.95. 

This  former  Church  of  the  Brethren  minis- 
ter, now  Episcopalian,  has  written  a  number 
of  excellent  books  on  spirituality:  The  Art  of 
Prayer,  A  Place  for  God,  and  now  this  latest 


Messenger  November  2000 


offering.  Jones  does  a  masterful  job  of  com- 
bining spiritual  insights  with  anecdotes  from 
his  own  daily  life  and  the  lives  of  others.  He 
rightly  understands  that  there  is  a  deep  spiri- 
tual hunger  in  America,  and  he  seeks  to  draw 
from  both  ancient  wisdom  and  contempo- 
rary experience.  His  book  is  filled  with 
practical  ways  to  "awake"  our  souls  to  God 
in  the  midst  of  our  daily  lives. 

He  writes,  "Somehow  waking  up  must 
bring  calm  and  simple  graces  and  occasional 
spaces.  I  have  no  interest  in  an  approach  to 
the  spiritual  life  that  only  tightens  my  time 
bind.  . .  .What  I  need  is  fundamentally  to 
change  my  relationship  to  time,  to  the  God 
ot  time."  So  he  suggests  concrete  ways  of 
turning  our  thoughts  to  God  that  transform 
daily  pressures  of  life  into  moments  of  spiri- 
tual enrichment  (e.g.,  cultivating  a  spirit  of 
more  gratitude,  seeing  our  work  as  a  call- 
ing— no  matter  what  our  job  is) . 

Bread  for  the  Journey:  A  Daybook  of 
Wisdom  and  Faith,  by  Henri  Nouwen, 
HarperCollins  Publishers,  1997.  $20. 

This  well-known  author  wrote  these  366 
devotional  thoughts  shortly  before  his 
death.  Each  day  contains  a  brief  but 
nsightful  paragraph  of  Nouwen's  reflec- 
ions  on  God,  love,  prayer,  suffering,  the 
;hurch  as  God's  people,  etc.  What  we  find 
lere  are  key  thoughts  about  what  it  means 
o  seek  God  and  to  be  faithful  to  God. 

For  instance,  for  Dec.  25  Nouwen  writes: 
'What  is  our  task  in  this  world  as  children 
)f  God  and  brothers  and  sisters  of  Jesus? 

3ur  task  is  reconciliation Because  God 

ent  lesus  to  reconcile  us  with  God  and  to 
five  us  the  task  of  reconciling  people  with 
me  another  (see  2  Cor.  5:18).  So  whatever 
ve  do,  the  main  question  is,  'Does  it  lead  to 
econciliation  among  people?'" 

For  a  whole  year  of  daily  spiritual  nourish- 
nent,  this  is  indeed  bread  for  our  journey. 

spiritual  Rx:  Prescriptions  for  Living  a 
Meaningful  Life,  by  Fredric  and  Mary  Ann 
Jrussat,  Hyperion,  2000.  $23.95. 
Thirty-seven  spiritual  practices  (gratitude, 
ompassion,  joy,  listening,  wonder,  forgive- 
ess,  being  present,  etc.)  are  the  subject  of 
lis  guide  for  enriching  one's  spiritual  life, 
'he  authors  remind  us  that  whatever  we 


practice,  that's  what  we  become  good  at.  So 
if  we  practice  being  angry,  that  is  how  we 
become,  if,  on  the  other  hand,  we  practice 
grace,  we  become  good  at  that.  Each  chapter 
begins  with  daily  cues  related  to  that  prac- 
tice, then  a  few  paragraphs  that  discuss  the 
practice,  some  quotes,  a  section  on  teachers 
of  that  practice,  a  section  on  videos,  books, 
art,  and  music  on  that  topic,  spiritual  exer- 
cises, questions  for  journaling,  and  group  or 
community  projects.  Each  of  the  37  spiritual 
practices  is  thus  dealt  with  comprehensively. 

The  Brussats  have  spent  the  last  30 
years  as  reviewers  of  resources  on  spiritu- 
ality. They  draw  on  the  depth  of  that 
expertise  in  recommending  the  best  books 
to  read  and  other  mediums  to  explore 
regarding  each  practice. 

Sabbath:  Finding  Rest.  Renewal,  and 
Delight  in  our  Busy  Lives,  by  Wayne 
Muller,  Bantam  Books,  1999.  $14.95. 

Muller  emphasizes  the  importance  of  a 
rhythm  in  our  lives  that  includes  not  only 
productivity  and  working,  but  also  sabbath 
rest.  In  the  same  way  that  plants  and  ani- 
mals follow  natural  circadian  rhythms, 
human  beings  need  the  rhythm  of  work  and 
rest.  Muller  reminds  us  that  if  we  do  not 
allow  for  this  rhythm  of  rest  in  our  overly 
busy  lives,  illness  becomes  our  Sabbath. 
The  commandment  to  "Remember  the  Sab- 
bath" is  not  simply  a  lifestyle  suggestion.  It 
is  a  spiritual  precept  to  restore  our  souls. 

Each  of  the  short  chapters  (such  as  "Rest 
for  the  Weary,"  "The  Rhythm  of  Creation," 
or  "Be  Still  and  Know")  ends  with  a  "prac- 
tice," a  specific  way  to  implement  that 
concept  into  one's  spiritual  life.  For  exam- 
ple, on  "Blessing,"  Muller  suggests,  "There 
are  many  ways  to  offer  your  blessing.  You 
may  bless  your  children  . . .  your  friend,  by 
placing  your  hand  on  their  head,  and  offer- 
ing a  prayer  for  their  healing,  their 

well-being,  their  happiness Another 

practice  invites  us  to  bless  strangers  quietly, 
secretly.  Offer  it  to  people  you  notice  on  the 
street,  in  the  market,  on  the  bus. . . .  Gently, 
almost  without  effort,  each  and  every  bless- 
ing becomes  a  Sabbath."— Chrls  Douglas 


Chris  Douglas  is  coordinator  of  youth  and  young  adult 
ministry  for  the  General  Board. 


^e.-l'^No, 


BrcJ     \.r    H,.    ]„,.,„, 


SABBATH 


FIND  IXC    REST. 

R  !■:  N  i;  \V  A  1. ,  .AND    D  li  1, 1  G  H  T 

IN    OUR    BUSY    LIVES 

\V,-\YNE    MULLER 


Messenger  November  2000 


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Ww-^V^^pf*-^  *  oA^iri^ 


The  new  symbol  for  the  Worshipful -Work  orga 
nization  in  Kansas  City  was  created  by  Don 
Parker  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren. 

The  process  began  last  January  at  a 
Worshipful -Work  training  event 
sponsored  by  the  General  Board's 
Congregational  Life  Ministries 
unit.  During  this  three-day 
event  at  Bethany  Theological 
Seminary,  participants  were 
invited  to  think  about  a  new 
symbol  for  Worshipful -Work. 
One  of  those  asked  to  put  pencil 
to  paper  was  Don  Parker.  ';  v 

After  several  months  of  back- 
and-forth  between  Parker  and  the  staff  of 
Worshipful-Work,  he  finalized  this  image 
depicting  "the  table  of  the  Board  as  a  table  of 
the  Lord."  Reports  Ellen  Morseth,  of  Worship- 


ful-Work: "Our  symbol  is  grounded  in  story, 
reflection,  vision,  and  discernment,  as  well  as 
our  charism  of  integrating  spirituality  and 

administration  in  church  governance." 
Parker  is  a  retired  physician  cur- 
rently serving  as  vice  chair  of  the 
General  Board.  He  also  chairs  the 
Northern  Ohio  Brethren  Concilia- 
tion Service  and  is  active  in  the 
Association  for  the  Arts  in  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren.  He  enjoys 
the  challenge  of  developing  sym- 
bols and  logos,  but  says,  "Art  for 
art's  sake  is  not  enough  for  me.  I  am 
happiest  when  my  art  serves  the  work  of 
Christ  through  the  church." 

This  article  was  adapted  from  Worshipful-Work's  newsletter,  "Gra- 
cious Space,"  September  2000. 


^2l4  ^^tw  iW  ,  K>tiv  -pcy 

A  status  report  on^pirituality  in  action 


%, 


Along  with  providing  an  opportunity  for 
Brethren  to  celebrate  |esus'  birth  and  to  reflect 
on  the  turning  of  the  millennium,  "J2K:  New 
Hope,  New  Day"  has  purposefully  brought 
together  many  elements  Brethren  would  include 
under  the  heading  "spirituality." 

Brethren  have  not  been  content  to  limit  their 
spiritual  life  to  traditional  spiritual  disciplines 
such  as  prayer  and  fasting.  Many  of  our  her- 
itage see  service,  peace,  and  care  for  the 
creation  as  also  deeply  spiritual  and  to  be  fully 
integrated  into  our  life  with  God. 

During  2000,  12K  has  provided  a  spring- 
board for  individuals,  congregations,  districts, 
and  the  denomination  to  deepen  its  spiri- 
tual rootage  in  this  broader  sense,  offering 
handles  for  those  who  see  this  as  an  impor- 
tant moment  to  assess  our  life  of  faith  in 
light  of  the  rapidly 
changing  world 
around  us.  Many 
congregations  have 
faithfully  printed 
each  month's 
prayer  calendar  and 
publicized  the  daily 
scripture  readings.  Tree  plant- 
ing and  the  creation  of  time  capsules  has  taken 


NEW  HOPE. 
NEW  DAY. 


place  in  local,  district,  and  national  settings. 
Offerings  toward  the  "We're  Building  a  House, 
the  Lord's  House"  campaign  have  helped  fund 
wood-conserving  stove  projects  in  Central 
America  and  community  renewal  in  one  of  the 
poorest  areas  of  the  eastern  shore  of  the  US. 

Capping  the  year  will  be  a  theological  confer- 
ence being  jointly  sponsored  by  the  General 
Board  and  Bethany  Theological  Seminary.  This 
event,  to  be  held  in  Cincinnati  Dec.  29-Ian.  1, 
will  bring  together  Brethren  from  all  points  on 
the  theological  continuum  to  "Speak  of  lesus" 
(the  conference  title)  at  this  important  moment 
in  human  history.  Plenary  sessions,  worship  ser- 
vices, Bible  studies,  and  workshops  will  offer  a 
high  degree  of  participation,  while  also  providing 
stimulating  input  from  a  wide  array  of  presenters 

A  year  with  this  many  zeros  attached  only 
comes  along,  well,  about  once  every  thousand 
years.  The  goal  of  "12K:  New  Hope,  New  Day"  has 
been  to  enable  Brethren  to  seize  this  moment  as  an  | 
opportunity  to  reaffirm  our  commitment  to  Christ 
in  the  manner  we  do  it  best — by  employing  the  full! 
range  of  our  life  experiences  in  the  service  of  the 
gospel,  our  neighbors,  and  our  God.— David  Radciiff 

David  Radciiff  is  director  of  the  Office  of  Witness  for  the  Church  cj 
the  Brethren  General  Board. 


iltl  Messenger  November  2000 


lye^'^n  ^f 


submitted  by  Paul  Sroip| 
photos  by  Glenn  Mitchell 


;,     \  ^v  •■■;':^' 


il  Grout,  of  Putney,  Vt..  is  moderator-elect  of  the 
jrcfi  of  tfie  Bretfiren,  The  "Seven  Symptoms  of 
llness"  IS  from  an  artistic  book  of  spiritual 
ssages  titled  The  God  Centered  Life.  The  book  is 
lable  for  $4  plus  mailing  cost  from  Georgia 
rkey,  Southern  Pennsylvania  District  Office.  6035 
<  Road,  New  Oxford.  PA,  17350.  Telephone 
■-624-8636  or  e-mail  gmarkey_ds@brethren.org, 

nn  Mitchell,  a  photographer  and  trained  spiritual 
!Ctor,  IS  pastor  of  University  Baptist  and 
thren  Church,  State  College,  Pa, 


Messenger  November  2000 


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Messenger  November  2000 


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!0    Messenger  Novfember  2000 


Writing  in  her  journal  is  Ellen  Shartner  from  Frederick,  Md.,  at  the 
"God-Centered  Life "  Youtti  Spiritual  Life  Camp  at  Shepherd's  Spring  camp. 


A  new  emphasis  on  giving  youth  a  *'tool  kit"  for  their  experience  with  God 


^       by  Walt  Wiltschek 

■       hris  Douglas,  coordinator  of 
|1^^  Youth/Young  Adult  Ministries 

for  the  Church  of  the  Brethren 
General  Board,  had  an  epiphany  of 
sorts  a  few  years  ago.  "Like  the  hghts 
came  on,"  she  calls  it. 

She  was  at  a  workshop  led  by  Mark 
Yaconelli.  who  directs  the  Youth  Spiri- 
tuality Project  at  San  Francisco 
Theological  Seminary.  Yaconelli  talked 
about  the  way  congregations  lament 
the  fact  that  vouth  are  so  active  during 


high  school,  then  leave  the  church 
when  they  become  young  adults. 

Yaconelli  said  when  he  asked  youth 
about  the  times  they  had  felt  closest  to 
God,  it  was  typically  at  camps,  retreats, 
district  and  national  conferences, 
workcamps  and  mission  trips,  and 
other  major  events.  He  pointed  out . 
that  they  all  involved  large  peer  groups 
and  going  away  somewhere — opportu- 
nities that  became  far  less  frequent 
after  the  youth  years. 

Without  realizing  it.  he  said, 
churches  had  "taught  an  inaccessibil- 


ity to  God"  once  youth  leave  high 
school.  The  familiar  channels  all  dis- 
appeared. 

It  led  Yaconelli  to  take  another  look 
at  how  churches  can  do  a  better  job  of 
preparing  youth  in  personal  faith,  like 
worship  and  a  private  devotional  life. 
That,  in  turn,  led  him  to  venerable 
Christian  practices  like  prayer,  medi- 
tation on  scripture,  and  quiet 
reflection.  He  became  convinced  that 
churches  need  to  provide  youth  this 
"tool  kit"  of  ways  to  experience  God. 

His  observations  struck  a  deep 


Messenger  November  2000 


"There's  more 

awareness  of  a  spiritual 

hunger  in  our  culture.  I'm 

amazed  at  all  the  places 

where  that  shows  up. 

The  question  becomes, 

'How  do  we  in  youth 

ministry  help  young 

people  connect  to  God  in 

a  deeper  kind  of  way  and 

gain  more  intimacy  with 

Jesus  Christ?'" 


Coming  youth 
spirituality  events 

•  Nov.  18   National  Youth  Min- 
istry Workshop,  "The 
God-Centered  Life:  What  It 
Means  to  Be  AHve,"  led  by  Paul 
Grout 

•  Feb.  16-18,  2001  Young  adult 
spirituality  retreat  at  Shepherd's 
Spring  Outdoor  Ministry  Center, 
Sharpsburg,  Md. 

•  March  9-11,  2001  "The  God- 
Centered  Life"  youth  advisor 
training  session/retreat  at  Shep- 
herd's Spring 

•  May  26-28,  2001  National 
Young  Adult  Conference;  theme: 
"The  God-Bearing  Life,"  led  by 
Paul  Grout  at  Brethren  Woods, 
Keezletown,  Va. 

•  June  2001  Young  adult  work- 
camp/trip  to  Taize  community, 
France 

•  Iuly29-Aug.  4,2001  "The 
God-Centered  Life"  national 
youth  spirituality  camp  at  Camp 
Mack,  Milford,  Ind. 


Washing  feet  during  a  worship  time  at 

the  Youth  Spiritual  Life  Camp  is  Ben 
Keeney  of  Leola,  Pa. 

chord  with  Douglas,  and  she  hasn't 
looked  at  youth  ministry  the  same  way 
since.  Somehow,  congregations  needed 
to  help  youth  find  deeper  relationships 
with  Jesus  Christ  and,  through  that, 
with  the  church  family. 
"Over  the  past  40-50  years,  the  church 
hasn't  fostered  that  sense  of  connect- 
edness," Douglas  says.  "We  just 
cannot  keep  doing  youth  groups  the 
way  we've  been  doing  them." 

Many  youth  programs  still  work  out 
of  the  traditional  model  of  simply 
bringing  youth  together  for  "good, 
clean  fun,"  she  says,  "holding  them"  in 
church  until  they  become  adults.  The 
fun  and  fellowship  are  still  important 
parts  of  those  programs  and  shouldn't 
simply  be  discarded,  but  churches  need 
to  go  beyond  that. 

"I  think  we're  at  a  time  culturally  and 
spiritually  where  that  model  isn't 
enough  anymore,"  Douglas  says. 
"There's  more  awareness  of  a  spiritual 
hunger  in  our  culture.  Lm  amazed  at 
all  the  places  where  that  shows  up.  The 
question  becomes,  'How  do  we  in  youth 
ministry  help  young  people  connect  to 
God  in  a  deeper  kind  of  way  and  gain 
more  intimacy  with  Jesus  Christ?"" 

She  acknowledges  that  this  is  a  major 


shift  of  approach  for  most  churches, 
from  a  program-based  model  to  one 
based  on  relationships-and  most  specif- 
ically on  one's  relationship  with  God. 

At  the  same  time,  it  calls  churches  to 
infuse  youth  ministry  throughout  the 
life  of  a  congregation.  Youth  need  to  be 
involved  in  all  phases  of  the  church's 
ministry  and  surrounded  with  caring 
adults  who  will  be  encouragers,  advo- 
cates, and  role  models  through  avenues 
such  as  mentoring  and  sharing  signifi- 
cant responsibility. 

A  key  book  for  Douglas  in  under- 
standing this  change  of  paradigms 
has  been  The  Godbearing  Life,  by 
Kenda  Creasy  Dean  and  Ron  Foster. 
Several  copies  sit  on  the  counter  in 
her  Elgin,  111.,  office. 

In  it  lies  a  key  line  that  pulls  the  pieces 
of  this  approach  together.  Dean  and 
Foster  write:  "The  question,  then,  is  how 
do  we  invite  youth  more  deeply  into  the 
practices  of  faith?  The  answer  is  decep- 
tively simple:  We  become  more  deeply 
involved  in  the  practices  of  faith." 

"It's  so  easy  to  yearn  for  kids  to  be 
more  spiritual,"  says  Douglas,  who 
has  a  15-year-old  daughter  in  her  own 
home.  "But  how  are  kids  ever  going  to 
learn  if  it's  not  in  my  own  life  to 
model  and  teach  and  pray  for  them? 
Adults  must  immerse  themselves 
deeply  in  their  own  growth  and  rela- 
tionship with  God." 


Messenger  November  2000 


The  renewed  emphasis  and  inten- 
tionality  on  spirituality  for  both  youth 
and  advisors  has  already  shown  itself 
in  a  fresh  vision  in  denominational 
programming. 

A  new  project  called  "The  God-Cen- 
tered Life,"  done  in  partnership 
between  the  General  Board  and  Shep- 
herd's Spring  Outdoor  Ministries 
Center  in  Sharpsburg,  Md.,  held  a 
retreat/training  for  youth  advisors  and 
a  camp  for  youth  this  past  year,  and 
similar  events  are  planned  for  2001,  all 
drawing  on  leadership  by  Annual  Con- 
ference moderator-elect  Paul  Grout. 

Youth  advisors  are  also  being  invited 
to  a  workshop  focusing  on  the  topic 
for  a  second  straight  year,  this  one 
with  keynote  leadership  by  Grout  Nov. 
18  in  Chambersburg,  Pa.  And  young 
adults  are  offered  a  retreat  at  Shep- 
herd's Spring  in  February. 

Beyond  that,  however,  the  emphasis 
also  filters  its  way  into  other  program- 
ming, like  workcamps,  resources,  and 
the  upcoming  2002  National  Youth 
Conference. 

"It  needs  to  be  something  that  per- 
vades everything  we  do  in  youth 
ministry,"  Douglas  says. 

She  says  the  process  of  implement- 
ing and  sharing  this  renewed  vision  is 
fun  and  energizing,  and  her  enthusi- 
asm is  evident  in  the  way  she  describes 
it.  She  hopes  that  others  in  the  denom- 
ination who  work  with  youth  and  who 
care  about  youth  will  continue  to  catch 
that  excitement  as  well. 

"It's  time  for  the  church  to  be  more 
proactive  in  saying  to  kids,  'Your  life  is 
about  more  than  your  mind  and 
body,'"  according  to  Douglas.  "'You 
have  a  soul  that  gets  hungry,  too,  and 
needs  to  be  attended  to.  And  it's 
a  relationship  with  God  that 
feeds  your  soul.'" 


d 


Walt  Wiltschek  is  manager  of  news  services  for  tfie  Church 
of  the  Brethren  General  Board.  He  also  serves  on  the 
denominational  Junior  High  Ministry  Task  Force  and  has 
served  in  youth  ministry  in  several  congregations. 

The  Godbeanng  Life  can  be  ordered  through  Brethren 
Press.  Call  800-441-3712  (order  #0225,  $14.95). 


How  to 
Understand 

Bitle 


Herald 
Press 


Have  you  ever  wondered  if  you  under- 
stood certain  passages  in  the  Bible  cor- 
rectly? Have  you  puzzled  over  differing 
applications  of  the  Bible  in  the  church? 
David  Ewert's  How  to  Understand  the 
Bible  can  help  you  avoid  serious  pitfalls 
in  interpreting  and  applying  the  Bible. 
From  a  lifetime  of  interpreting  and 
proclaiming  the  Word  of  God,  Ewert 
shares  guidelines  on  studying  the 
Scriptures.  He  explains  literary  forms, 
idioms,  and  figures  of  speech  from 
ancient  cultures  so  we  can  understand 
their  meanings  for  today.  With  apt  illus- 
trations, Ewert  deals  with  many  typical 
questions.  He  encourages  all  who  look 
to  the  Scriptures  for  light  on  their  daily 
path,  strength  in  times  of  need,  and  hope 
for  the  age  to  come. 

Paper,  240  pages,  $14.99; 
in  Canada  $22.29 


Orders:  1800  759-4447 

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CAREGIVING     IS 


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IVING 


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Caregiving  is  excellent 
and  I  hope  ABC  continues 
with  the  same  terrific  content 
and  design.  Thumbs  up!  -^^ 

—  R.  Kurt  Borgmann,  pastor 

Oakton  Church  of  the  Brethren.Vienna, Va. 

Caregiving  is  a  quarterly  publication  dedicated  to 
providing  practical  information  and  the  latest  news 
about  caring  ministries  for  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren.  Learn  about  caring  ministries  including 
deacons,  older  adults,  families,  chaplains,  retirement 
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Subscriptions  are  available  for  $10  annually  or  at 
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Brethren  Caregivers 


1451  Dundee  Ave.,  Elgin,  IL  60120 
phone  847-742-5100    fa.x  847-742-5160 


Messenger  November  2000 


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compiled  by  Beth  Sollenberger  Morphew 
illustrations  by  Jessica  Grommes 


ecently  on  a  whim  I  bought  a  meditation 
garden.  While  some  in  the  family 
laughed  at  my  spending  so  much  on 
a  tray  of  sand  and  stones  packaged 
with  a  small  plastic  rake,  I  noticed  they  all  took 
a  turn  at  rearranging  the  sand  and  stones. 

My  meditation  garden  is  the  perfect  illustra- 
tion for  a  workshop  on  styles  of  prayer,  but  it 
looks  a  little  strange  sitting  on  our  kitchen 
counter.  However,  as  one  who  grew  up  in  a 
gardening  family,  there  is  something  quite  sat- 
isfying about  digging  in  the  dirt,  moving  rocks, 
and  nurturing  plants,  and  sometimes  offering  a 
prayer  in  the  midst  of  it  all. 

Traditionally  Brethren  have  sought  God  in 

Traditionally  Brethren  have  sought  God  in  the  midst  of 

everyday  work  and  events.  Hymns  can  be  sung  in 

church  just  as  well  as  while  plowing  or  putting  the  baby 

to  bed.  Prayers  can  be  prayed  just  as  effectively  over  the 

phone  or  at  the  kitchen  table  as  they  can  on  our  knees 

by  the  bedside  or  sitting  in  a  church  pew. 


the  midst  of  everyday  work  and  events.  Hymns 
can  be  sung  in  church  just  as  well  as  while 
plowing  or  putting  the  baby  to  bed.  Prayers  can 
be  prayed  just  as  effectively  over  the  phone  or 
at  the  kitchen  table  as  they  can  on  our  knees  by 
the  bedside  or  sitting  in  a  church  pew.  Brethren 
are  attuned  to  God  and  our  calls  to  prayer,  our 
reminders  of  God's  presence,  often  happen  in 
the  midst  of  the  daily  routine.  Four  people  have 
graciously  shared  a  glimpse  of  how  they  seek 
and  know  God's  blessing: 


Many  cookies,  many  prayers 


Leaving  the  people  from  one  congregation 
behind  when  moving  to  a  new  pastorate  is  hard. 
One  of  the  ways  I  have  stayed  connected  is  to 
pray  for  people  when  I  use  one  of  their  recipes. 
I  don't  know  exactly  when  I  started  to  do  this.  I 
do  know  that  when  I  would  find  a  recipe  in  a 
church  cookbook  or  receive  a  recipe  after  a 
potluck  I  would  type  them  on  a  card  and  include 
the  name  of  the  person  sharing  the  recipe  at  the 
top  of  the  card.  Then  when  I  pull  that  recipe  out 
to  make  it,  I  pray  for  the  person  named.  It  is 
usually  a  general  prayer  because  I  don't  really 
know  what  is  going  on  in  their  life  right  now. 
But  I  ask  God  to  protect  them  and  offer  them  a 
blessing.  And  I  thank  God  for  that  person. 

I  have  one  recipe  that  I  received  about  40 
years  ago.  It  is  probably  my  most  used  one — 
chocolate  chip  cookies  with  oatmeal  and  brown 
sugar — and  the  one  my  family  always  asks  for. 
I  got  it  from  Martha  Long.  The  Longs  kept  our 
children  several  times  when  we  went  to  Annual 
Conference  and  we  returned  the  favor  some- 


Messenger  November  2000 


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times  on  weekends.  I've  given  thanks  for  the 
friendship  many  times  over  and  we  have  eaten 

lots  of  those  cookies.— Pearl  Hostetter,  Goshen,  Ind. 


God  and  the  Great  Blue 

The  morning  was  sunlit  and  already  humid.  As  I 
drove  from  home  toward  the  church  my  mind  was 
whirling  with  a  multitude  of  concerns.  The  road 
ahead  curved  down  toward  the  little  marsh  that  I 
pass  every  day.  As  the  pond  came  into  view  I  felt  a 
familiar  rush  of  joy  and  peace.  A  Great  Blue 
Heron  stood  motionless  in  the  shallow  water. 

For  over  1  5  years  the  sight  of  one  of  these 
beautiful  gray-blue  birds  has  been  a  source  of 
special  grace  in  my  life,  for  the  presence  of  this 
magnificent  bird  has  become  a  symbol  of  God's 
Presence.  Why  this  is  so  is  a  mystery  I  may 
never  understand.  But  there  have  been  count- 
less times  when  the  Great  Blue  has  brought  a 
deep  sense  of  benediction,  affirmation,  reassur- 
ance, and  blessing. 

One  evening  at  the  end  of  a  bittersweet  vaca- 
tion on  Cape  Cod,  1  was  feeling  deeply 
depressed  as  1  thought  about  returning  home  the 
next  day.  Walking  along  a  narrow  path  by 
Nauset  Marsh  I  chanced  upon  a  Great  Blue. 
Only  a  few  yards  from  where  1  stood,  it  stood, 
unmoving  and  unafraid.  We  shared  the  vast 
silence  of  that  marsh  as  the  sun  sent  golden-pink 
streaks  across  an  azure  sky.  Somewhere  deep 
within  me  a  sense  of  peace  welled  up  to  embrace 
my  sorrow.  When  the  Great  Blue  finally  flew 
away  into  the  gathering  twilight,  its  flight  formed 
an  unspoken  benediction.  When  it  had  disap- 
peared, I  turned  away,  ready  to  return  home. 

Another  time  when  my  family  was  vacation- 
ing in  Belize,  my  daughters  and  I  had  gone  by 
'boat  and  jeep  to  tour  some  Mayan  ruins  located 


about  two  hours  away  from  the  lodge  where  we 
were  staying.  Before  we  left,  we  had  been 
warned  that  we  would  need  to  be  sure  to  start 
the  journey  back  in  plenty  of  time.  We  had  to 
return  well  before  sunset  because  our  guide 
could  not  navigate  the  river  in  darkness. 

Reveling  in  the  grand  adventure  of  touring 
the  vast  Mayan  ruins,  I  lost  all  sense  of  time. 


Only  a  few  yards  from  where  I  stood,  it  stood, 
unmoving  and  unafraid.  We  shared  the  vast  silence 
of  that  marsh  as  the  sun  sent  golden-pink  streaks 
across  an  azure  sky.  Somewhere  deep  within  me  a 
sense  of  peace  welled  up  to  embrace  my  sorrow. 


Messenger  November  2000 


Each  day  1 

exercise  for 

about  50 

minutes,  and 

those  50 

minutes  are  all 

about  prayer. 

I  pray  for  the 

day,  the 

moment,  for 

grace,  for  mercy, 

for  the  presence 

of  God. 


When  I  finally  looked  at  my  watch  I 
realized  with  a  start  that  it  was  already 
mid-afternoon.  We  hurried  back  to 
the  landing,  explaining  that  we  must  leave  at 
once.  A  quick  gathering  of  belongings  got  us 
launched  with  little  delay,  but  I  kept  looking  at 
my  watch,  making  mental  calculations.  As  we 
glided  down  the  river  toward  our  rendezvous 
with  the  jeep  driver  who  would  take  us  to 
another  boat,  my  inner  alarm  kept  sounding. 
Had  we  tarried  too  long? 

Then,  as  we  rounded  a  bend  in  the  river  I 
saw  a  Great  Blue  Heron.  Its  presence  immedi- 
ately calmed  my  fear.  As  we  passed  near  it,  the 
heron  never  moved.  I  felt  a  deep  inner  sense  of 
assurance:  we  would  make  it  on  time.  Just  over 
two  hours  later  we  stepped  out  of  the  other 
boat,  casting  shadows  onto  the  grassy  landing 
in  front  of  our  jungle  lodge.  The  sun  was  just 
beginning  to  set. 

Over  and  over,  in  times  of  turmoil,  doubt, 
stress,  or  exhaustion,  a  Great  Blue  Heron  has 
flown  across  the  sky  above  me,  flown  beside  my 
car,  or  appeared  in  the  most  unexpected  places. 
Always  it  brings  me  a  sense  of  God's  presence 
and  caring.  In  the  midst  of  some  very  difficult 
times,  this  special  creature  of  our  Creator 
reminds  me  that  "All  shall  be  well."— Prue 

Yelinek,  Waynesboro,  Pa. 


Pumped  up  with  prayer 

Apart  from  prayer,  I  would  not  exer 

cise.  Movement  and  prayer  have 

become  habit  for  me,  after  years  of 

disciplined  application.  Sometime 

in  January  1996,  at  a  silent  retreat, 

a  36-hour  period  of  silence  at  Bon  Secours,  I 

found  myself  running,  literally,  up  a  flight  of 

stairs.  Having  been  in  silence  for  only  8  hours 

I  had  28  more  to  ponder  why  I  was  hurrying. 


One  result  of  that  experience 
has  been  the  disciplined         ■ 
and  intentional  comb-         * 
ination  of  prayer  and 
movement  .  .  .  slowing 
myself  down. 
Each  day  I  exercise 
for  about  50  minutes,  and 
those  50  minutes  are  all 
about  prayer.  I  pray  for  my  family, 
their  health,  their  wellbeing,  their  friends,  their 
concerns,  their  day.  I  pray  for  the  congrega- 
tions of  our  district,  the  pastors,  the  districts, 
the  agencies,  the  denomination.  I  pray  for  my 
mentors,  my  spiritual  guides,  my  supervisors, 
and  colleagues.  I  pray  for  my  friends.  I  pray  for 
my  enemies.  1  pray  for  my  critics.  I  pray  for  the 
day,  the  moment,  for  grace,  for  mercy,  for  the 
presence  of  God. 

I  pray  for  50  minutes.  I  exercise  while  I 
pray.  It  works  for  me.  I  am  blessed  by  and 

through  it.— Rich  Hanley,  McPherson,  Kan. 


Praying  down  the  list 

This  all  started  when  I  was  serving  as  the  pastor 
of  a  local  congregation.  1  kept  a  prayer  list  that 
covered  the  entire  congregation  over  the  course  of: 
a  year.  I  would  organize  the  list  around  birthdays 
and  anniversaries  and  often  felt  led  by  the  spirit  to  < 
send  cards  or  make 
phone  calls. 

When  I 
became  a  district 
minister  I  continued 
to  maintain  a  prayer 
list  and  regularly  prayed 
for  5  or  6  congregations 
each  week.  I  published 
the  list  in  the  district 
newsletter  so  that  others 
could  join  me  if  they 
wished.  One  of  the  things  I 
did  in  conjunction  with 
praying  was  to  send  every  pastor's  child  some- 
thing at  Christmas.  It  was  often  a  fold-out 
Christmas  card  or  a  bookmark  — something  to 
let  them  know  someone  else  was  thinking  of 
them.  Once  it  was  a  bookmark  that  said  "I  was 


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Messenger  November  2000 


caught  being  good." 

When  I  retired  from  the 
district  minister  position  i 
kept  the  prayer  Hst.  I  just 
add  names  sometimes. 
Pastors,  people  from  dis- 
trict-related leadership 
positions,  the  denomina- 
tional staff,  and  leaders  of 
the  other  institutions  of  the 
church.  I'm  a  deacon  these 
days  and  that  means  we  have 
10  family  units  that  I've  added  to 
my  prayer  list. 

Sometimes  when  a  person's  name  comes  up 
I  just  have  a  little  feeling  that  I  need  to  check 
in  and  so  I  make  a  phone  call.  I  have  often 
found  it  to  be  timely  when  I  learned  what  was 
going  on  in  their  lives.  1  was  glad  I  called. 

— Carroll  M.  Retry,  North  Manchester,  Ind. 


A  crazy  Christmas  cactus 

We  have  a  "Christmas 
Cactus"  at  our  house.  I  am 
sure  it  has  bloomed  for 
Christmas  at  least  once  in  its 
existence,  just  never  for  me  to 
see.  It  has  bloomed  at  a  few  very 
important  times.  Times  when  stress 
or  transition  or  despair  were  the 
overwhelming  emotions  of  my 
moment.  Those  times  when  I  most 
need  a  sign,  that  crazy  cactus  has  come 
through  and  provided  a  bloom  of  hope,  and 
a  signal  of  God's  abiding  care.  I  am 

grateful!— Beth  Sollenberger  Morphew 


Beth  Sollenberger  Morphew,  of  Goshen,  Ind.,  is  Congregational 
Life  Team  Coordinator  for  Area  2, 


It  has  bloomed 
at  a  few  very 
important  times. 
Those  times 
when  I  most 
need  a  sign,  that 
crazy  cactus  has 
come  through. 


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Messenger  November  2000 


m 


The  fifth  National  Older  Adult  Conferenc({ 
celebrates  how  seniors  live  and  give 


by  Walt  Wiltschek 


The  theme  for  this  year's  National  Older 
Adult  Conference  was  "Still  Bearing  Fruit, 
Still  Fresh  and  Green,"  based  on  Psalm  92:14. 
The  phrase,  taken  from  the  Phillips  translation 
of  the  Scriptures,  appeared  on  all  conference 
materials  and  on  a  large  banner  at  the  event. 
Of  course,  in  the  New  Revised  Standard 


Swing  your  partner. 

William  Fletcher  of 

Elkhart,  Ind.,  and  Mary 

Sheesley  of  Oneonta, 

N.  Y.,  enjoy  square 

dance  lessons  led  by 

Doris  Coppock. 


Version  it  reads,  "In  old  age  they  still  produce 
fruit;  they  are  always  green  and  full  of  sap." 
That  chuckle-producing  lead-in  opened  the 
door  for  conference  personnel  to  have  some 
fun  explaining  it. 

Doreen  Myers — who  served  as  NOAC  co- 
coordinator  along  with  her  husband, 
Carl — pulled  one  item  after  another  out  of  a 
bag  in  an  opening  night  skit.  She  determined 


that  the  theme  did  not  relate  to  Fruit  of  the 
Loom  products,  or  to  eating  green  grapes,  or  to 
green  currency. 

A  jug  of  maple  syrup  to  illustrate  being  "full 
of  sap"  also  failed  to  fill  the  bill.  Scott  Douglas 
of  the  Association  of  Brethren  Caregivers, 
which  sponsored  the  conference,  assured  her 
that  the  sap  referred  to  being  life-giving  nour- 
ishment in  the  church. 

Myers  eventually  came  to  the  realization  that 
the  theme  spoke  to  continuing  vitality  and  growth 
in  God  in  the  later  stages  of  life,  of  people  "build- 
ing a  green  and  growing  life."  With  that  settled, 
she  turned  to  the  audience  and  said,  "We're 
grateful  for  you  coming  to  'be  fresh'  with  us." 

The  joke  sparked  another  round  of  laughter, 
but  it  also  served  as  a  fitting  introduction  for  a 
week  in  mid-September  when  Brethren  of  ages 
50  and  over  demonstrated  and  shared  their 
freshness  in  faith.  Set  among  the  mountains  of 
western  North  Carolina  at  the  waters  of  Lake 
junaluska,  the  fifth  edition  of  the  biennial  con- 
ference was  as  full  of  life  as  the  robust  vines  on 
the  theme  materials. 

Attendance  was  1,050,  up  slightly  from  the 
1 ,04 1  of  two  years  ago  and  near  the  maximum 
or  the  lodging  available.  Participants  came 
from  30  states,  including  Hawaii.  They  came 
from  21  of  the  23  Church  of  the  Brethren  dis- 
tricts and  from  236  congregations-including 
four  who  sent  more  than  25  people  each.  They 
came  by  plane,  car,  bus,  and  even  motorcycle. 
Many  were  attending  for  the  first  time,  although 
a  group  of  more  than  100  gathered  for  a  photo 
of  people  who  had  been  to  all  five  NOAC  events. 

"I've  been  to  all  of  them,"  said  95-year-old 
Ruby  Witter  of  North  Manchester,  Ind.,  the 
conference's  oldest  attendee.  "It's  exciting.  I 
like  the  people." 

The  program  offered  a  week  full  of  worship 
and  Bible  study,  rest  and  recreation,  food 
(especially  ice  cream)  and  fellowship,  classes 


Messenger  November  2000 


land  crafts.  A  series  of  keynote  speakers  pro- 
ivided  challenges,  encouragement,  and  insights 
■during  genera!  sessions  each  day. 

Retired  pastor  limmy  Ross  said  that  "leaves 
and  shade  are  no  substitute  for  fruit,"  empha- 
sizing that  retirement  isn't  an  excuse  for  sitting 
back.  Former  McPherson  College  president 
Paul  Hoffman  urged  Brethren  to  have  a  distinc- 
tive identity,  no  longer  by  their  clothes  but  by 
the  way  they  give  and  live. 

Former  Kirkridge  Retreat  Center  director 
Robert  Raines  wove  humor  through  a  list  of  tasks 
for  creative  aging,  from  waking  up  to  one's  own 
mortality  to  taking  on  the  mysteries  of  grace  and 
"practicing  resurrection."  Retired  pastor  Dean 
Miller  based  his  message  on  the  story  of  Jesus 
changing  the  water  into  wine  at  Cana,  saying 
"God's  surprises  are  like  the  rabbi's  wine. 
There's  more,  and  the  best  is  yet  to  be." 

Author  and  teacher  Marva  Dawn  spoke 
twice  despite  a  series  of  medical  woes.  She  won 
over  the  crowd  with  warmth,  depth,  and  pas- 
sion. "We're  branches  on  a  vine,"  she  said.  "If 


A  dynamic  folk  duo  of  Don  Pedi,  on 

dulcimer,  and  Bruce  Greene,  on  fiddle, 

performed  Thursday  afternoon. 


you  don't  stay  stuck,  you  don't  bear  much  fruit. 
...  All  of  us  have  the  hunger  to  be  the  kind  of 
vines  God  wants  us  to  be." 

Two  major  evening  sessions  featured  enter- 
tainment, with  members  of  the  North 
Manchester,  Ind.,  Shepherd  Center  presenting 
an  original  drama  called  "Heavenly  Days"  one 
night  and  Mennonite  comedy  duo  Ted  &  Lee 
performing  their  "Creation  Chronicles"  trip 
through  the  Old  Testament  on  another. 


A  large  group  came 
together  when 
everyone  who  had 
attended  all  five 
National  Older  Adult 
Conferences  to  date 
was  asked  to  gather 
for  a  group  picture. 


NOAC's  nonagenarians:  Six  people  answered  the  call  for  those  attending 
NOAC  who  were  90  or  over  this  year  Pictured  fronn  left  are  Eula  Fyock, 
Pauline  Thompson,  Emmert  Gibble,  Annie  Heisey,  Ralph  Heisey,  and  Ruby 
Witter.  Witter,  at  95,  is  the  oldest;  Annie  Heisey  just  turned  90.  Four  of  the 
six  live  in  Pennsylvania. 

Ninety-plus,  and  doing  a  lot  more  than  counting 

Most  of  the  people  attending  this  year's  National  Older  Adult  Confer- 
ence brought  a  fair  amount  of  life  experience  with  them.  A  handful, 
however,  brought  a  bit  more  experience  than  others:  at  least  nine 
decades'  worth. 

Half  a  dozen  Brethren  responded  to  the  call  for  all  nonagenarians 
attending  NOAC  and  assembled  for  a  group  picture  one  morning.  Ruby 
Witter,  95,  from  North  Manchester,  Ind.,  was  NOAC's  oldest  partici- 
pant. Annie  Heisey  of  Lancaster,  Pa. -who  attended  with  her  93 -year-old 
husband,  Ralph-just  turned  90  the  month  before  the  conference. 

All  six  of  them  agreed  that  they  were  glad  they  had  made  the  trip  to 
North  Carolina. 

"The  religious  services  are  excellent,  and  the  scenery  and  air  here  are 
fantastic,"  said  91 -year-old  Pauline  Thompson  of  St.  Petersburg,  Fla., 
attending  her  fourth  NOAC.  "You  find  the  finest  people  that  ever  lived 
here.  I  intend  to  come  back  in  two  more  years  if  I'm  still  on  this  earth." 

Common  to  all  of  them  were  full  and  active  lives,  with  activity  contin- 
uing into  their  90s.  Emmert  Gibble,  93,  said  he  had  farmed  and  spent 
nearly  three  decades  working  at  Camp  Swatara  in  Pennsylvania.  Several 
had  long  teaching  careers.  Ralph  Heisey  said  his  travels  had  included 
trips  to  China,  Israel,  and  many  parts  of  Europe. 

Eula  Fyock,  91 ,  of  Lancaster,  Pa.,  said  she  continues  to  volunteer 
regularly,  sometimes  escorting  other  Brethren  Village  residents  to 
doctor  or  dentist  appointments.  And  Witter  said  she  frequently  attends 
Elderhostel  programs  at  an  area  university. 

"It  keeps  me  in  contact  with  people,"  Witter  said.  "I  like  people." 

And  Annie  Heisey  proved  that  once  a  Brethren,  always  a  Brethren. 
While  praising  many  aspects  of  NOAC  and  all  the  Brethren  interaction, 
she  said  one  of  her  favorite  things  there  is  the  food.  "Especially  the  ice 
cream,"  she  added.— Wait  wntschek 


Former  General  Board  general  secretary  and 
Juniata  College  president  Bob  Neff  delivered 
another  highlight,  sharing  a  series  of  three  Bible 
studies  from  the  Psalms.  He  addressed  a  differ- 
ent aspect  of  "Psalms  for  Older  Adults"  each 
day,  speaking  from  Psalms  90,  92,  and  96. 
Using  his  years  of  study  and  a  variety  of  books, 
Neff  traced  through  the  journey  of  faith,  includ- 
ing anger,  prayer,  relinquishing,  nourishment, 
living  in  God's  love,  and — like  the  palm  tree — 
bearing  fruit  even  in  the  middle  of  the  desert. 

"We  were  really  thrilled  with  the  guest  lead- 
ership," Carl  Myers  said.  "People  received  them 
so  well.  I  have  very  positive  feelings  about  the 
experience." 

Video  segments  by  David  Sollenberger  and 
Larry  Click  gave  a  glimpse,  often  humorous,  of 
other  conference  activities  such  as  ice  cream 
socials,  tournaments  in  various  sports,  hand- 
craft sessions,  concerts,  and  night-life  activities 
like  singing  and  folk  dancing.  Other  segments 
highlighted  Brethren  who  were  exemplifying 
"fresh  and  green"  lives,  and  one  spotlighted 
Charles  and  Barb  Simmons  of  Virginia,  who 
were  spending  their  honeymoon  at  NOAC. 

More  than  60  participants  helped  to  put 
together  school  and  health  kits  for  Church  of 
the  Brethren  disaster  relief  in  a  week-long  ser- 
vice project.  More  than  300  kits  were 
assembled  and  packed  for  volunteers  to  take  to 
New  Windsor,  Md. 

"We  tried  to  think  what  a  lot  of  people  could 
become  involved  with  on  an  informal  basis," 
said  Gerry  Graybill,  who  coordinated  the  ser- 
vice project  along  with  her  husband,  Harry. 
"Harry  and  I  have  worked  on  disaster  projects 
and  know  how  important  these  things  are."  The 
Graybills  are  from  Glen  Rock,  Pa.,  members  of 
the  Black  Rock  Church  of  the  Brethren. 

Also  at  NOAC  were  executives  and  board 
chairs  of  the  five  Annual  Conference  agencies. 
Annual  Conference  officers,  and  representa- 
tives of  Standing  Committee  and  the  Council  of 
District  Executives,  holding  their  InterAgency 
Forum  meetings  in  conjunction  with  NOAC. 
Members  of  the  group  sat  on  a  "State  of  the 
Church"  panel  one  evening  and  fielded  ques- 
tions from  a  large  audience. 

Other  events  included  "interest  group"  ses- 
sions on  a  host  of  topics,  vesper  services,  a 
resource  fair  with  displays  and  presentations 
from  a  variety  of  organizations,  bookstores, 
and  boat  tours  on  the  lake. 

And  in  between  it  all  were  many  conversa- 
tions, walks  among  rose  gardens,  visiting  and 
catching  up,  sharing  ideas,  learning  new  things, 
and  demonstrating  the  gifts  and  wisdom  that 
this  segment  of  the  church  has  to  offer. 


^ 


Messenger  November  2000 


An  afternoon  "antiphonal 
vespers"  had  three  groups 
singing  and  reading  scripture  to 
each  other  around  the  lake.  Two 
groups  stood  at  lal<e  's  edge, 
and  one  went  out  on  the  water 
in  a  pontoon  boat. 


Going  head-to-head  for  a  round  of 

shuffleboard  are  Verna  Calloway  of  Queen 

Anne.  Md.,  and  Jean  Judy  of  Greenwood,  Del. 


A  gray-haired  woman  sitting  in  the  second 
ow  of  one  session  summed  it  up.  She  looked 
ip  at  the  NOAC  banner  and  turned  to  a  friend 
)eside  her: 

"Still  fresh  and  green,"  she  said,  reading 
he  words  of  the  theme.  "I  like  that." 


E3 


Valt  Wiltschek  Is  manager  of  news  services  for  tfie  Church  of  the 
irethren  General  Board  and  still  a  couple  decades  away  from  qual- 
•ying  to  attend  NOAC  as  a  participant. 


Add  new  music  to  your  worship  life! 


SUPPLEMENT 


Since  Hymnal:  A  Worship  Book  was  published  in  1992,  many  new  hymns  and  songs  have  been  written.  This  new  hymnal  supplement  series  offers 
congregations  a  cost  effective  method  to  add  this  new  music  and  older  favorites  not  in  the  hymnal  to  your  worship. 

There  arc  currently  nine  supplements  in  development,  with  three  to  be  released  in  2001.  Here  is  a  sampling  of  hymns  that  are  likely  to  appear  in 
these  first  three  supplements: 


Lent/Easter/Pentecost 

Man  of  sorrows,  what  a  name 

He  is  Lord 

I  come  to  the  garden 

Now  the  green  blade  rises 

Spirit,  spirit  of  gentleness 


Praising/ Adoring 

Shine,  Jesus,  Shine 

Si  tu  puedes,  cantalo 

Bring  many  names 

Great  day 
Jubilate,  everybody 


Advent/Christmas/Epiphany 

Light  one  candle  to  watch  for  Messiah 

While  we  are  waiting,  come 

In  the  bleak  midwinter 

We  three  kings  of  Orient  are 

He  is  born 


# 


■  to  order  the  supplements,  see  the  November  Source  packet  or  call  Brethren  Pr 


A- 

Brethren  Press^ 


U5I  Dundee  Avenue,  Elgin,  Illinois  60I20-I694 
phone  800-441-3712       fa.\  800-667-8188       e-mail  brethrenpress_gb@brethren.org 


Messenger  November  2000 


Eat 


A  Brethren  education 
is  affordablel 

We  believe  that  a  Brethren 
education  should  be  available  to 
every  student,  and  most  families 
find  us  surprisingly  afiibrdable  . 

Our  aid  programs — a 
combination  of  merit-based 
scholarships;  need-based  aid 
from  institutional,  federal  and 
state  sources ;  and  campus 
employment — will  help  you 
make  a  Brethren  education  an 
investment  in  your  future. 

A  Brethren  education  is 
a  valued  investment. . . 
in  YOU! 

For  more  information  about 
Brethren  colleges,  visit  our  website: 
www.cobcoa.org  or  email: 
cobcoa_gb@brethren.org 
or  call  1-800-323-8039 


''  Thank  you  for  reminding  us  of  our  task  as 

Christians  in  this  election — to  hold  our 

elected  officials  accountable  for  the  welfare 

of  those  who  are  oppressed.  '' 

Politics  and  prayer  for  Sudan 


In  the  flurry  of  banalities  and  trivialities 
surrounding  the  November  election,  it 
is  refreshing  to  read  "Steady  until  the 
sun  sets"  in  the  September  Messenger. 
Thank  you  for  reminding  us  of  our  task 
as  Christians  in  this  election — to  hold 
our  elected  officials  accountable  for  the 
welfare  of  those  who  are  oppressed. 

You  reminded  us  that  the  Sudan  civil 
uvar  has  killed  nearly  2  million  people, 
more  than  were  killed  in  Kosovo.  Even 
though  the  number  of  war  victims  in 
Sudan  is  higher  than  those  in  Chechnya, 
kosovo,  Bosnia,  Rwanda,  and  Somalia 
:ombined,  we  hear  nothing  about  it. 

You  reminded  us  to  pray  even  as  Chris- 
Jans  prayed  for  the  seeming  impossible 
:ask  of  ridding  South  Africa  of  apartheid. 

As  Christians,  we  need  to  turn  the 
attention  of  national  election  candi- 
dates to  the  tragedy  in  Sudan  and  to 
aray  for  its  end. 

Jean  Lersch 

St.  Petersburg,  Fla. 


Evangelism  needs  leadership 

I'hank  you  for  the  good  coverage  of 
\nnual  Conference  in  the  Septem- 
)er  issue. 


Statement  of  Ownership, 
Management  and  Circulation 

This  is  a  periodical  publication 
Publication  Title:  Messenger 
Publication  Number:  0026-0355 

Filing  Date:  September  27,  2000 
Owner:  Church  of  the  Brethren 
General  Board 
1451  Dundee  Avenue 
Elgin,  IL  60120-1694 
Publisher:  Wendy  McFadden 

1451  Dundee  Avenue 
Elgin,  IL  60120-1694 
Editor:  Fletcher  Farrar 

1451  Dundee  Avenue 
Elgin,  1160120-1694 
Total  Circulation:  16,984 
Cost:  $16.50 


Regarding  Gerald  Crouse's  comments 
at  the  dinner  sponsored  by  the  General 
Board's  Global  Mission  Partnerships 
office,  I  agree  with  his  statement,  "If  we 
don't  practice  verbal  evangelism,  we're 
living  in  sin."  Therefore,  I  was  disap- 
pointed in  the  vote  to  return  the  Virlina 
District  query  on  evangelism.  The  vigor- 
ous debate  and  the  close  vote  indicates 
that  many  of  us  delegates  thought  there 
should  be  a  greater  emphasis  on  evange- 
lism at  the  national  level.  It  is  very  true 


■  LETTERS 

that  each  of  us  has  the  responsibility  to 
practice  verbal  evangelism,  but  the  Lord 
has  given  the  gift  of  evangelism  to  some. 
Therefore,  it  is  the  responsibility  of  lead- 
ership to  make  those  evangelists  available 
to  the  churches.  We  don't  need  more  liter- 
ature, we  need  the  existing  literature  and 
the  church  leaders  to  enthusiastically  call 
church  members  to  obey  Jesus'  call  to  be 
verbally  proclaiming  the  good  news  of 
Jesus  Christ.  We  also  need  to  identify, 
fund,  and  make  available  gifted  evange- 
lists to  come  into  our  churches  to  reap  a 
harvest  among  those  we  have  personally 
ministered  to  and  befriended. 

Marion  "Bud"  Sechler 

Pastor,  Cando  Church  of  the  Brethren,  Cando,  N  D. 


"Teacher,  which  commandment  is  the  greatest?"  Jesus  said 

to  him,  "You  shall  love  the  Lord  your  God  with  all  your 

heart,  and  with  all  your  soul,  and  with  all  your  mind. 

This  IS  the  greatest  and  first  commandment. " 

Matthew  22:36-38 
Giving  God  your  heart,  soul,  and  mind  is  central  to 
the  decision  to  be  baptized  as  a  Christian  and 
become  a  member  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren. 
Heart,  Soul,  and  Mind  is  an  adaptable  membership 
curriculum  for  congregations  to  use  with  youth  and 
adults  who  are  exploring  a  deeper  commitment  to 
Christian  discipleship. 

Four  units  of  study  explore  what  Brethren  should 

know  about  the  Bible,  church  history,  living  the 

faith,  and  church  membership.  The  Leader's 

Guide  (#9922,  $24.95)  includes  reproducible 

handouts  tor  students,  ideas  for  a  mentor  program, 

and  an  apprenticeship  program.  The  Membership 

Handbook  for  students  (#9923,  |9.95)  contains 

readings,  exercises,  and  journal  starters,  and  is 

valuable  as  a  keepsake  and  benchmark  of  faith  development.  A  video  (#9924,  $19.95) 

featuring  Brethren  youth  talking  about  faith  is  also  available  to  supplement  the  curriculum. 

Candidates  for  membership  will  be  engaged  — heart,  soul,  and  mind — to  love  God, 
love  their  neighbor,  and  join  in  the  community  of  faith. 


# 


^^ 


Brethren  Press 

This  day. 


145 1  Dundee  Avenue,  Elgin,  Illmois  60 1 20- 1 694 
phone  800-441-3712       tax  800-667-8188       e-mail  brethrenpress_gb(ghrethren.org 


Messenger  November  2000 


More  light  on  evangelism 

It  pained  me  to  miss  Annual  Conference 
this  year.  In  the  September  Messenger 
I  gave  careful  attention  to  the  excellent 
report  you  gave  of  this  year's  Confer- 
ence. But  I  couldn't  find  any  satisfactory 
answer  as  to  why  Standing  Committee 
and  the  Conference  "returned"  the  Vir- 
lina  query.  I  write  to  invite  further  light 
on  this  question  of  Brethren  evangelism 
and  disciple-making. 

After  about  250  years  of  continued 
growth,  including  some  decades  of  sig- 
nificant growth  when  membership  more 
than  doubled,  the  Church  of  the  Brethren 
now  has  been  in  a  steady  and  serious 
decline  for  about  40  years.  We  now  have 


only  two-thirds  as  many  members  as  in 
1960.  A  former  moderator  of  Annual  Con- 
ference has  stated,  "The  denomination  ... 
has  not  yet  come  to  grips  with  the  prob- 
lem of  membership  decline  that 
continues  each  year  unabated."  If  our 
method  or  form  or  style  of  evangelism 
has  not  worked  in  40  years,  it  seems  time 
for  a  change.  If  not  the  change  that  was 
proposed  by  the  Virlina  District,  why 
didn't  Standing  Committee  propose  for 
Conference  action  a  revised  procedure 
that  could  be  effective? 

The  Gospels  clearly  report  that  the 
calling/making  of  disciples  was  a  top 
priority  of  Jesus,  and  his  final  commis- 
sion to  his  followers  was  to  "Go  make 
disciples."  The  book  of  Acts  dramati- 


Our  hours  are  about 
to  change ♦♦♦ 


fBrethrenPress    com) 

OPEN  ON  THE  WORLD  WIDE  WEB 
THANKSGIVING   2000 


cally  reports  how  the  early  disciples 
"continued  the  work  of  Jesus."  Is  there 
any  valid  reason  why  we  Brethren  are 
not  doing  the  same? 

In  the  September  Messenger  you 
quoted  a  brief  statement  of  Gerald 
Crouse  of  our  Dominican  mission.  He  i 
stated:  "We  are  a  non-evangelistic 
church.  Jesus'  call  is  a  call  to  be 
about  verbally  proclaiming  the  Good 

News If  we  don't  we're  living  in 

sin."  If  he's  correct,  then  most  of  us 
Brethren  are  living  in  sin! 

Olden  D.  Mitchelll 

North  Manchester,  Ind. 


Many  Brethren  homes 

This  letter  is  to  say  how  I  enjoyed  reading 
the  issue  of  Messenger  devoted  to 
Brethren  homes  [August].  Since  I  live  near! 
Peter  Becker  Community  (Harleysville, 
Pa.),  I  visit  there  now  and  then.  It  is  a  won- 
derful home  with  good  care. 

I  had  no  idea  we,  the  Brethren,  had 
that  many  nursing  homes! 

Mary  E.  Hixsoni 
Quakertown,  Pa. 


t 


Put  "companion"  in  the  name 

Are  Brethren  viewed  as  an  exclusive  sect 
like  some  of  the  fraternal  organizations 
in  our  society — the  Knights  of  Columbus,^ 
the  Masons,  etc.?  Our  denomination's 


CLASSIFIED 


Christian  Family  Practice  group  is  seeking  a 
family  physician  and/or  a  physician  extender 
(PA-C  or  RN-Fi\IP)  to  join  our  growing  practice. 

We  are  located  in  North  Central  Indiana,  near  Goshen. 
We  provide  obstetrics  with  many  deliveries  done 
at  an  Amish  Birthing  Center  near  Shipshewana. 
Opportunities  for  short-  or  long-term  missions.  Inde- 
pendently owned  (six  physicians  &  one  PA)  and 
committed  to  remaining  sensitive  to  the  needs  of 
the  local  community.  Option  to  buy  in.  Contact  Steve 
Wendler,  Administrator,  at  Middlebury  Family  Physi- 
cians, PC  Box  459,  Middlebury,  IN  46540.  Day 
telephone:  219-825-2900  Evening;  219-825-7506. 

North  Manchester  Indiana  Family  Practice 
Clinic  is  seeking  Board  Certified  Family  Prac- 
tice Physicians.  You  would  be  joining  our  group 
of  3  FP's  and  1  NP  who  practice  the  full  continuum 
of  Primary  Care  including  Obstetrics,  Inpatient  and 
Preventative  Medicine  in  a  small  college  town.  Our 
clinic  is  across  the  street  from  Manchester  College, 
a  liberal  arts  college  with  an  enrollment  of  1100  stu- 


dents. Located  in  NE  Indiana  on  the  Eel  River,  North 
Manchester,  population  6500,  is  only  20  minutes 
form  Wabash  County  Hospital  with  OB/GYN  and  a 
wide  range  of  specialty  support  available.  Tertiary 
hospital  available  in  nearby  Fort  Wayne.  Our  com- 
munity has  its  own  symphony,  a  superb  new  library 
with  children's  programs,  fine  schools  and  two  major 
non-profit  retirement  homes  (one  CoB).  Tour  our 
town  atwww.nmanchester.com.  For  additional  infor- 
mation about  our  opportunity  please  contact  Lynn 
Hatfield,  Director  of  Physician  Recruitment  at  1-800- 
727-8439,  ext.  22183  or  email  at  lhat@parkview.com. 

Position  available:  The  Chambersburg  Church 
of  the  Brethren  is  seeking  a  half-time  Coordinator 
of  Christian  Education  to  administer  and  expand 
its  educational  programs  for  children,  youth  and 
adults.  Anticipated  start  date  is  January  1,  2001. 
College  degree  and  word  processing  skills  pre- 
ferred. Training  and/or  experience  required. 
Consideration  of  applications  will  begin  Novem- 
ber 15th  and  will  continue  until  position  is  filled. 


Send  cover  letter  and  resume  to:  Search  Com- 
mittee, Chambersburg  Church  of  the  Brethren,  26C 
S.  Fourth  Street,  Chambersburg,  PA  17201. 

Travel-TWO  TOURS.  (1)  "CRADLE  OF  CIVI 
UZATION"  Featuring— Crossing  the  Red  Sea,  St 
Catherine  Monstery  on  Mt  Sinai,  Petra  and  the  Hol^ 
Land.  March  16-29,  2001.  (2)  "ROYAL  HOLIDAY'' 

Featuring— The  British  Isles.  Visiting:  England 
Scotland,  Wales  and  Ireland.  July  24  -  August  8 
2001.  Wendell  and  Joan  Bohrer,  8520  Royal  Meadovi 
Drive,  Indianapolis,  IN  46217.  Tel/fax  317-882-5067 
E-mail  rdwboh@aol.com. 

Spread  the  Word!  Use  Messenger  classifieds  t( 
let  people  know  what's  going  on.  $55  purchases ; 
single  issue  insertion  of  up  to  80  words.  Frequenc 
discounts  are  available.  Submit  ads  via  fax  (847 
742-1407),  e-mail  (kstocking_gb@brethren.crg)  o 
letter  (Messenger  Classifieds,  1451  Dundee  Ave. 
Elgin  IL  60120).  Deadline  is  first  of  month  prior  ti 
month  of  publication.  Advertise  today! 


Messenger  November  2000 


"  Considering  the  innportance  of  the  love 
feast  and  foot  washing  as  symbols  of  what  we 
try  to  live,  either  "connpanion"  or  "servant" 
better  express  who  we  are  than  "brethren"  " 


descriptor  may  give  that  impression  to 
some  who  know  us  only  by  name. 
Many  who  have  grown  up  in  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  cherish  the  name 
"Brethren"  because  of  its  link  to  history 
and  tradition.  Changing  the  name  might 
seem  like  dishonoring  or  doing  away 
with  all  the  things  that  we  hold  dear  and 
unique  about  our  heritage.  On  the  other 
hand,  many  who  might  be  drawn  to  the 


Church  of  the  Brethren  because  of  simi- 
lar beliefs  are  repulsed  by  a  name  which 
implies  that  it  is  a  closed,  male-domi- 
nated society,  interested  only  in  people 
born  or  bred  as  Brethren.  A  new  name 
which  keeps  "Brethren"  but  adds  an 
inclusive  word  might  be  a  solution 
addressing  both  concerns. 

The  word  "companion"  means  com 
(with)  panion  (bread),  or  those  we  break 


■  LETTERS 

bread  with.  We  might  consider  adopting 
this  word  as  part  of  our  name — perhaps 
along  with  the  name  "Brethren" — to 
reflect  both  history  and  inclusivity.  Some 
suggestions  are:  Brethren/ Companions  in 
Christ,  Companions/  Brethren  in  Christ, 
The  Church  of  Companions/  Brethren  in 
Christ,  or  The  Church  of  Christ's  Compan- 
ions/Brethren. Considering  the 
importance  of  the  love  feast  and  foot 
washing  as  symbols  of  what  we  try  to  live, 
either  "companion"  or  "servant"  better 
express  who  we  are  than  "brethren." 

Lois  T.  Dickason 

South  Haven,  Mich, 


TURNING  POINTS 


This  month's  Turning  Points 
includes  all  listings  received  prior  to 
9/2 1/00  not  previously  published 

■orms  for  submitting  Turning  Points 
nformation  are  available  by  calling 

•eggy  Reinacher  at  800-323-8039. 

New  members 

\rcadia.  Ind.:  Anna  Chase 

Beaverlon,  Mich,:  Karen 
Phillips  Kalahar 

Slue  Ridge,  Va,;  Milie  Hogan. 
Sandra  Hogan.  Polly  Creasy 

Tabool,  Mo,:  Allison  Clary. 
Maurice  Bosserman.  Sandy 
Bosserman 

Denton,  Md.:  Allison  Holsinger 

East  Cocalico,  Reamstovvn. 
Pa.:  lena  Hagy.  ludy  Lewis, 
lohn  Stolsfus,  Dudley 
Michael.  Priscilla  Michael 

Ephrata,  Pa,:  Patrick  Land. 
Stacey  Land,  Robert 
Wanner,  Daria  Wanner. 
Keith  Petters.  Elizabeth 
Horning,  Lindsey  Heck.  |es- 
sica  Snyder.  Nathan  Kapp, 
Eric  .Miller.  Kaitlyn  Ream, 
Quintin  Eisemann 

jelger,  Friedens.  Pa,:  Ruth 
Hahn.  Levi  Hahn.  Lindsay 
Hahn.  Christine  Lindsey 

jrossnickle,  Myersville.  Md,: 
Cathie  Clemson.  Thomas 
Westwood.  lames  Blank. 
Hansel  Pate.  Shawn  Delauter. 
lordan  Grossnickle.  Elwood 
Stottlemyer.  Ryan  Wiles. 
Danny  Rumpf.  Hazel  Gross- 
nickle. Lori  Cline 

Hanover,  Pa.:  Kathy  -^ccardi. 
lohn  Burkentine.  Ted 
Schmittel.  Brock  Swartz, 
Lance  Rusinko 

Lewislon,  Maine:  Nicholas  True 

Lewislon,  Minn,:  Tim 

Borkowski.  Brenda  Kirby. 
Jennifer  Pospichal 

Liberty  Mills,  Ind.:  Elizabeth 
Griffin.  Sierra  Rose.  Harry 
Barrett,  L")cbby  Barrett 

Maple  Spring.  Hollsopple,  Pa,: 
Kelly  Hay,  Scott  Hay,  Lauren 
Seganos.  .Alex  Shroyer 

Maple  Spring,  Eglon.  WVa,: 
Hancell  Teels,  Mildred  Teets. 
Richard  Norwish.  lohn 
Allman,  Erma  Gnegy.  Paul 
Gnegy,  Devin  Hauser,  Brian 
Kight.  Craig  Rembold.  Lonnie 


Bentley,  Linda  Bentley.  Ken- 
neth Biser,  Edith  Biser 

Nampa,  Idaho:  Leon  Gonion, 
Irene  Gonion,  loAnne  Holtz, 
Al  Brown,  Marian  Brown. 
Gary  Sloughfy,  luHAnne 
Bowser  Sloughfy 

New  Hope,  Stuart,  Va,:  Tim 
Harvey.  Lynette  Harvey,  lasen 
Pfuntner.  lackie  Pfuntner.  Fern 
Wimmer,  Andrew  Wimmer. 
Mark  lones.  Laura  |ones,  lulie 
Crotts,  Amanda  Seay 

New  Paris,  Ind.:  Dorothv 
Watkins.  |oe  Godfrey,' Phil 
Kuhn,  Susie  Martin 

Prairie  City,  Iowa:  Kim  Clark, 
Christina  Nolin,  Amy  Patter- 
son, Holly  Maggard 

Shiloh,  Moatsville.  WVa,: 

Mackey  Laulis.  Mary  Stuckey 

Union  Center,  Nappanee,  Ind,: 
Mark  Person,  Heila  Martin- 
Person.  Don  Housour, 
Phyllis  Housour,  Ruth 
Yoder,  Bronson  Weaver, 
Andrea  Holdeinan 

Wedding 
anniversaries 

Bell,  Harold  and  Ruth,  Eaton, 

Ohio.  60 
Bloss,  William  and  Lois, 

Uniontown,  Ohio,  50 
Chamberlin,  Eugene  and  Mar- 
garet, San  Diego,  Calif,,  60 
Chestnut,  Walter  and  Betty, 

Neu-ville.  Pa,,  55 
Cocklin,  Robert  and  Doris, 

Carlisle.  Pa,.  55 
Fickes,  Leroy  and  Doris. 

Newville,  Pa,.  50 
Gomis,  Paul  and  Helen.  Des 

Moines.  Iowa,  50 
lacoby,  Robert  and  Esther, 

Newville,  Pa,.  55 
lane,  Frank  and  Ma,  lohnstown. 

Pa.,  50 
Koons,  Carroll  and  Vera,  Des 

Moines.  Iowa.  50 
Knox,  Glenn  and  Doris,  Union- 
town.  Pa..  50 
IMikel,  lohn  and  Dora. 

Wakarusa,  Ind,,  50 
Miller,  Gene  and  Eloise,  New 

Lebanon.  Ohio  50 
Moore,  Maurice  and  Doris. 

Waterloo.  Iowa,  50 
Myers,  Donald  and  Mary. 

Alliance,  Ohio,  50 


Parrish,  Dick  and  Helen,  Con- 
tinental, Ohio,  55 

Reid,  Gerald  and  Fredith. 
Newville,  Pa..  60 

Reid,  Markwood  and  ludy. 
Newville,  Pa,,  50 

Ritter,  |ohn  and  Freda,  Union- 
town,  Pa,,  65 

Sayre,  lohn  and  Gaynell. 
Bridgewater,  Va,,  50 

Shively,  Ralph  and  Catherine, 
Bridgewater,  Va,,  50 

Smith,  Gerald  and  Eleanor, 
Newville.  Pa,,  50 

Stump,  Richard  and  Martha, 
Wakarusa,  Ind.,  50 

Wolfe,  Lavern  and  Donna, 
Uniontown.  Pa.,  50 

Young,  Alvin  and  Dorothy, 
Hartville,  Ohio,  60 


Deaths 

Atkins,  Nina,  71,  Nampa. 
Idaho,  Dec,  15 

Barnthouse,  Darwin,  82, 
Arlington,  Va,,  March  20 

Barnthouse,  Pauleen.  81, 
Arlington,  Va,,  March  20 

Barrett,  Devere.  78,  lohn- 
stown. Pa,,  Aug.  15 

Biser,  Effie  O,,  88,  Springfield. 
Va,,  Feb,  21 

Blickenstafr,  Margaret,  96. 
Boise,  Idaho,  lune  10 

Bohlandcr,  Lois.  67,  Pleasant 
Hill,  Ohio,  Aug,  27 

Bowman,  Mamie  Virginia  Carrier. 
9 1 ,  Bridgewater,  Va..  Aug.  1 8 

Boyd,  Ralph  L.,  91.  Myerstown, 
Pa,,  Aug,  14 

Burkel,  Freda  M,,  91,  Martins- 
burg.  Pa,,  luly  29 

Burkholder,  Harlan,  89. 
Nampa,  Idaho,  lune  8 

Byerly,  Robert  A,,  85,  Lan- 
caster, Pa.,  lune  19 

Chapman,  Bobby  Dean.  57, 
Petersburg.  W.Va,,  .Aug.  16 

Chavanne,  Harriet,  89.  Saint 
Petersburg.  Fla,,  Aug,  25 

Cline,  Mary  Agnes,  99.  Bridge- 
water.  Va..  Aug.  30 

Combs.  Elwanda  Mav.  76. 
Moorefield,  W,Va.;  Aug,  26 

Crider.  Clyde  Vernon,  75.  Har- 
risonburg. Va,.  Aug,  8 

Cunningham,  Dorothy  B..  91, 
Uniontown.  Pa.,  |uly  21 

Curry,  Beulah.  78,  Oxon  Hill, 
Md„  March  18 

Dellinger,  Forrest  Owen,  78, 


Mount  lackson,  Va.,  Aug,  23 
Dick,  Carlyle,  87,  Clymer,  Pa., 

Sept.  I  1 
Driver,  Donna  Lillian  Miller, 

75,  Dayton,  Va.,  Aug.  30 
Eisemann,  Quintin.  79, 

Ephrata,  Pa..  luly  25 
Eshelman,  Doris,  95,  Nampa. 

Idaho,  Ian,  21 
Fike,  Homer  Leland,  99,  Eglon, 

W.Va,,  Aug,  12 
Flory,  Dorothy,  96,  Nampa. 

Idaho.  Nov,  25 
Good,  Samuel  C,  73.  Har- 
risonburg, Va..  Aug.  23 
Goings,  Paul.  86,  New 

Lebanon,  Ohio,  Aug.  5 
Gray,  Thelma,  86.  Vinton.  Va., 

Ian,  22 
Gusttason,  Virginia,  89,  Des 

Moines,  Iowa,  May  13 
Halterman,  Arthur  Casper,  70, 

Baker,  W,Va„  Aug.  29 
Halterman,  Wayne  Alfred.  7 1 , 

Harrisonburg.  Va..  Aug.  2 
Hamilton,  Edward,  83.  Santa 

Clarita,  CaliL,  Aug,  9 
Hammer,  Nellie  Icadora.  87, 

Franklin,  W,Va,.  Aug,  5 
Hancock,  Roland  M,.  57,  Har- 

wood.  Md,,  Sept,  7 
Harman,  lames  Gordon,  89, 

McGaheysville,  Va,,  Aug,  17 
Harper,  Betty  |„  72.  Thurmont. 

Md„  Aug,  20 
Harsh,  AbbieA,,  81.  Fort 

Ashby,  W,Va,,  Aug.  10 
Heckman,  Lulu,  90,  Davton, 

Ohio,  Sept,  9 
Hinkle,  Richard  Samuel.  76, 

Riverton,  W.Va.,  Aug.  26 
Holsinger,  Paul  G.,  101,  Mar- 

tinsburg.  Pa.,  luly  25 
Hoover,  Ruby  B.,  99,  Tiin- 

berville,  Va,,  Aug,  14 
Hoover,  Velma  Marie,  68,  Har- 
risonburg, Va,,  Aug,  4 
Howe,  Robert,  Ephrata.  Pa.. 

luly  16 
Huber,  Helen,  95.  Mount 

Morris,  111,,  May  31 
lennings,  lohn  R,.  73.  Kansas 

City.  Kan..  Aug.  12 
Kelly.Mary  C,  86,  lohnstown. 

Pa..  Ian.  16 
Lupton,  Maxine.  79.  Nampa. 

Idaho,  luly  I 
Meller,  Vernon  R,,  60,  Seven 

Valleys,  Pa,,  Aug.  17 
Miller,  Miriam  R„  78, 

Hartville.  Ohio,  lune  50 
Meyers,  Daisie  Anna  Fifer.  84, 


Elkton,  Va.,  Aug.  1  1 
Murray,  Dorothy  Garst,  84, 

Roanoke,  Va.,  Aug,  24 
Myers,  Donald.  83,  Greens- 
burg.  Pa.,  lune  3 
Nesemeier,  Berniece,  85, 

Mount  Morris,  111,,  |une  8 
Ot(,  Clarence,  77,  Hollsopple, 

Pa,,  Feb,  17 
Owens,  Liza  V,,  89,  Moatsville, 

W,Va,,  April  23 
Pippenger,  Harold,  88, 

Wakarusa,  Ind.,  luly  21 
Prugh,  Virgil,  90,  Van'dalia. 

Ohio,  Aug,  28 
Rembold,  Bruce  Edwin,  48. 

Eglon.  W.Va..  Aug.  12 
Reynold,  Thomas  R.,  70,  York, 

Pa„  Aug,  12 
Riddle,  Vera,  102,  lohnstown, 

Pa„  Feb.  5 
Ryman,  Norman  Elwood,  83. 

Woodstock,  Va,,  Aug,  4 
Sanner,  Richard,  85.  Greens- 
burg.  Pa,,  luly  30 
Shaw.  Pearl.  84.  Uniontown. 

Pa.,  luly  22 
Smellzer.  Mary,  84,  Nappanee, 

Ind.,  lune  1  5 
Smith,  Marie,  92,  Nappanee, 

Ind,,  Feb,  II 
Spencer,  William  Lester.  88. 

Harrisonburg,  Va..  Aug.  27 
Spessert,  Cloyd.  92,  Saint 

George,  W,Va,,  April  1  7 
Stewart,  Martha.  73,  Sidney, 

Ohio,  April  15 
Stoneberger,  Marie  H.,  74. 

Stanley,  Va.,  Aug.  10 
Stoner,  Warren,  86,  lohnstown. 

Pa..  Ian.  5 
Stouder,  Dale,  85.  Nappanee, 

Ind..  lune  15 
SirigenI,  Karen,  45.  lohnstown. 

Pa.,  May  31 
Swank,  Clarence  Dean.  71, 

Somerset,  Pa.,  Aug.  16 
Taylor,  Florence,  Boise  Idaho. 

lune  1 1 
Thomas,  K.Annette,  79,  Mount 

Morris,  111.,  .Aug.  51 
Warn,  Dean,  82,  Nampa, 

Idaho,  Nov.  28 
Werstler,  Robert  E.,  75. 

Canton.  Ohio.  May  28 
Young,  Dorothy  G„  80, 

Hartville,  Ohio,  luly  9 
Zappone,  Roberta,  53,  Latrobe, 

Pa,,  Sept,  I 


Messenger  November  2000 


EDITORIAL 


Just  because 

these  were 

good  people 

in  a  good 

endeavor 

doesn't 

mean  there 

were  no 

difficulties  or 

tedious 

moments, 

but  the  Holy 

Spirit  gave 

the  group 

enough 

energy  to 

overcome 

the  obstacles. 


Treasure  hunt  in  Tijuana 


While  others  in  their  college  graduating 
classes  are  looking  for  the  best  money 
deal  they  can  get,  these  young  adults  are 
seeking  another  form  of  treasure.  Their  minds  still 
busy  from  50-page  papers  and  heavy  intellectual 
activity,  they  seem  eager  to  take  on  the  world  and 
drink  in  all  its  culture.  But,  like  generations  of  rare 
youth  before  them,  they  have  postponed  paying  back 
their  college  loans  and  a  chance  to  get  started  up  the 
corporate  ladder,  and  have  entered  the  upside-down 
world  of  Brethren  Volunteer  Service,  where  the  pay 
is  $50  a  month  and  an  opportunity  to  pass  out  sand- 
wiches on  Skid  Row  in  East  Los  Angeles.  That  is 
where  in  early  October  1  met  up  with  the  most  recent 
BVS  orientation  unit,  #24 1 .  After  only  four  days 
with  this  group  of  19  happy  explorers,  I  could  see 
why  some  go  from  here  to  a  lifetime  of  service.  It's 
because  some  find  treasure.  Some  fall  in  love. 

"My  child,"  the  author  of  Proverbs  addresses 
BVSers,  "if  you  accept  my  words  and  treasure 
up  my  commandments  within  you,  making 
your  ear  attentive  to  wisdom  and  inclining 
your  heart  to  understanding;  if  you  indeed  cry 
out  for  insight,  and  raise  your  voice  for 
understanding;  if  you  seek  it  like  silver,  and 
search  for  it  as  for  hidden  treasures — then 
you  will  understand  the  fear  of  the  Lord  and 
find  the  knowledge  of  God  (Prov.  2:1-5)." 

it  is  not  a  simple  path  from  BVS  to  treasure,  yet 
enough  volunteers  must  find  it  to  keep  others 
coming  back  to  look.  This  orientation  unit  had 
already  found  the  treasure  of  openness  and  warmth. 
I  was  first  impressed  by  this  group's  friendliness  to 
me  as  a  stranger  in  their  midst,  something  that 
doesn't  always  come  naturally  from  youngsters 
toward  people  the  age  of  their  parents.  And  then  I 
took  note  of  their  support  for  each  other.  The 
group  had  bonded  through  intentional  community- 
building  exercises  and  simple  time  together  during 
the  previous  two  weeks  of  orientation  at  Camp  La 
Verne.  One  of  the  three  older  volunteers,  a  retired 
teacher,  said  she  felt  totally  accepted  by  the  kids, 
who  called  her  "Grandma."  There  were  no  cliques 
and  no  put-downs,  not  even  in  jest.  To  describe  this 
luminous  camaraderie,  1  kept  going  back  to  the 
hymn  we  sang  that  Sunday  when  we  visited  the 
Imperial  Heights  Church  of  the  Brethren  in  Los 
Angeles:  "There's  a  sweet,  sweet,  spirit  in  this 
place,  And  I  know  that  it's  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord." 

lust  because  these  were  good  people  in  a  good 


endeavor  doesn't  mean  there  were  no  difficulties 
or  tedious  moments,  but  the  Holy  Spirit  gave  the 
group  enough  energy  to  overcome  the  obstacles. 
In  Tijuana,  Mexico,  we  had  assembled  bags  of 
food  for  the  needy,  even  though  part  of  our 
group  felt  after  the  Skid  Row  experience  that 
such  handouts  were  demeaning  to  both  the  needy 
and  us.  "Don't  be  frustrated  that  you're  only  pro- 
viding a  drop  in  the  bucket,"  said  one  of  our 
group.  "At  least  it's  better  than  no  drop  in  the 
bucket."  Some  of  us  weren't  so  sure. 

When  we  arrived  to  deliver  the  food,  we  learned 
that  the  homeless  had  already  gone  home  for  the 
day.  Another  part  of  our  group  went,  without 
enough  tools  or  supplies  and  with  no  drinking 
water,  to  try  to  put  a  roof  on  a  purple  building  with 
joists  so  uneven  that  each  plywood  sheet  had  to  be 
custom-fit.  The  day  included  plenty  of  waiting 
around  for  something  to  happen,  which  was  good 
training  for  volunteer  service  where  you're  not 
always  in  control.  After  awhile  the  crooked  purple 
shack  had  a  fine  new  roof,  finished  off  with  a  fascia 
trim  just  to  make  it  look  nice.  When  we  went  back 
to  deliver  food  the  next  day,  even  the  reluctant 
among  us  were  gratified  by  the  warm  smiles  and 
voices  of  "muchas  gracias"  from  our  recipients. 

Mission  work  probably  always  involves  a  good 
bit  of  holy  fumbling  around.  So  does  falling  in 
love.  When  a  man  and  a  woman  fall  in  love  they 
do  not  start  out  with  a  very  complete  plan  for 
doing  so.  No,  first  they  fall  in  love,  and  then  they 
look  back  to  find  reasons  why  and  how  they  did. 
Abbott  Andrew  Marr  writes  about  this:  "Although 
falling  in  love  is  something  that  happens  to  us, 
we  are  not  likely  to  be  overpowered  by  another 
person  without  going  on  a  treasure  hunt.  It  is 
possible  to  stumble  over  a  treasure  without  look- 
ing for  it,  but  looking  for  it  greatly  increases  the 
chances  we  will  find  it.  If  we  search,  we  will  find; 
if  we  knock,  the  door  will  be  opened  for  us.  We 
must,  then,  cultivate  within  ourselves  an  open- 
ness to  finding  God's  treasure,  a  willingness  to 
fall  in  love.  If  all  we  are  looking  for  is  the  best 
deal,  we  will  find  it,  but  the  best  deal  is  not  a 
treasure  and  it  has  nothing  to  do  with  love." 

On  our  last  day  in  Tijuana,  we  gathered  in  a 
circle  to  pray  and  sing  with  a  woman  whose 
toddler  grandson  is  responding  poorly  to  cancer 
treatment.  As  I  joined  hands  with  these  young 
people,  who  had  crossed  borders  and  cultures  to 
meet  poverty  and  work  with  God  to  relieve  it,  I 
could  feel  the  presence  of  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord. 
And  it  felt  like  falling  in  love. — Fletcher  Farrar 


Messenger  November  2000 


CHKISIIAN3        CALL 


P    O    K 


EM 


HcritA5C,  Hope  &-  Ho>y\c  of  Two  Vcop\cs  Atib  Three  Kchs^orxs 


Jerusalem  at  peace 

cannot  belong  exclusively 

to  one  people,  one  country  or  one  religion 

Jerusalem  should  be  open  to  all, 

shared  by  all — 

two  peoples  and  three  religions 


Jerusalem  is  a  sacred  city  to  ) 

Jews,  Cliristians  and  Muslims,  the  children  of  Abraham. 
All  long  for  Jerusalem  to  be  the  City  of  Peace.         ^^ 
For  most  of  its  history  the  fate  of  Jerusalem  was  determined 
by  war  Now  the  ancient  hope  tor  peace  can  become 
reality  through  negotiations. 


Churches  for  Middle  East  Peace  asks  you  to  join  in  urging  the  United  States 
government  to  call  upon  negotiators  to  move  beyond  exclusivist  claims  and  create  a 
Jerusalem  that  is  a  sign  of  peace  and  a  symbol  of  reconciliation  for  all  humankind. 

The  Call  for  a  Shared  Jerusalem  has  been  endorsed  by  the  top  leaders  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  and 

American  Friends  Service  Committee,  Catholic  Conference  of  Major  Superiors  of  Men's  Institutes,  Christian  Church  (Disciples), 

Episcopal  Church,  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  in  America,  Friends  Committee  on  National  Legislation,  Maryknoll  Fathers  and  Brothers, 

Mennonite  Central  Committee,  National  Council  of  Churches  of  Christ  in  the  USA,  Presbyterian  Church  (USA),  Reformed  Church  in  America, 

United  Church  of  Christ  and  United  Methodist  Church. 

Sign  up  online  at  cmepdc@aol.com  or  return  ttiis  form  to:  CHURCHES  FOR  MIDDLE  EAST  PEACE 

110  Maryland  Ave.  NE  •  Suite  108  •  Washington,  DC  20002  www.cmep.org 


Please  Join  the  Shared  Jerusalem  Advocacy  Network 


NAME: 
ADDRESS: 
city: 
STATE : 
E-MAIL: 


ZIP: 


Postal  Network 

E-mail  Network 

E-mail  and  Postal 

Send  the  "Jerusalem:  City  of  Peace" 
Educational  Packet 

My  tax  deductible  donation  of 
$  to  CMEP  is  enclosed. 


Shine 
your  life 
like  a  light 


To  believe  in  Christ  is  to  accept  the  call  of  being  light  in  and  for  the  world.  To  act  as  Christ  is 
to  face  the  darkness  and  bring  into  the  open  what  is  hidden.  To  live  as  Christ  is  to  let  the 
spirit  of  the  gospel  shine  through  you.  \,^,  ,' 

This  Advent,  heed  the  words  of  the  apostle  Peter:  "Proclaim  the  mighty  acts  of  him 
who  called  you  out  of  darkness  into  his  marvelous  light."  Yield  to  the  injunction  of  Paul:  "Live 
as  children  of  light."  Take  counsel  from  a  contemporary  song:  "Shine  your  life  like  a  light." 

Mark  the  birth  of  Jesus  with  a  Christmas  gift  for  General  Board  Ministries,  ministries 
that  help  believers  rekindle  and  sustain  the  light  within.  Reflect  the  light  that  leads  others 
more  fully  to  Jesus,  the  Light  of  the  world.  Lift  high  the  Light  of  life. 


^  rf-  I 


Christmas  Offerinc 


OF  THE  BRBTHRBN  GENERAL  BOARD 


£i-n£tyt  -' 


^w^f 


I 


m;    ,  4i» 


r^1s^(liipEK  2000  vvww.brethren;,6rg 


mv 


What  if  someone  i 
amily  becomes  sick^ 


What  if  my  daughte 
needs  braces 


( 


We  all  face  such 
important  questions  daily. 
Brethren  FlexCare  can  help. 

The  benefit  choices  offered  by  Brethren  Benefit 
Trust  are  convenient  and  easy  to  use.The  basic 
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and  long-term  disability  insurance.  Other  optionaij 
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*'-...,....     V 

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One  innovative  component  is  the  BBT  version  C| 

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i 

DECEMBER  2000   VOL.149NO.il    WWW.BRETHREN.ORG 


"MESSENGER 

ir:  Fletcher  Farrar    Publisher:  Wendv  McFadden     News:  Walt  Wiltschek   Advertising:  Russ  Matteson    Subscriptions:  Verneda  Cole    Design:  Cedar  House  Design 


David  Radcliff 


DidierRuf/WC( 


lONTHECOVER 


The  cover  art  is  an  oil  pastel  by  Ruth  Aukerman  of 
Union  Bridge,  Md.  It  was  inspired  by  an  old  German 
Christmas  hymn,  "Maria  durch  ein  Dornwald  ging"  (Mary 
went  through  a  woods  of  thorns).  The  lyrics  say  Mary 
went  through  a  woods  of  thorns  which  had  not  bloomed 
in  seven  years.  And  because  she  carried  Jesus  under  her 
heart,  that  woods  began  to  bloom. 

Aukerman  writes:  "To  me  this  has  always  been  a 
parable  of  how  life's  sorrow,  pain,  strife,  election 
outcomes,  etc.,  seem  to  be  without  bloom  at  all,  unless 
we  carry  Christ  in  our  hearts.  Then  the  thorns  will  bear 
blooms,  the  pain  will  be  transformed.  For  me  there  are 
still  many,  many  thorns.  But  I  so  rejoice  in  every  bloom 
that  is  given." 

Aukerman,  an  art  teacher,  is  taking  membership 
classes  at  Union  Bridge  (Md.)  Church  of  the  Brethren.  She 
writes  that  she  continues  to  work  on  the  rural  homestead 
she  shared  with  her  late  husband,  Dale  Aukerman,  who 
died  Sept.  4,  1999,  "so  that  it  can  remain  a  place  of  peace 
and  blessing  for  others." 


10    Bethlehem  now 

The  site  of  Jesus'  birth  is  now  surrounded  by  violent 
clashes  between  Jews  and  Palestinians.  Church  of  the 
Brethren  writer  Sara  Speicher,  member  of  the  staff  of  the 
World  Council  of  Churches,  writes:  "As  we  sing  our  carols 
this  season,  praising  God  for  Jesus'  birth  and  thinking  of  the 
Bethlehem  where  Jesus  was  born,  let  us  also  lift  up  in  our 
thoughts  and  prayers  the  Bethlehem  of  today  that  so  badly 
needs  justice  and  peace,  reconstruction  and  reconciliation." 

16    Mary's  faith 

Mary  said  yes  to  God  without  having  all  her  questions 
answered.  She  modeled  for  us  the  adventure  of  faith, 
the  willingness  to  follow  wherever  God  leads. 

18    China  revisited 

Wang  Bao  Tien  was  1 2  years  old  when  his  father,  a  Chinese 
Brethren,  was  executed  for  his  faith  in  1940.  In  a  followup 
to  his  October  Messenger  cover  story,  "Remembering 
Brethren  martyrs  in  China,"  Jeff  Bach  interviews  a  living  link 
to  those  dark  days  of  Brethren  history. 

20   Resistance  as  a  discipline 

Christians  can  witness  to  others  by  resisting  the  evils  and 
temptations  of  modern  life.  Brethren  Witness  director 
David  Radcliff  names  some  of  our  devils:  automation, 
accumulation,  militarization,  and  over-saturation. 

25   2000  annual  index 

A  helpful  listing  of  the  authors,  congregations,  names  of 
people,  and  subjects  covered  in  Messenger  this  year. 


DEPARTMENTS 

2 

From  the  Publisher 

3 

In  Touch 

6 

News 

28 

Letters 

31 

Turning  Points 

32 

Editorial 

Messenger  December  2000 


FROM  THE  PUBLISHER 

We  always  appreciate  hearing  from  our  readers.  Particularly  meaning- 
ful are  the  personal  comments  received  when  traveling  throughout  the 
denomination  or  visiting  by  phone.  We  also  are  grateful  for  the 
thoughtful  feedback  that  comes  by  mail.  The  sampling  in  this  month's  Letters  to  the 
Editor  gives  an  idea  of  the  range  of  well-written  responses  that  come  to  us. 

A  few  readers  express  their  support  in  very  practical  ways.  For  example,  there's 
the  $100  check  that  arrived  after  one  subscriber  read  that  Messenger  had  posted  a 
deficit  in  1999.  Another  heartwarming  story  developed  this  past  summer  when  an 
84-year-old  subscriber  in  Pennsylvania  called  to  say  he  wanted  to  pay  for  every 
non-subscriber  in  his  congregation  to  receive  Messenger.  He  was  responding  to  the 
half-price  offer  for  new  subscribers  that  appeared  in  the  June  issue,  and  ended  up 
giving  away  90  one-year  subscriptions  at  a  personal  cost  of  more  than  $600. 

Why  did  he  do  it?  He  thinks  it's  essential  that  the  folks  in  his  faith  community 
know  who  the  Brethren  are  and  what  Brethren  stand  for.  Reading  Messenger  "is  the 
best  way  I  know,"  he  said. 

Amazingly,  he's  not  the  only  one  who  does  this.  We  know  of  a  number  of 
congregations  that  experience  a  gift  like  this:  One  person  cares  enough  about 
Messenger  to  give  it  to  others. 

This  year's  half-price  offer  is  possible  because  of  someone's  generosity  many 
years  ago.  That  person's  gift  was  a  small  endowment,  whose  income  is  to  be  used  to 
provide  Messenger  for  those  who  don't  currently  receive  it.  We  haven't  always  been 
able  to  figure  out  how  to  use  the  income  well,  given  the  restrictions  on  the  endow- 
ment's use.  This  year  we  decided  we  should  use  it  to  subsidize  first-time  subscribers, 
in  the  hope  that  they  would  be  interested  at  the  end  of  the  year  in  renewing  their 
subscriptions  at  full  price.  That  way  the  endowment  becomes  an  investment  in  the 
magazine's  future.  A  few  months  into  this  campaign,  we're  seeing  a  promising 
increase  in  subscriptions. 

That  feels  good  on  the  eve  of  Messenger's  1  50th  year.  In  fact,  one  of  the  best 
ways  to  observe  the  anniversary  in  2001  is  to  expand  our  readership.  Our  most  loyal 
readers  tend  to  be  those  who  grew  up  with  the  magazine  and  have  read  it  for 
decades;  we'd  like  to  make  that  strong  a  connection  with  younger  folks  and  those 
who  are  newcomers  to  the  Church  of  the  Brethren. 

We're  inviting  our  readers  to  make  a  special  financial  gift  to  Messenger  in 
this  anniversary  year.  The  purpose  is  simple:  We  want  to  begin  a  solid,  ongoing 
effort  to  grow  our  readership.  We  want  to  bring  as  many  people  as  possible  into  the 
Messenger  family,  the  place  where  thousands  of  us  meet  monthly  to  be  bound 
together  in  God's  mission  and  ministry,  in  other  words,  the  gift  is  not  really  to  Mes- 
senger; it  is  to  all  those  who  are  embraced  into  the  larger  circle. 

What  will  the  next  1  50  years  bring?  We  can  scarcely  imagine.  But  we  do  believe 
that  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  can  navigate  those  years  better  if  we  work  and 
worship — and  read — together. 


Messenger  December  2000 


How  to  reach  us 

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PR  Printed  on  recycled  paper 


^ IN  TOUCH 


Marathon  runners 

from  Highland 

Avenue  church:  Chris 

Douglas  and  Nancy 

Garter  (above),  Dennis 

Kings ry  and  Lul<e 

Croushorn  (nglit). 


Brethren  runners  complete  Chicago  Marathon 

The  Chicago  Marathon  has  become  one  of  the  world's  largest  marathons. 
This  year  a  record-setting  33,000-plus  runners  participated  in  the  event  on 
Oct.  22.  Chris  Douglas,  coordinator  of  Youth  and  Young  Adult  Ministries; 
Luke  Croushorn,  BVS  worker  for  Youth  and  Young  Adult  Workcamps;  and 
Dennis  Kingery,  controller,  were  three  General  Board  staff  members 
among  the  thousands  of  participants. 

Chris,  Dennis,  and  Luke  joined  Nancy  Garber  (Highland  Avenue  Church 
of  the  Brethren  member)  in  spending  15  weeks  training  for  the  Chicago 
Marathon.  Running  as  many  as  40  miles  a  week,  these  runners  slowly  built 
up  their  endurance  and  distance.  For  Chris  and  Luke,  this  was  their  first 
attempt  at  running  the  26.2  miles  of  a  full  marathon.  Nancy,  a  veteran  of  the 
Chicago  Marathon,  was  able  to  provide  helpful  tips  throughout  the  training. 

On  race  day,  the  33,000  runners  gathered  at  Grant  Park  in  downtown 
Chicago  to  begin  their  run  at  7:30  a.m.  Like  most  marathons,  the  runners 
are  separated  into  groups  according  to  their  estimated  finish  time.  This 
allows  the  elite  runners  to  be  at  the  front  of  the  pack.  The  key  to  running  a 
successful  race  is  to  find  your  correct  pace  and  stick  to  it  throughout  the 
race.  If  you  start  out  too  fast,  then  you  may  become  exhausted  before  com- 
pleting the  26.2-mile  race. 

The  General  Board,  meeting  in  Elgin  at  the  time  of  the  race,  expressed 
support  for  the  runners  by  singing  the  popular  hymn  "Guide  my  feet,  while 
I  run  this  race."  The  day  was  a  success  for  the  Brethren  runners.  Their  goal 
was  to  finish,  and  that  is  what  they  were  able  to  do. 


Nebraska 
Brethren  receives 
award  in  Greece 

What  do  a  former  pres- 
ident of  France, the 
composer  of  the  film 
score  for  Zorba  the 
Greek,  and  a  Church  of 
the  Brethren  member 
from  Lincoln,  Neb., 
have  in  common? 
They  were  all  recipi- 
ents of  the  Onassis 
Foundation  Award. 

John  Doran,  a 
member  of  the  Ante- 
lope Park  congregation 
and  a  soil  scientist 
with  the  US  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture, 
traveled  to  Greece  in 
November  to  receive 
the  International  Prize 
for  the  Environment 
from  the  Onassis 
Foundation  for  his 
contributions  to  the 
development  of  soil 
health  indicators  and  a 
test  kit. 

This  prize  recog- 
nizes individuals  or 
organizations  whose 
services  in  certain 
fields  of  human  activi- 
ties are  characterized 
by  dedication  to 
human  values.  Along 
with  the  prestige  and 
recognition  of  this 
award,  John  also  will 
receive  $250,000, 
most  of  which  he 
plans  to  donate  back 
to  science  to  further 
discovery  and  human- 
itarian efforts. 

Working  with  the 
Brethren  Foundation, 
Inc.,  John  plans  to 
establish  an  endow- 


ment that  will  provide 
scholarships  for  stu- 
dents and  scientific 
professionals.  These 
scholarships  will  pro- 
vide training  and  work 
experiences  in  areas 
dealing  with  world 
hunger,  social  justice, 
environmental  steward- 
ship, and  sustainable 
development. 

John  says  that  being 
a  member  of  the 


John  Doran 


Church  of  the  Brethren 
and  the  Soil  and  Water 
Conservation  Society 
has  helped  him  meet 
people  with  similar 
goals,  as  well  as  edu- 
cate him  about 
conserving  the  soil  and 
private  lands.  "I  have 
developed  a  sensitivity 
toward  stewardship 
issues,"  he  says.  And 
it's  this  sensitivity  that 
has  motivated  him  to 
develop  simple  tools  to 
help  farmers  assess  the 
health  of  their  lands. 

The  award-winning 
field-test  kit  and  indi- 
cators of  soil  health 
are  invaluable  to  the 
farmers  who  use  it. 
— Jim  Replogle 


Messenger  December  2000 


ii 


N^TOUCH 


Washington  City 
tours  neighbor- 
hood for  ideas 

As  part  of  the  Con- 
gregational Life 
Team's  transforma- 
tional process  with 
the  Washington  City 
Church  of  the 
Brethren,  the  congre- 
gation was  invited  to 
design  and  carry  out 
both  a  walking  and  a 
driving  tour  of  the 
Capitol  Hill  neighbor- 
hood in  which  the 


church  is  located. 

On  Sunday,  Sept.  24, 
under  the  direction  of 
the  Strategic  Planning 
Team  Coordinator, 
Heather  Nolen,  the 
group  first  toured  the 
church  building  in 
which  the  soup 
kitchen,  a  nursery 
school,  the  Washing- 
ton Office,  and  other 
leased  spaces  are 
housed.  Notes  were 
made  on  rooms  and 
spaces  needing  repair 
and  renovation.  The 


Jenny  Dormois  of  Live 

Oak  serving  peach 
cobbler  and  ice  cream. 


Everything  is  peachy  at  Live  Oai< 

When  the  Live  Oak  (Calif.)  Church  of  the  Brethren  sponsored  a  booth  at  the 
first  annual  Live  Oak  Peach  FestivaL  it  was  with  two  things  in  mind:  to  show 
their  witness  to  the  community  and  to  raise  money  for  their  youth  to  attend 
the  National  Youth  Conference  in  2002.  They  were  successful  on  both  counts. 

The  hot  weather  did  nothing  to  dissuade  the  throngs  of  people 
strolling  past  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  booth  that  Saturday.  Volunteers 
dipped  up  helpings  of  homemade  peach  cobbler  and  vanilla  ice  cream  to 
the  delight  of  hungry  festivalgoers.  Peach  jam,  peach  bread  and  muffins, 
peach  crisp,  and  quarts  of  canned  peaches  were  all  available  for  sale, 
made  by  church  members. 

In  addition  to  the  "peach"  booth,  the  church  purchased  extra  booth 
space  that  was  then  furnished  with  tables  and  chairs.  Community  mem- 
bers were  encouraged  to  have  a  seat  in  the  shade  and  drink  some  ice 

cold  peach  tea.— Anne  E.Palmer 


group  then  divided 
into  smaller  groups  of 
3-5  persons  and  each 
was  assigned  a  differ- 
ent area  of  the  Capitol 
Hill  neighborhood  to 
make  observations 
and  consider  needs  of 
the  church's  most  im- 
mediate neighbors. 

Upon  conclusion  of 
the  tour,  the  group 
met  at  the  church  for 
a  time  of  debriefing 
and  discernment. 
From  that  experience, 
many  new  ideas  for 
vision  and  mission 
were  discussed,  and 
the  excitement  for 
new  ministry  in  a 
regenerated  neigh- 
borhood grew. 

The  Washington 
City  Church  of  the 
Brethren  is  in  the 
process  of  a  nine- 
month  transform- 
ational process  with 
Area  1  Congrega- 
tional Life  Team  staff. 
This  is  one  of  11  such 
congregations  across 
the  five  districts  of 
Area  1  involved  in  an 
in-depth  process  of 
self-evaluation  for 
church  growth  and 
renewal.  Jan 
Kensinger,  CLT  Coor- 
dinator, and  Stan 
Dueck,  CLT  staff  for 
Area  1  are  designing, 
coaching,  and  serv- 
ing as  consultants  in 
these  projects. 


Urban  ministers — 

Duane  Grady,  the 
General  Board's  liaison 
to  the  Cross-Cultural 
Ministry  Team,  with 
Sherman  Hicks,  pastor 
of  First  Trinity 
Lutheran  Church, 
Washington,  D.C. 


Viriina  Brethren 
seek  God's  call 
in  urban  areas 

"Seeking  the  New 
Jerusalem  (Rev. 
21:2,  3):  Christians  in 
an  Urban  World"  was 
the  theme  for  an 
urban  ministry  event 
held  Oct.  13-14  in 
Roanoke,  Va.  It  was  co- 
sponsored  by  Viriina 
District  and  Congrega- 
tional Life  Team  Area 
3.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Sher- 
man Hicks,  pastor  of 
First  Trinity  Lutheran 
Church  in  Washington, 
D.C,  and  former 
bishop  of  the  Chicago 
Synod  of  the  Evangeli- 
cal Lutheran  Church  in 
America,  was  the 
guest  preacher  and 
keynote  speaker.  The 
Friday  evening  wor- 
ship, held  at  Central 
Church  of  the 
Brethren,  focused  on 
the  call  to  be  represen- 
tatives of  God's  people 
in  the  midst  of  the  city. 
An  offering  was  taken 
for  the  General 
Board's  Cross-Cultural 


Messenger  December  2000 


Ministry  Team. 

On  Saturday,  44 
participants  repre- 
senting 11  congrega- 
tions gathered  at 
Williamson  Road 
Church  of  the 
Brethren  for  worship 
and  a  presentation  by 
Hicks.  David  R.  Miller 
(First  Church  of  the 
Brethren),  David  Min- 
nich  (Shalom  Fellow- 
ship, Concord,  N.C.), 
and  Asha  Solanky 
(West  Richmond 
Church  of  the 
Brethren)  were  the 
panelists  who  re- 
sponded to  the  pre- 
sentation and  the 
question,  "What  does 
it  mean  to  be  in  ur- 
ban ministry  in  the 


Virlina  district?" 

Three  workshops 
were  offered  that 
day:  A  Case  Study  of 
Urban  Ministry  in 
Roanoke (Johnny 
Stone,  pastor  of  Hill 
Street  Baptist), 
Exploring  Diversity  in 
Hymnal:  A  Worship 
Soo/c  (Julie  M. 
Hostetter,  Area  3  CLT 
Coordinator),  and 
Blending  Boundaries: 
Connections  Between 
Urban/Suburban/Sm 
all  Town/Rural  Con- 
gregations (Duane 
Grady,  Area  2  CLT 
staff). 

On  Sunday  morn- 
ing, Duane  spoke 
with  the  youth  and 
adult  Sunday  school 


classes  at  First 
Church.  He  shared 
from  his  own  experi- 
ence as  an  urban 
pastor  and  listened 
as  those  present  told 
him  about  their  on- 
going worship,  edu- 
cational, and  fellow- 
ship opportunities 
with  Williams  Memo- 
rial Baptist  Church 
(an  African-American 
congregation)  and  a 
nearby  elementary 
school. 

Julie  Hostetter 
staffed  a  planning 
committee  of  five 
pastors  from  Virlina 
district:  Tom  Bryant, 
Michael  Hostetter, 
David  R.  Miller 
(Roanoke),  Jan  Kulp 


Long  (Blacks- 
burg),  and 
David  W.  Miller 
(Richmond).  It 
is  hoped  that 
this  was  the 
beginning  of 
ongoing  dialog 
and 

support  as  congrega- 
tions seek  to  be 
faithful  to  God's  call 
to  ministry  and  mis- 
sion in  urban 
settings. 

A  coffee  break 
in  the  name  of 
Christ 

In  1961,  Russell 
Kiester,  pastor  of  the 
Church  of  the 
Brethren  in  Sabetha, 


Dupont  youth  reach  out  to  Tijuana 


In  late  June  the  youth  group  of  the  Dupont,  Ohio,  congregation  ventured  to  Los  Angeles  and  Tijuana, 
Mexico.  They  were  hosted  by  Gilbert  Romero,  pastor  of  the  Bella  Vista  Church  of  the  Brethren,  Los 
Angeles.  Romero  had  suggested  the  trip  a  year  before  when  he  led  a  revival  at  the  Dupont  church. 

The  youth  and  chaperones  flew  to  Los  Angeles,  spent  the  night  at  the  Bella  Vista  church,  then 
rode  in  vans  to  Tijuana.  Work  projects  there  included  completion  of  a  two-stall  community  shower, 
building  a  small  home  for  a  family,  helping  to  dig  a  sewer  ditch,  and  helping  at  a  day  care  center. 
They  also  visited  a  landfill,  where  many  people  survive  by  sorting  through  garbage.  At  the  landfill 
they  passed  out  Christian  tracts,  along  with  food,  water,  and  clothing. 


Kan., 
chal- 
lenged 
the  Men's 
Fellowship  of  the 
church  to  provide 
a  rest  stop  for  Labor 
Day  weekend  travelers 
at  the  "Four  Mile 
Corner"  rest  stop  at 
the  junction  of  high- 
ways 75  and  36  south 
of  Sabetha.  Forty  years 
later  his  challenge  has 
grown  and  continues 
to  save  the  lives  of 
weary  travelers  by 
offering  coffee,  tea, 
juice,  cookies,  and  fel- 
lowship in  the  name  of 
Christ. 

The  service  has  now 
grown  to  being  offered 
24  hours  a  day.  The 
Methodist  Church  in 
Sabetha  now  helps 
with  the  project,  which 
also  draws  volunteers 
from  surrounding  com- 
munities. This  year  984 
travelers  signed  the 
guest  register— Cheryl 
Mishler 


Messenger  December  2000 


NEWS 


BRETHRENSPEAK 

I  want  to 
see  more 
American 
Christians 
reading  their 
Bibles  and 
spending  time 
in  prayer... 
There  are 
a  lot  of 
opportunities 
here,  but 
people  are  not 
talking  about 
their  faith. 


General  Board  examines 
mission,  ethnicity 

Devotions  throughout  the  fall 
meetings  of  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren  General  Board,  held 
Oct.  19-24  in  Elgin,  III.,  built  on 
the  board's  vision  statement, 
"Of  God,  for  God,  with  God," 
and  focused  on  aspects  of 
God's  presence. 

Board  chair  Mary  Jo  Flory- 
Steury,  in  opening  the 
meetings  of  the  full  board  on 
Saturday,  read  from  Ephesians 
2  as  written  in  The  Message: 
"Now  God  has  us  where  God 
wants  us.  ...  All  we  do  is  trust 
God  enough  to  let  God  do  it." 

With  hymns  and  prayers  built 
on  the  Worshipful-Work  model 
of  conducting  church  business, 
the  board  moved  forward  with 
that  trust  to  tackle  its  agenda 
over  the  next  three  and  a  half 
days.  The  agenda  held  a  long 
list  of  reports  and  other  items, 
but  much  of  the  work  of  this 
meeting  focused  on  celebrating 
new  and  ongoing  ministries 


and  planning  for  possible 
future  endeavors. 

The  board  adopted  a  2001 
budget  of  nearly  $9.3  million — 
about  $5.7  million  of  that  for 
"general  programs."  The  vote 
followed  a  detailed  report  by 
finance  and  funding  staff  that 
showed  a  healthy  financial  pic- 
ture for  the  year,  with  giving  to 
most  funds  up  from  a  year  ear- 
lier. The  lone  exception  is  the 
Emergency  Disaster  Fund,  which 
has  had  fewer  critical  projects  to 
fund  this  yearthan  in  1999. 

Board  members  also  voted  to 
enter  into  a  formal  affiliation 
agreement  with  Comparieros 
en  Ministerio/Mision,  which 
"seeks  to  foster  cross-cultural 
relationships  and  understand- 
ing between  differing  ethnic 
congregations"  and  primarily 
works  in  the  Tijuana,  Mexico, 
area.  The  request  came 
through  the  board's  Mission 
and  Ministries  Planning  Coun- 
cil, and  a  committee  worked  at 
exploring  the  possibilities  over 
the  past  year.  Ongoing  conver- 


sation and  collaboration  will 
occur  via  a  "consulting  com- 
mittee" that  will  meet  at  least 
annually. 

The  board  adopted  a 
"process  for  making  the  Gen- 
eral Board  more  ethnically 
diverse,"  following  discussions 
on  the  topic  at  the  March  meet- 
ings. The  process  recommends 
four  points:  suggesting  ethni- 
cally diverse  candidates  for  the 
board  to  the  Annual  Conference 
nominating  process,  inviting 
the  Cross-Cultural  Ministries 
Team  to  send  a  representative 
to  General  Board  meetings 
as  a  consultant,  keeping  an 
awareness  of  the  need  for  eth- 
nically diverse  leadership 
before  the  entire  denomination, 
and  holding  educational  and 
training  workshops  on  the 
subject  for  General  Board 
members  and  staff. 

Items  handled  with  an  eye  to 
the  future  included  a  prelimi- 
nary proposal  for  a  new  church 
start  in  Brazil,  a  New  Church 
Development  Advisory  Commit 


Ekklesiyar  Yan'uwa  a  5 

Nigeria  president  Toma 
Ragnjiya,  at  ttie  October 
General  Board  meetings. 


General  Board  executive 

director  Judy  Mills 

Reimer  greets  EYN 

president  Toma  Ragnjiya 

following  his  remarks  to 

the  General  Board. 


Messenger  December  2000 


Clarifying  a  point.  General 
Board  member  Jan  Thompson,  of 
Mesa.  Ariz.,  gets  involved  in  the 
board's  deliberations. 

tee  proposal  for  aiding  new 
church  planting,  a  new  docu- 
ment on  General  Board  financial 
policies  and  procedures,  and 
new  bylaws  for  the  board.  Pre- 
senters gathered  input  and 
suggestions  from  board  mem- 
bers and  staff  on  all  four  items 
and  will  bring  them  back  for 
action  at  the  March  2001  meet- 
ings in  New  Windsor,  IVId. 

Ekklesiyar  Yan'uwa  a  Nigeria 
(Church  of  the  Brethren  in  Nige- 
ria) president  Toma  Ragnjiya 
and  his  wife,  Kwanye,  visited 
part  of  the  meetings.  The  Rev. 
Toma  addressed  the  board  one 
pfternoon,  sharing  much  grati- 
tude for  Brethren  work  in 
Nigeria  and  sharing  the  chal- 
enges  and  blessings  that  have 
:ome  through  Christian-Muslim 
conflict  in  his  country.  He  also 
urged  US  Brethren  to  give  atten- 
tion to  prayer  and  evangelism. 

Other  activities  during  the 
weekend  included  two  worship 
services  and  visits  to  area 
Church  of  the  Brethren  congre- 
gations, a  banquet  celebrating 
General  Board  ministries,  a 
time  of  recognition  for  General 
Board  employees,  a  prayer 
oom  and  several  displays, 
sharing  with  numerous  visi- 
:ors,  and  forums  on 
3vangelism  and  funding. 


ABC  board  meetings 
focus  on  finances 

Fund-raising  and  finances  domi- 
nated the  fall  agenda  for  the  As- 
sociation of  Brethren  Caregivers 
board,  which  met  Sept.  29-Oct.  1. 
The  agency  projected  a  $41,000 
deficit  for  2000,  prompting  a 
unanimous  vote  for  board  mem- 
bers to  become  involved  in  per- 
sonal fund-raising  to  attempt  to 
balance  the  budget. 

The  board  also  learned  that 
ABC's  original  three-year  fi- 
nancial transition  plan,  follow- 
ing the  agency's  separation 
from  the  General  Board  in  Jan- 
uary 1998,  was  too  optimistic 
and  is  likely  to  take  at  least  five 
years.  The  plan  permitted  ABC 
to  draw  on  reserves  to  support 
its  ministries  for  those  first 
three  years,  expecting  outside 
funding  to  grow  during  that 
time  to  the  point  it  would  fulfill 
the  budget.  Individual  and  con- 
gregational giving  has  grown, 
but  not  to  the  levels  expected. 

The  board  affirmed  an  execu- 
tive committee  commitment  to 
establish  a  long-term  planning 
process  to  insure  ABC's  viability 
and  received  a  budget  proposal 
for  2001  subject  to  revisions  by 
ABC  executive  director  Steve 
Mason  before  the  end  of  the 
year.  It  authorized  the  finance 
and  executive  committees  to  act 
on  those  revisions  to  determine 
the  final  amount  of  the  budget. 

The  meetings  were  extended 


by  a  day  to  include  a  board  de- 
velopment session  led  by  John 
Cassel  of  Lombard,  ill.  Cassel,  a 
member  of  Chicago  First  Church 
of  the  Brethren,  provides  board 
development  through  the  Illi- 
nois Association  of  School 
Boards.  The  session  focused  on 
distinguishing  board  and  staff 
roles  in  serving  constituents. 
Cassel  also  discussed  the  im- 
portance of  an  overarching  vi- 
sion for  an  organization's  con- 
tinued health  and  growth. 

The  board  approved  John 
Wenger,  a  member  of  Anderson 
(Ind.)  Church  of  the  Brethren,  to 
fill  an  unexpired  term  on  the 
board  as  a  representative 
elected  by  the  ministry  areas 
and  appointed  retired  physician 
Joseph  Schechter,  a  member  of 
the  La  Verne  (Calif.)  church,  to  a 
second  term. 


YOUTH 


A  new,  full-color  brochure  gives  details  on  20  Church  of  the 
Brethren  summer  workcamps  that  will  be  offered  in  2001 
by  the  General  Board's  Youth/Young  Adult  Ministries  office. 

Planned  are  five  junior  high  workcamps,  13  senior  high 
workcamps,  one  combined 
junior-senior  high  work- 
camp  in  Bayview,  Va.,  and  a 
young  adult  workcamp  to 
Taize,  France. 

Junior  high  workcamps  are 
slated  for  Harrisburg,  Pa.; 
Indianapolis;  New  Windsor, 
Md.;  Lake  Geneva,  Wis.;  and 
Washington,  D.C.  Senior 
high  sites  are  Mendenhall, 
Miss,  (co-sponsored  with 
Brethren  Revival  Fellowship); 
Americus,  Ga.;  Harlingen, 

Tex.;  Castaher,  PR.;  Pine  Ridge,  S.D.;  Chicago;  Keyser, 
W.Va.;  Myrtle  Point,  Ore.;  Baltimore;  Crossnore,  N.C.;  St. 
Croix,  US  Virgin  Islands;  and  the  Dominican  Republic,  plus 
the  National  Youth  Spiritual  Growth  Camp  July  29-Aug.  4  at 
Camp  Mack  in  Milford,  Ind. 

Workcamp  registrations  are  being  accepted  beginning 
Dec.  1  at  1451  Dundee  Ave.,  Elgin,  IL  60120.  For  copies  of 
the  workcamps  brochure  or  more  information,  call  the 
YouthA'oung  Adult  office  at  800  323-8039  or  visit  the  web- 
site at  www.brethren.org/genbd/yya. 


Messenger  December  2000 


NEWS 


UPCOMINGE¥EP 

Dec.  10  Christmas 
offering  emphasis 


2001 

Jan.  13-Feb.  12  Global 
Mission  Partnerships' 

Nigeria  workcamp 

Jan.  18-25  Week  of 

Prayer  for  Christian  Unity 

Jan.  21 -Feb.  9  Brethren 
Volunteer  Service  Unit 
242,  Orlando,  Fla. 

Feb.  1-12  Association 
of  Brethren  Caregivers' 

Older  Adult  workcamp  to 
Puerto  Rico 


OEPA  board  celebrates, 
sets  focus  for  future 

The  On  Earth  Peace  board  of 
directors  and  staff  met  at  the 
Brethren  Service  Center  in  New 
Windsor,  IVld.,  Oct.  6-7.  Follow- 
ing a  time  of  singing  hymns 
and  sharing,  the  meeting 
included  the  following: 

•  Welcoming  Barb  Sayler 
and  Bob  Gross  as  co-executive 
directors  of  the  agency  and  in- 
troducing new  board  members 
Ken  Frantz  (Fleming,  Colo.), 
Ken  Edwards  (Jonesborough, 
Tenn.),  and  Debbie  Roberts  (La 
Verne,  Calif.). 

•  Hearing  the  results  of  the 
"visioning"  work  of  the  strate- 
gic planning  committee,  which 
presented  a  document  that  the 
board  accepted.  The  four  focus 
areas  include  Peacemaker  For- 
mation, Peace  Witness,  Conflict 
Transformation,  and  Organiza- 
tional Health.  Two-,  five-  and 
ten-year  goals  were  identified. 

•  Sharing  good  news  from 
the  board's  advancement  com- 
mittee, which  met  its  challenge 
to  contribute  $50,000  to  the 
general  fund.  The  accomplish- 
ment was  celebrated  at  the 
conclusion  of  Friday's  schedule 
with  an  ice  cream  party.  It  was 
also  announced  that  a  matching 
gift  will  be  made  available  this 
year  to  On  Earth  Peace  when 
churches  or  individuals  make 
new  or  increased  gifts  over  the 
past  year.  In  addition,  an  anony- 
mous donor  will  give  $100,000 
to  be  added  to  the  endowment 
to  help  secure  and  enhance  the 
future  of  On  Earth  Peace. 

•Approving  the  2000-2001 
budget,  a  balanced  one  that 
shows  $375,000  in  income  and 
expenses  for  the  coming  year. 

•Hearing  reports  from  staff 
about  their  work,  including  the 
division  of  tasks  in  the  new  co- 
executive  director  structure  and 
a  progress  report  on  the  closing 
of  The  Peace  Place  store  and 


Meeting  with  a  delegation  from  the  Church  of  North  India.  Pictured 
from  left:  Merv  Keeney,  director  of  General  Board  Global  Mission  Partner- 
ships: Bob  Gross  of  Ministry  of  Reconciliation:  former  India  missionary  Wer' 
dell  Flony:  General  Board  ctiair  Many  Jo  Flony-Steury;  Christy  Waltersdorff 
pastor  of  York  Center  Church  of  the  Brethren;  Dr.  V.S.  Lall,  general  secretary 
of  CNI;  Most  Rev.  Vinod  Peter,  moderator  of  CNI;  Ernie  Thakor,  member  of 
Naperville  (III.)  Church  of  the  Brethren;  Rt  Rev.  V.M.  Malaviya,  CNI  bishop  o 
Gujarat  State;  General  Board  executive  director  Judy  Mills  Reimer 


the  startup  of  the  Peace  Basket 
program,  which  includes  peace 
resources  to  be  loaned  out  to 
congregations. 

The  Peace  Retreat  theme  for 
this  year  is  "A  Peace  Tapestry," 
using  Romans  12  as  the  text. 
The  Ministry  of  Reconciliation 
will  continue  to  offer  Matthew 
18  workshops  for  congregations 
and  training  for  practitioners. 

•Accepting  several  chal- 
lenges for  the  coming  year,  in- 
cluding lifting  up  the  mission  and 
work  of  On  Earth  Peace  by  visit- 
ing congregations  in  their  dis- 
tricts, challenging  individuals  to 
support  the  agency,  and  continu- 
ing personal  financial  support. 


Meeting  with  CNI  brings 

"positive"  direction 

Generally  positive  feelings  and  a 
cooperative  atmosphere  charac- 
terized a  meeting  between  a 
delegation  of  Church  of  North 
India  leaders  and  representatives 
of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren 
General  Board  Oct.  9-11. 

The  two  groups  met  to  discuss 
the  "separated"  Brethren  in 
India — congregations  that  were 
started  by  Brethren  mission  in 
India  during  the  1900s,  joined 
CNI  in  1970,  then  seceded  in 
1978.  The  congregations  have 
sought  recognition  by  the 


Church  of  the  Brethren  since  then 
and  the  General  Board  recently 
has  been  exploring  the  issue. 

Representing  CNI  were  Dr.  V.S. 
Lall,  general  secretary;  the  Most 
Rev.  Vinod  Peter,  moderator;  and 
the  Rt.  Rev.  V.M.  Malaviya,  bishof 
of  Gujarat  State.  General  Board 
representatives  included  execu- 
tive director  Judy  Mills  Reimer, 
board  chair  Mary  Jo  Flory-Steury 
Global  Mission  Partnerships  dire( 
tor  Merv  Keeney,  and  members  o 
a  delegation  that  traveled  to  Indi 
this  past  spring  and  talked  with 
the  churches  seeking  recognition 
Bob  Gross  of  Ministry  of  Reconci 
iation  served  as  facilitator. 
"It  was  a  much-needed 
renewal  of  the  relationship," 
Keeney  says.  "We  worked  hard 
at  understanding  the  different 
issues  that  exist  in  the  relation- 
ship, identifying  areas  where  wi 
have  common  understanding 
and  where  we  don't." 

It  was  a  marked  difference  in 
tone  from  the  last  meeting 
between  the  two  parties,  held  in 
Toronto,  Canada,  in  January. 
Keeney  had  characterized  relatioi 
at  that  time  as  "strained."  Now, 
while  numerous  areas  of  disagre 
ment  still  exist,  Keeney  said  he 
feels  optimism.  Another  visit  of 
the  General  Board  delegation  to 
India  is  scheduled  for  January,  at 
CNI  leaders  expressed  a  desire  td 
talk  further  during  that  visit. 


Kl  Messenger  December  2000 


1.  Cuba.  A  three-member  delegation 
of  Cuban  Council  of  Churches  offi- 
cials paid  a  visit  to  the  General  Of- 
fices in  Elgin,  III.,  in  October.  The 
group  expressed  appreciation  for  all 
the  denomination's  involvement  and 
ecumenical  support  in  their  nation, 
and  especially  for  beef  chunks  sent 
through  a  meat  canning  project  and 
other  aid. 

2.  Oklahoma.  An  Emergency  Disaster 
Fund  grant  sent  $5,000  to  support  a 
relief  effort  for  victims  of  wildfires  in 
Logan  County,  where  at  least  40  homes 
were  destroyed.  Funds  went  toward 
victims'  immediate  and  long-term 
needs  as  well  as  feed  for  livestock. 

i.  Vieques,  Puerto  Rico.  Protests  over 
US  Navy  presence  and  testing  on  this 
small  island  have  continued  even 
after  an  encampment  was  driven  out 
by  US  forces  in  May.  Cliff  Kindy  of  the 
Manchester  Church  of  the  Brethren 
(North  Manchester,  Ind.)  was  arrested 
after  participating  with  Christian 
Peacemaker  Teams  in  a  civil  disobedi- 
ence activity  Oct.  1  and  was  held  for 
more  than  a  week. 

k  Colombia.  Mennonite  peace  activist 
Ricardo  Esquivia  Ballestas  met  with 
several  staff  members  at  the  General 
Offices  in  October  to  urge  an  end  to 
US  military  support  of  the  "drug 
wars"  in  his  country,  which  he  said  is 
actually  escalating  the  problem.  He 
said  that  cooperation  between  the 
churches  of  North  America  and 
South  America  is  needed  to  work  for 
an  end  to  the  violence. 


5.  Texas.  The  work  of  the  Southwest 
Good  Samaritan  Ministries  in  Los  Fres- 
nos  received  a  boost  with  an  allocation 
of  $12,000  from  the  General  Board's 
Emergency  Disaster  Fund.  The  organi- 
zation gives  assistance  to  displaced  per- 
sons and  immigrants  near  the  Mexican 
border.  About  $2,000  of  the  grant  will  be 
used  to  ship  8,400  pounds  of  canned 
chicken  to  the  ministry's  food  pantry. 

6.  Florida.  A  Disaster  Child  Care  team  of 
nine  volunteers  was  dispatched  to  the 
southern  part  of  the  state  to  assist  in 
the  aftermath  of  severe  flooding  in  the 
Miami  and  Ft.  Lauderdale  areas.  Gloria 
Cooper  of  the  United  Methodist  Church 
served  as  project  manager  for  the 
team,  which  included  seven  Brethren. 

7.  Vanceboro,  IM.C.  A  parade  and  other 
events  in  this  eastern  North  Carolina 
town  on  Oct.  7  thanked  the  many  vol- 
unteers who  worked  to  bring  recovery 
from  the  devastation  of  1999's  Hurri- 
cane Floyd.  Those  volunteers  included 
many  Brethren,  and  several  Emer- 
gency Response/Service  Ministries 


staff  members  and  others  who  helped 
participated  in  the  festivities. 

8.  Indonesia.  More  deaths  have  resulted 
with  a  resurgence  of  Christian-Muslim 
violence  in  some  provinces  of  the 
Southeast  Asian  nation,  according  to 
Religion  News  Service.  "Christians  and 
Muslims  have  been  fighting  one 
another  in  the  Maluku  provinces  since 
January  of  last  year,"  the  report  said. 
"Some  4,000  people  on  both  sides 
have  been  killed  since  then." 

9.  Sudan.  Bombing  runs  on  southern 
Sudan  by  the  African  nation's  northern 
government  have  continued,  according 
to  reports  from  several  international 
news  services.  Recent  reports  included 
bombings  of  a  refugee  camp,  a  school, 
and  homes.  US  President  Bill  Clinton 
criticized  the  attacks,  saying,  "I  am 
deeply  concerned  by  reports  that  the 
government  of  Sudan  is  bombing 
innocent  civilians  in  the  southern  part 
of  the  country.  Such  egregious  abuses 
have  become  commonplace  in  Sudan's 
ongoing  civil  war." 


brethren  delegation 

0  visit  Sudan 

1  Church  of  the  Brethren  dele- 
ation  will  be  visiting  Sudan  in 
Tid-February.  The  group,  spon- 
ored  by  the  Global  Mission 
artnerships  and  Brethren  Wit- 


ness offices,  will  be  hosted 
by  the  New  Sudan  Council  of 
Churches.  The  purpose  of 
the  visit  will  be  to  show  soli- 
darity with  people  of  the 
war-torn  southern  part  of  the 
east  African  country,  to  learn 
about  ministries  offered  by 


the  NSCC,  and  to  witness  the 
overall  situation  in  Sudan. 

Brethren  Witness  director 
David  Radcliff  will  serve  as 
leader  of  the  delegation,  with 
Mark  Sloan  of  the  NSCC, 
serving  through  the  Global 
Mission  Partnerships  office. 


providing  on-the-ground 
coordination. 

Cost  for  the  February  10-22 
trip  will  be  $1600,  which  in- 
cludes General  Board  financial 
support  for  in-country  costs. 
Contact  either  of  the  above  of- 
fices for  more  infomation. 


Messenger  December  2000 


PEACE  NEEDS  JUSTICE  IN  A  DIVIDED  HOLY  LAND 


by  Sara  Speicher 


When  the  angels  had  left  them  and  gone  into 
heaven,  the  shepherds  said  to  one  another,  "Let 
us  go  now  to  Bethlehem  and  see  this  thing  that 
has  taken  place,  which  the  Lord  has  made 
known  to  us. " — Luke  2:15 


■  stood  in  the  cave  that  has  been  revered 
for  centuries  as  the  place  where  Jesus  was 
born,  rather  embarrassed  that  the  study 
group  I  was  with  wanted  to  sing  "Away  in  a 
Manger"  and  "O  Little  Town  of  Bethlehem"  as 
streams  of  silent  pilgrims  shuffled  through.  Our 
visit  this  luly  happened  to  be  timed  with  mainly 
Russian-  and  Greek-speaking  groups,  who  took 
as  many  moments  as  they  could  to  touch  or  to 
kiss  the  marble  and  metal-encased  spot.  I  took  a 
photo.  I  wasn't  so  concerned  about  whether  this 
was  or  was  not  the  actual  site  of  Jesus's  birth; 
having  geographical  proof  isn't  necessary  to  my 
belief  that  the  birth  took  place.  But  as  1  listened  to 
the  sweet  melodies  of  these  carols  we  sing  so 
often  during  this  season  of  Jesus'  birth,  I  could 
not  stop  thinking  of  the  current,  tragic,  geograph- 
ical reality  facing  this  little  town  of  Bethlehem. 
A  drive  to  Bethlehem  from  Jerusalem  is  a 
drive  through  Occupied  Territory.  Maps  usually 


have  an  asterisk,  or  fine  print  at  the  bottom  that 
says,  "West  Bank  is  Israeli-occupied  with  current 
status  subject  to  the  Israeli-Palestinian  Interim 
Agreement — permanent  status  to  be  determined 
through  further  negotiation."  Guarded  check- 
points identify  these  "impermanent"  boundaries. 
At  the  checkpoints,  our  tourist  company  van 
with  Israeli  plates  doesn't  even  slow  down.  But 
we  notice  a  long  line  of  cars  with  Palestinian 
plates  trying  to  get  into  Jerusalem,  with  the 
guards  carefully  looking  at  papers.  Palestinians 
from  the  West  Bank  and  Gaza  Strip  cannot  enter 
the  holy  city  of  Jerusalem  without  special,  and 
difficult  to  get,  permits. 

The  Israeli  human  rights  lawyer  who  was  lead- 
ing this  portion  of  the  study  tour  noted  that  in  all 
international  law.  Occupied  Territory  means  that 
until  the  status  is  resolved  nothing  can  be  perma- 
nently changed,  nothing  can  be  developed.  She 
said  this  as  we  looked  at  the  Har  Homa  settle- 
ment, nearing  completion.  No  cluster  of  shacks, 
this,  but  a  huge,  modern,  apartment  complex 
perched  on  Mount  Abu  Ghmein  between 
Jerusalem  and  Bethlehem.  Nearby  is  a  sign  that 
she  translates  from  the  Hebrew:  "Encouragement 
99 — a  framework  of  economic  development" 
from  the  Ministry  of  Industry  and  Trade  with  the 
Israeli  government  seal. 

Throughout  our  trip  we  see  signs  advertising 


Messenger  December  2000 


new  developments,  four-,  five-,  and  six-room 
apartments  with  beautiful  views  and  modern 
conveniences.  This  is  a  jarring  picture  of  grow- 
ing pockets  of  suburbia,  even  though  the  Israeli 
government  years  ago  promised  to  stop  settle- 
ment activity  until  negotiations  were 
:ompleted.  Our  van  is  traveling  on  well-built 
jypass  roads,  and  we  see  more  under  construc- 
:ion.  These  highways  link  Jerusalem  to  the 
ettlements.  There  are  no  exits — and  no 
igns — to  Palestinian  villages  from  these  roads, 
ilthough  they  cut  through  Palestinian  orchards, 
and,  and  homes.  We  pass  through  a  tunnel  cut 
directly  under  a  Palestinian  village.  It  is  all  safe, 
sterile,  and  tragic. 

On  this  study  tour,  I  traveled  with  14  young 
adults  from  the  US.  The  tour  and  exposure 
Ash  sponsored  by  the  World  Council  of 
Churches  focused  on  the  "Ouestion  of 
erusalem,"  and  we  met  with  Christian, 
Vluslim,  and  lewish  academics,  lawyers,  reli- 
gious leaders,  activists.  We  toured  the  Old  City 
md  saw  places  I  doubt  most  pilgrims  see  unless 
hey  are  really  lost.  We  toured  some  of  the  set- 
lement  construction  in  the  West  Bank;  I  don't 
:hink  the  construction  workers  at  Har  Homa 
jften  get  visits  from  photo-taking  tourists. 

These  construction  workers  are  mainly 
Palestinian.  Our  guide  explains  that  with  the 


restriction  of  movement  for  Palestinians  into 
Israel  and  around  the  West  Bank,  Palestinian 
economic  activity  has  been  crippled.  Often, 
then,  the  only  jobs  they  can  get  are  with  Israeli 
development  companies. 

The  lawyer  gave  as  an  example  the  situation 
of  one  of  her  clients,  a  successful  Palestinian 
businessman  in  the  West  Bank  who  owned  a 
profitable  bus  company.  When  the  general  clo- 
sure was  implemented  in  1993,  he  could  no 
longer  operate  his  buses  across  the  border  into 
Israel,  and,  without  that  access,  he  went  bank- 
rupt. He  had  recently  built  a  house,  but  he  had 
built  it  without  a  building  permit,  as  cost  and 
regulations  make  it  virtually  impossible  for  any 
Palestinian  to  get  a  permit.  He  was  then 
informed  that  his  house  would  be  demolished, 
without  compensation,  to  build  a  bypass  road 
between  Jerusalem  and  one  of  the  settlements. 
He  has  four  young  children  to  support.  And 
now,  the  only  work  he  can  find  is  on  the  con- 
struction of  the  bypass  road  that  caused  his 
house  to  be  demolished. 

Two  of  the  study  group  members  could  not 
help  but  compare  their  own  Native  American 
history  with  the  forced  separation  and  widely 
different  conditions  they  saw  between  two 
peoples  on  the  same  land.  Others  made  refer- 
ences to  apartheid-like  conditions.  The  Israeli 


The  issues  that 
are  being  fought 
over  are  not  ones 
easily  solved  by 
moving  lines  on  a 
map.  They  are 
•1    issues  of  life  and 
death,  identity 
and  faith:  land, 
water,  boundaries 
freedom  of 
movement,  the       I 
right  to  worship, 
protection  of  holyl 
sites,  sovereignty, 
culture,  refugees, 
settlements, 
history,  future. 


Messenger  December  2000 


Israeli  Jews 
often  perceive 
Christians  as  a 
double  major- 
ity—part of  the 
large  Arab  world 
and  the  larger 
Christian  popu- 
lation. Muslims 
connect  local 
Christians  with 
the  powerful 
Christian  west 
and  rarely  view 
them  as  an 
"imperiled 
minority." 


^^*#*^ 


lawyer  said,  "We  have  substituted  'Jews  and 
Arabs'  for  whites  and  blacks." 

The  checkpoints,  restriction  of  movement, 
house  demolitions,  settlements,  and  bypass 
roads  provided  a  different,  wider  picture  than  I 
had  seen  and  understood  before  from  the  US 
media.  I  am  accustomed  to  seeing  bombs  and 
stones.  Structural  violence,  I  guess,  doesn't 
make  good  TV. 

As  he  came  near  and  saw  the  city,  he  wept  over  it, 
saying,  "If  you,  even  you,  had  only  recognized  on 
this  day  the  things  that  make  for  peace!  But  now 
they  are  hidden  from  your  eyes." — Luke  19:41-42 

It  is  October  and  I  am  watching  on  television 
Israeli  gunships  bombing  Ramallah  after  the 
brutal  murder  of  two  Israeli  soldiers  by  a  Pales- 
tinian mob.  Words  on  both  sides  are  filled  with 
hate  and  anguish.  The  grim  tally  of  death  goes 
higher — almost  a  hundred  dead  in  the  first  two 
weeks  of  October;  all  but  seven  are  Palestinian. 
International  leaders  try  desperately  to  stop  the 
two  sides  from  being  driven  further  apart  than 
the  bloodshed  has  already  made  them. 

I  know  people  in  Ramallah.  I  am  picturing 
Jean  Zaru,  a  Quaker  and  a  Palestinian,  who, 
when  she  met  with  us  in  July,  spoke  of  how  her 
pacifism  has  been  tested  in  the  face  of  years  of 


CHRISTIANS  IN  THE  HOLY  LAND 


Worldwide  media  attention  often  focuses  on 
the  conflict  between  two  peoples,  Israelis  and 
Palestinians,  and  two  majority  religions, 
Judaism  and  Islam.  Even  Christians  in  other 
regions  sometimes  forget  that  there  is  a  small 
but  significant  local  Christian  presence  in 
Jerusalem  and  the  surrounding  region  that  must 
deal  with  a  unique  double-minority  situation. 

Palestinian  Christians  now  make  up  only 
about  two  percent  of  the  population  in 
Jerusalem,  and  three  percent  in  the  Occupied 
Territories.  Approximately  59  percent  are  from 
the  Orthodox  traditions,  36  percent  are 
Catholics,  and  five  percent  are  Protestants. 

The  1 999  Israel  Yearbook  and  Almanac 
describes  their  precarious  position  by  noting  that, 
"as  Arab  Christians  they  are  a  double  minority: 
Arabs  in  the  midst  of  the  majority  Jewish  popula- 
tion of  Israel,  Christians  within  Israel's 
dominandy  Muslim  Arab  society."  In  addition  to 
differences  in  size  and  resources  within  the 
Christian  community,  "those  who  emphasize 


their  Palestinian  identity  find  themselves  in  an 
inferior  position  vis-a-vis  the  Israelis." 

To  complicate  matters  still  further,  Israeli 
Jews  often  perceive  Christians  as  a  double 
majority — part  of  the  large  Arab  world  and  the 
larger  Christian  population.  Muslims  connect 
local  Christians  with  the  powerful  Christian  west 
and  rarely  view  them  as  an  "imperiled  minority." 

Historically,  though.  Christians  and  Mus- 
lims have  lived  side  by  side  for  centuries  in  the 
region.  "Palestinians  are  Christians  and  Mus- 
lims, but  one  people,"  says  Father  Maroum 
Laham,  rector  of  the  Latin  Patriarchate  (Roman 
Catholic)  Seminary  in  Jerusalem. 

The  long  conflict,  including  the  restriction  of 
movement  and  residency  rights,  has  caused  a 
steady  decline  in  the  numbers  of  local  Christians  in 
Jerusalem.  Bishop  Munib  Younan  of  the  Evangeli-  ! 
cal  Lutheran  Church  of  Jordan,  based  in  Jerusalem, 
notes  that  there  are  now  just  5,000  local  Christians 
in  the  city.  He  fears  that  "if  you  lose  the  local 
churches,  you  lose  Christianity  in  Jerusalem." 


Messenger  December  2000 


Restrictions  on  travel: 

In  1993,  the  Israeli 
government  instituted 
especially  restrictive 
security  policies  that 
prevent  Palestinians 
from  the  West  Bank 
and  Gaza  Strip  from 
freely  entering 
Jerusalem,  or  freely 
moving  between  the 
south  and  north 
West  Bank. 


repression.  "I  rage  for  justice,"  she  said,  "but  I 
refuse  to  destroy." 

lean  and  many  others — Palestinian  and 
Israeli— have  worked  for  years  in  interreligious 
dialog,  mediation,  conflict  prevention,  personal 
connections.  Now  the  fragile  links  they  have 
forged  are  being  destroyed  by  bullets  and  bombs 
and  mobs  and  hate  and  ultimatums.  The  violence 
in  Ramallah,  Bethlehem,  lerusalem,  Hebron,  and 
throughout  the  West  Bank  and  Gaza  Strip,  and 
the  retaliatory  violence  against  Israeli  Arabs  in 
Nazareth,  surprises  few  who  have  followed  the 
situation  over  the  years.  The  peace  talks  have 
failed  to  change  the  situation  for  Palestinians; 
indeed,  they  have  only  seen  continued  disregard 
for  agreements  by  the  Israeli  government.  In  an 
analysis  in  the  New  York  Times  on  Oct.  1 5  comes 
this  admission  from  US  officials  involved  in  the 
'negotiations:  "But  most  fundamental,  a  senior 
'official  said,  the  administration  had  failed  in  the 
[last  several  years  to  grasp  the  depth  of  resent- 
Iment  among  the  Palestinian  population.  The 
ipeace  efforts  during  Mr.  Clinton's  tenure  forged 
jan  understanding  among  Israeli  and  Palestinian 
lelites  but  not  among  the  people,  one  official  said 
with  rare  candor." 

The  issues  that  are  being  fought  over  are 
not  ones  easily  solved  by  moving  lines  on  a 
map.  They  are  issues  of  life  and  death,  identity 
and  faith:  land,  water,  boundaries,  freedom  of 
movement,  the  right  to  worship,  protection  of 
holy  sites,  sovereignty,  culture,  refugees,  set- 
tlements, history,  future.  Even  the  people 
affected  are  complex,  a  mixture  of  two  peo- 
ples— Israeli  and  Palestinian — and  three 
religions — Islam,  ludaism,  and  Christianity. 


Any  solutions  need  to  take  into  account  all 
these  dynamics.  And,  in  the  center  of  the  com- 
plex conflict,  is  the  city  of  Jerusalem. 

Our  feet  are  standing 

within  your  gates,  O  Jerusalem. 

Jerusalem — built  as  a  city 

that  is  bound  firmly  together.— Psa.  122:2-3 

Jerusalem  is  one  of  the  oldest  cities  in  the 
world.  It  is  the  site  of  the  Western  (Wailing) 
Wall,  the  last  remnant  of  the  second  Jewish 
Temple,  the  place  where  Abraham  faithfully 
prepared  to  sacrifice  his  son  Isaac.  For  Chris- 
tians, the  Church  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre  is  the 
site  of  the  death  and  resurrection  of  Jesus 
Christ,  while  Jerusalem  is  the  place  where  the 
church  itself  began.  The  Al-Aqsa  Mosque  is  the 
third-holiest  sanctuary  of  Islam,  and  the  life  of 
the  Prophet  Mohammed  is  linked  to  Jerusalem. 
The  city  holds  enormous  religious  significance 
for  millions  of  Jews,  Christians,  and  Muslims 
throughout  the  world.  For  centuries,  it  has 
been  a  destination  of  pilgrims  as  well  as  a 
target  for  empires,  crusaders,  and  conquerors. 

Since  the  19th  century,  Jerusalem  has  been 
the  focus  of  conflicting  claims  by  Jews  and  Pales- 
tinians. These  claims  have  complex  political, 
territorial,  and  religious  dimensions,  since, 
according  to  a  United  Nations  document,  "both 
peoples  consider  the  city  the  embodiment  of  their 
national  essence  and  right  to  self-determination." 

For  lerusalem  City  Council  member  Anat 
Hoffman,  the  city's  practical  problems  are 
magnified  by  its  history  and  religious  signifi- 
cance. "If  we  thought  practically,"  she  said, 


The  city  holds 
enormous 
religious 
significance  for 
millions  of  Jews, 
Christians,  and 
Muslims 
throughout  the 
world.  For 
centuries,  it  has 
been  a  destinatior 
of  pilgrims  as  wel 
as  a  target  for 
empires, 
crusaders,  and 
conquerors. 


Messenger  December  2000 


As  people  of 

faith,  we  are 

called  to  stand 

in  solidarity  with 

the  oppressed 

and  wounded. 

As  citizens  of  a 

government 

taking  a  major 

role  in  the 

negotiating 

process, 

we  have  the 

responsibility  to 

advocate  for 

justice. 


Jean  Zaru,  a  Quaker  living  in  Ramallah, 

West  Bank,  spoke  of  her  struggle  of 

being  a  pacifist  in  a  "violent  structure"-  "I 

do  rage  for  justice,  but  I  refuse  to  destroy." 


"we  could  solve  anything.  But  Jerusalem  is  not 
just  a  city,  it  is  a  metaphor." 

Many  proposals  for  Jerusalem's  future  have 
been  put  forward  since  1947,  from  giving  the 
city  special  international  status  to  divided  sov- 
ereignty and  control.  "Jerusalem  should  remain 
a  city  of  God  and  accessible  to  all  people,"  says 
Michel  Sabbah,  Latin  Patriarchate  of  Jerusalem 
(Roman  Catholic  Church).  "It  should  not  be 
governed  like  any  other  city  in  the  world." 

At  the  July  2000  Camp  David  meeting,  the 
status  of  Jerusalem  was  discussed  for  the  first 
lime  in  the  history  of  the  peace  talks  and,  while  no 
agreement  was  reached,  there  came  some  hope 
from  the  fact  that  the  discussion  occurred  and 
openings  were  made  for  sharing  of  the  city  and 
^  international  governance.  Such  hope,  and  move 
s  toward  compromise,  has  been  shattered  by  recent 
5  violence  that  was  sparked  in  the  Old  City  itself. 
I        For  thousands  of  years,  Jerusalem  has  been 
S  the  center  of  faith  for  so  many.  Many  have  also  ' 
^  tried  to  control  the  city.  Perhaps  that  no  one 
has  yet  succeeded  is  the  most  important  lesson. 

"History  is  our  teacher,"  says  a  Christian 
leader  in  Jerusalem.  "Whenever  Christians  or 
other  religions  have  tried  to  claim  ownership 


WHAT  YOU  CAN  DO 


Pray  for  the  people  of  the  region,  for  the  Israeli  and 
Palestinian  leaders,  and  the  international  community  that 
they  will  have  the  courage  and  political  will  to  forge  a 
just  and  lasting  agreement.  Pray  for  the  grassroots  peace 
builders  trying  to  reconstruct  fragile  links  of  understand- 
ing and  reconciliation. 

Commit  yourself  to  getting  better  informed  about  the  situa- 
tion through  multiple  sources  of  information.  Here  are  a 
few  possible  websites: 

-Churches  for  Middle  East  Peace 

www.cmep.org 
—Christian  Peacemaker  Team  in  Hebron 

www.prairienet.org/cpt/hebron.html 
—American  Friends  Service  Committee 

www.afsc.org/ispal/ 
-World  Council  of  Churches 

www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/international/jerusalem.html 
-The  United  Nations  webpage  on  the  Question  of  Palestine 

www.un.org/Depts/dpa/qpal/ 
-B'tselem — The  Israeli  Information  Centre  for  Human 

Rights  in  the  Occupied  Territories 

www.btselem.org 


-Land  and  Water  Establishment 

www.lawsociety.org 
-The  Applied  Research  Institute  in  Jerusalem 

www.arij.org/ 
-Palestinian  Academic  Society  for  the 

Study  of  International  Affairs 

www.passia.org 
-Jerusalem  Centre  for  Women 

www.j-c-w.org 
-Ha'aretz  daily  newspaper 

www.haaretzdaily.com/htmls/l_l  .asp 

3.  Go  on  a  different  kind  of  "Holy  Land"  tour — one  in 
which  you  take  the  time  to  learn  about  the  realities  of  the 
local  people.  Connect  with  local  Christians.  Resources 
for  such  visits  are  the  Ecumenical  Outreach  Program  of 
Catholic  Relief  Services  (CRS),  the  Presbyterian  Church 
(USA),  and  the  United  Methodist  Church  (General 
Board  of  Global  Ministries)  based  in  Jerusalem. 

4.  Be  an  advocate  for  justice  and  peace  in  the  Middle 
East  through  your  church  and  community,  and  with 
the  US  government. 


ilii  Messenger  December  2000 


Members  of  the 
WCC-sponsored  study 
seminar  held  in  July 
gained  firsthand 
knowledge  about  the 
different  elements  in  the 
final  status  negotiations, 
especially  the  question  of 
Jerusalem.  Sara  Speicher 
IS  standing  in  the  back  row, 
second  from  right. 


over  lerusalem,  they  were  rejected.  It  is  clear 
that  lerusalem  cannot  be  long  under  one  faith 
or  one  people." 

Pray  for  the  peace  of  Jerusalem: 
May  they  prosper  who  love  you. 
Peace  be  within  your  walls.  And  security 
within  your  towers. " — Psa.  122:  6-7 

International  negotiations  for  Middle  East 
peace  have  been  held  for  decades.  There  is  a 
sense  now  on  both  sides  that  agreements  made 
so  far  are  no  longer  valid.  How  far  back,  now, 
do  negotiators  need  to  go?  As  Israeli  and  Pales- 
tinian leaders  and  international  mediators  try 
to  pick  up  the  pieces,  it  is  clear  that  more 
efforts  from  ordinary  citizens  worldwide — not 
ust  Israelis  and  Palestinians — are  needed  to 
work  for  real  justice  and  a  true  peace. 

I  am  reading  another  daily  bulletin  from  the 
Christian  Peacemaker  Team  in  Hebron,  which  has 
accompanied  the  community  there  as  a  witness 
for  peace  (see  Messenger,  July  2000).  In  the 
midst  of  escalating  violence,  the  six  team  mem- 
bers share  reports  of  tension  and  violence  from 
both  sides  and  do  what  they  can  to  prevent  con- 
flict, protect  rights,  document  incidents,  and  keep 
individuals  talking  to  each  other.  Perhaps  their 
sharing  of  stories  by  e-mail  is  the  most  important 
part  of  their  witness — through  them  we  can  be 
present  in  this  holy  and  divided  land.  We  can  meet 
individuals  like  Nabil,  who  tells  the  CPTers  that 
tlis  uncle  was  critically  injured  when,  as  they  were 
bringing  bread  back  to  the  family,  they  were  shot 
at  from  the  Beit  Haggai  setdement.  As  CPTer  Bob 
Holmes  shares,  "Nabil  took  us  to  the  blood- 
soaked  ground  on  a  path  below  the  settlement.  An 
army  jeep  patrolling  the  adjacent  bypass  road 
stopped  as  we  were  leaving.  When  the  soldiers 
stepped  out  with  their  rifles,  Nabil  took  my  hand 


and  clamped  my  elbow  inside  his.  He  was  shaking 
and  I  shared  his  fear  as  we  walked  the  long  hun- 
dred meters  up  and  over  the  hill.  He  kept  tight 
hold  until  we  reached  his  house  once  again." 

As  the  news  media  share  stories  of  hate  and 
violence  of  mobs  and  the  political  war  of 
words,  we  also  need  to  hear  stories  of  the  fear, 
struggles,  and  pain  of  individual  people  who 
must  continue,  day  by  day,  to  live  and  work 
and  worship.  This  gives  us  another,  closer  part 
of  the  picture.  And  in  this  conflict  we  need  to 
commit  ourselves  to  seeing  as  many  facets  as 
possible.  As  people  of  faith,  we  are  called  to 
stand  in  solidarity  with  the  oppressed  and 
wounded.  As  citizens  of  a  government  taking  a 
major  role  in  the  negotiating  process,  we  have 
the  responsibility  to  advocate  for  justice. 

As  we  sing  our  carols  this  season,  praising 
God  for  jesus'  birth  and  thinking  of  the  Beth- 
lehem where  Jesus  was  born,  let  us  also  lift  up 
in  our  thoughts  and  prayers  the  Bethlehem  of 
today  that  so  badly  needs  justice  and  peace, 
reconstruction  and  reconciliation.  Bethlehem, 
lerusalem,  [ericho,  Nazareth,  Galilee — mil- 
lions of  believers  have  come  to  this  region  to 
pray  over  stones,  the  remnants  of  holy  sites. 
Believers  need  also  to  pray  for  the  land's 
"living  stones" — its  people.  The  need  is  to 
pray  for  justice  and  peace  and  for  an  answer 
that  will  make  it  a  holy  land  indeed. 

For  the  sake  of  my  relatives  and  friends 
I  will  say,  Peace  be  within  you. " 
For  the  sake  of  the  house  of  the  Lord  our  God 
I  will  seek  your  good.— Psa.  122:  8-9 


Sara  Speicher  is  a  member  of  the  Highland  Avenue  Church  of  the 
Brethren,  Elgin,  III.  She  accompanied  the  July  study  seminar  on 
the  Question  of  Jerusalem  as  communication  officer  for  the  World 
Council  of  Churches.  She  currently  lives  in  Geneva,  Switzerland. 


As  we  sing  our 
carols  this 
season,  praising 
God  for  Jesus' 
birth  and  thinkin; 
of  the  Bethlehem 
where  Jesus  was 
born,  let  us  also 
lift  up  in  our 
thoughts  and 
prayers  the 
Bethlehem  of         , 
today  that  so 
badly  needs  I 

justice  and  peace 


Messenger  December  2000 


d 


Mary  was  just  a 

young  girl  in  a 

small  village, 

already  engaged 

to  be  married. 

She  no  doubt 

anticipated  a 

happy  but 

ordinary  life  as 

the  wife  of  a 

carpenter.  But 

when  the  angel 

Gabriel  appeared 

to  her  and  spoke 

of  another  kind 

of  future,  she 

said,  "Yes." 


James  Benedict 


Luke  1:26-58 


My  great  Aunt  Pearl,  who  died  a  few  years  back 
at  the  age  of  103,  was  never  shy  and  retiring. 
She  was  one  of  those  people  who  get  even 
spunkier  as  the  years  go  by.  Once  my  parents 
were  planning  a  trip  to  Texas.  They  stopped  in 
to  visit  Aunt  Pearl,  who  was  probably  about  95 
at  the  time,  and  said  half-jokingly,  "Hey,  do  you 
want  to  go  along?"  Quick  as  a  shot,  she  replied, 
"You  bet!"  and  she  was  serious.  "When  are  you 
leaving?"  she  asked.  What  could  my  parents 
say?  They  told  her  they  were  planning  to  leave 
at  the  end  of  the  week.  Aunt  Pearl  assured  them, 
"I'll  have  my  suitcase  packed."  And  she  did! 

I've  always  admired  those  who  are  adven- 
turous, and  from  my  study  of  scripture,  I'm 
convinced  that  there  is  a  strong  connection 
between  adventurousness  and  faith.  Luke's 
account  of  Jesus'  birth  brings  this  out  in  many 
ways,  but  especially  in  the  story  of  Mary.  Mary 
was  just  a  young  girl  in  a  small  village,  already 
engaged  to  be  married.  She  no  doubt  antici- 
pated a  happy  but  ordinary  life  as  the  wife  of  a 
carpenter.  But  when  the  angel  Gabriel 
appeared  to  her  and  spoke  of  another  kind  of 
future,  she  said,  "Yes." 

As  it  turns  out,  this  simple  girl  from  a  small 
town  had  an  adventurous  spirit.  Notice  that 
she  said  "yes"  to  the  journey  with  very  little 
information  about  the  itinerary.  She  volun- 
teered to  serve  even  though  she  didn't  have 
very  much  information  about  what  her  service 
would  require  of  her.  She  didn't  even  under- 


stand how  it  could  happen.  Still,  she  said  yes. 

Mary  is  presented  as  a  model  of  faith  and 
faithfulness.  But  we  read  too  much  into  the  text 
if  we  suppose  that  this  means  she  had  no  ques- 
tions or  doubts.  In  fact,  her  first  words  in  ■ 
response  to  the  angel's  announcement  are,  ' 
"How  can  this  be?"  Mary  isn't  one  of  those  pas- 
sive, easily  put-upon  types.  If  something  doesn't 
make  sense  to  her  she  says,  "This  doesn't  make 
sense!"  If  she  has  a  question,  she  isn't  too  timid 
to  ask  it.  So  she  asks:  "How  can  this  be?" 

And  we  needn't  suppose  that  the  answer  she 
was  given  put  her  mind  completely  at  rest.  Listen 
again:  "The  Holy  Spirit  will  come  upon  you,  and 
the  power  of  the  Most  High  will  overshadow  you: 
therefore  the  child  to  be  born  will  be  holy;  he  will 
be  called  the  Son  of  God."  That  answer  may 
make  perfect  sense  to  us,  from  a  post-resurrec- 
tion perspective,  because  we  know  the  rest  of  the 
story.  But  it  had  to  sound  very  different  and 
much  less  clear  to  a  teenager  in  Bethlehem  30 
years  before  Jesus  had  even  started  his  ministry. 
In  fact  it  is  a  response  that  probably  raised 
more  questions  than  it  answered.  Mary  must 
have  wondered,  "What  do  you  mean  the  Holy 
Spirit  will  come  upon  me?  What  will  that  be 
like?  What  will  it  feel  like?  And  what  will  the 
child  be  like?  What  do  you  mean  holy?  Who 
will  call  him  the  Son  of  God?" 

Mary's  "yes"  was  an  act  of  faith.  She  didn't 
say  yes  because  all  her  questions  were 
answered  and  everything  made  perfect  sense. 
She  said  yes  because  she  was  willing  to  go  for- 
ward without  all  the  answers.  She  said  yes 
because  she  was  willing  to  play  her  part  in 
God's  plan  without  knowing  all  the  details. 
That's  what  faith  is,  and  it  shouldn't  seem  so 


ibn 


Messenqer  December  2000 


ND    OUR 


strange  to  us.  We  all  operate  by  faith  a  good  bit 
of  the  time.  Not  just  Mary,  but  every  woman 
ivho  ever  willingly  had  a  child  did  so  without  a 
;omplete  understanding  of  how  her  life  would 
;hange.  All  parents  sign  on  for  an  adventure  that 
A'ill  take  them  places  they  may  never  have 
3lanned  to  go.  People  who  get  married  are  in  the 
same  boat.  When  they  say,  "1  will,"  whether  they 
•ealize  it  or  not  they  are  stating  only  the  first  half 
jf  a  sentence,  the  end  of  which  they  will  discover 
n  the  future.  "I  will  ...move  across  the  country 
vhen  my  spouse  gets  transfered."  "I  will . . .  help 
ake  care  of  my  in-laws  when  they  get  older."  "I 
vill  ...  try  to  be  patient  when  my  spouse  decides 
0  change  careers  in  mid-life."  Whenever  we 
nake  a  new  friend,  or  take  a  new  job,  we  act  in 
aith.  We  make  a  commitment  without  knowing 
ust  what  we  are  getting  ourselves  into. 

One  of  the  consequences  of  faith  is  that 
iOmetimes  we  pass  through  hard  times.  We  are 
ed  by  faith  into  situations  we  otherwise  might 
lave  avoided.  Think  again  of  Mary.  Just  a  week 
ifter  lesus'  birth,  some  strange  man  in  the 
emple  says  to  her,  "And  a  sword  will  pierce  your 
)wn  soul,  too"  (Luke  2:35).  A  couple  of  years 
ater,  Mary  and  her  family  have  to  flee  to  a  for- 
■ign  country  because  Herod  sets  about  killing  all 
he  little  boys  in  the  vicinity  of  Bethlehem.  When 
esus  is  a  teenager,  he  stays  behind  in  lerusalem 
Wthout  telling  his  parents.  As  a  man,  he  gives  up 
lis  trade,  which  may  have  been  Mary's  means  of 
upport,  to  go  out  preaching.  And  as  he 
'reaches,  he  gets  himself  into  trouble,  so  much 
rouble  that  he  winds  up  on  a  cross. 

How  many  times  do  you  suppose  Mary 
ried  out  in  prayer,  "God,  why  are  you  doing 
his  to  me?  Why  are  you  putting  me  through 


this?  God,  1  didn't  know  that  this  was  a  part  of 
what  you  were  asking  me  to  do!  When  1  said 
yes,  I  didn't  know  about  this!" 

Nowhere  in  the  Bible  does  it  ever  say  that 
those  who  have  faith  will  not  have  troubles.  If 
everyone  who  made  a  profession  of  faith  in 
lesus  Christ  never  had  any  trouble  after  that, 
evangelism  would  be  a  snap!  But  that's  not  how 
it  is.  A  profession  of  faith  doesn't  guarantee  a 
life  without  troubles.  Faith  is  a  commitment  to 
follow  God  wherever  God  leads,  and  when  it 
comes  to  guarantees,  there  are  really  only  two. 

The  first  is  that  even  though  God  may  lead 
you  through  some  dark  and  dangerous  places, 
God  will  never  lead  you  astray.  And  the  second 
is  that  God  will  never  abandon  you  along  the 
way.  God  will  always  be  with  you. 

A  colleague  of  mine  gives  this  charge  to  new 
Christians  as  they  come  up  out  of  the  bap- 
tismal waters:  "By  this  act  of  baptism,  we 
welcome  you  to  a  journey  that  will  take  your 
whole  life.  This  isn't  the  end.  It's  the  beginning 
of  God's  experiment  with  your  life.  What  God 
will  make  of  you  we  know  not.  Where  God  will 
take  you  we  cannot  say.  How  God  will  surprise 
you  only  time  will  tell.  But  this  we  do  know — 
God  is  with  you,  now  and  forever." 

Mary  is  a  model  of  faith  for  us  all.  As  again 
we  remember  her  role  in  the  plan  of  God,  let 
us  be  reminded  of  what  faith  really  is.  It  is  not 
having  all  the  answers,  not  avoiding  all  life's 
troubles,  not  just  a  walk  in  the  park.  No, 
faith  is  a  willingness  to  travel  an 
unknown  road  with  a  trusted  friend. 


2S 


How  many  times 
do  you  suppose 
Mary  cried  out  in 
prayer,  "God, 
why  are  you 
doing  this  to  me? 
Why  are  you 
putting  me 
through  this? 
God,  I  didn't 
know  that  this 
was  a  part  of 
what  you  were 
asl<ing  me  to  do! 
When  I  said 
yes,  I  didn't  know 
about  this! " 


James  Benedict  is  pastor  of  the  Union  Bridge  (Md.)  Church  of 
the  Brethren. 


Messenger  December  2000 


EE^ 


Return 
to  Liao  Cnou 


by  Jeff  Bach 


During  research  for  the  article  "Remem- 
bering Brethren  martyrs  in  China" 
(October),  Gene  and  Joe  Wampler  pro- 
vided contacts  with  Rowena  Lee  of  New 
Jersey.  She  is  the  granddaughter  of 
Wang  KueiJung,  one  of  the  martyrs.  Her 
father,  Wang  Bao  Tien,  a  12-year-old  boy 
at  the  time  his  father  was  killed,  has  been 
visiting  her  from  China  and  granted  an 
oral  interview  just  as  the  previous  article 
went  to  press.  This  "revisit"  to  Liao  Chou 
comes  largely  from  that  interview,  plus 
information  which  adult  children  of  the 
American  missionaries  added. 

Wang  Bao  Tien,  a  12-year- 
old  in  1940  who  had  been 
baptized  a  year  or  so  ear- 
lier, took  food  to  his  father  (Wang  Kuei 
lung),  his  uncle  (Wang  Kuei  Lin),  and 
his  cousin  (Wang  Pao  Lo),  who  were  in 
prison.  The  three  prisoners  also  sent 
messages  home  to  their  wives  and  fami- 
lies through  Wang  Bao  Tien.  Often 
these  were  matters  of  family  finances, 
since  the  three  prisoners  expected  to  be 
executed.  Some  of  the  messages  offered 
comfort  and  encouragement.  All  the 
notes  were  lost  during  the  war  years. 

Kuei  lung  and  Kuei  Lin  were  among 
the  earliest  converts  in  Liao  Chou. 
Their  family,  of  a  poor  background, 
had  found  employment  with  the 
Brethren  missionaries.  As  children  they 
had  received  education  in  the  mission 
school,  and  their  children  were  being 
schooled.  In  spite  of  the  suffering, 
Wang  Bao  Tien  and  his  surviving  rela- 
tives held  a  positive  attitude  toward 
their  connections  with  the  Brethren. 
Wang  Bao  Tien  learned  that  in  jail, 


his  father,  uncle,  and  cousin  were 
beaten  daily,  as  were  the  other  prison- 
ers. The  Japanese  officials  wanted 
them  to  admit  to  being  workers  for  the 
Communist  party.  Their  captors  told 
them  plainly  they  would  be  killed 
because  they  associated  with  Ameri- 
cans. Although  the  prisoners  agreed  to 
the  false  charges,  they  knew  that  they 
suffered  because  they  were  Christians, 
trusting  in  and  working  for  Jesus.  True 
to  Brethren  convictions,  they  had 
indeed  cared  for  wounded  Chinese  sol- 
diers and  the  sick  displaced  by  the  war. 
These  Chinese  Christians  were  ready 
to  offer  the  same  care  to  the  Japanese. 

In  prison,  Wang  Bao  Tien's  father 
was  jailed  separately  because  he  was 
considered  a  leader.  Bao  Tien  saw  and 
heard  the  prisoners  pray  together. 
However,  they  were  forbidden  to  have 
Bibles  or  to  sing.  Even  though  he  was  a 
child,  he  sensed  that  his  father,  uncle, 
and  cousin,  along  with  the  others, 
would  eventually  be  killed. 

One  day  Wang  Bao  Tien  discovered 
that  his  father  was  no  longer  in  the  jail. 
Japanese  soldiers  told  him  that  the  pris- 
oners had  been  moved  to  another  city. 
In  fact,  most  of  them  had  already  been 
killed.  A  few  days  later,  some  Chinese 
people  who  saw  the  executions  came  to 
Wang  Bao  Tien's  family,  offering  to  help 
get  the  bodies  back  in  exchange  for 
money.  Because  of  the  war,  the  family 
had  no  money  and  thus  could  not 
recover  the  bodies.  The  witnesses  said 
the  bodies  were  put  into  a  mass  grave, 
"The  Hole  of  10,000  Dead  Bodies."  To 
this  day  Wang  Bao  Tien  does  not  know 
exactly  where  the  mass  grave  is  located. 

The  daughter  of  missionary  Ernest 
Wampler,  Sara,  reported  that  her  father 
told  of  going  to  the  provincial  capital  at 


Wang  Kuei  Jung,  one  of  the  Chinese 
martyrs,  is  pictured  second  from  right. 
He  was  a  teacher,  preacher,  and  father  of 
a  twelve-year-old  boy. 

Taiyuan  to  obtain  a  pardon  from  the 
Japanese  officials.  As  he  walked  back  to 
Liao  Chou,  he  met  a  group  from  there 
about  two  miles  out  of  the  city.  "I  have 
the  pardon,"  he  announced.  The  Chi- 
nese replied,  "They've  been  shot." 

Because  of  the  secrecy  of  the  execu- 
tions and  the  repressive  climate  of  the 
Japanese  occupation,  Wang  Bao  Tien's 
mother  could  not  wear  the  traditional 
black  to  signify  mourning  in  Chinese 
culture.  She  was  so  fearful  that  she  ran 
out  of  Liao  Chou  in  order  to  grieve  in  pri- 
vate. She  was  a  widow  with  four  young 
children.  At  this  point  in  the  interview, 
both  Wang  Bao  Tien  and  his  daughter, 
Rowena,  wept  for  the  deep  sorrow  that 
their  family  experienced  60  years  ago. 

In  the  weeks  after  the  executions, 
missionary  Anna  Hutchison  talked  witl 
some  of  the  Chinese  Brethren  about 
staying  or  leaving.  She  realized  that  tb 
Japanese  wanted  the  Americans  out  of 
the  region.  She  could  do  nothing  more 
to  help  the  Chinese  Christians.  If  she 
stayed,  probably  more  Chinese  would 
be  killed.  The  Chinese  Brethren  sup- 
ported her  decision  to  leave.  She  had 
expressed  a  desire  to  be  buried  in 
China  upon  her  death,  a  wish  that  wen 
unfulfilled  when  she  died  in  Maryland 
in  1959.  Wang  Bao  Tien  went  to  her 


km 


Messenger  December  2000 


grave  during  a  visit  in  1  997  to  pay 
respect  to  her  memory. 

Wang  Bao  Tien's  uncle,  Wang  Kuei 
Lin,  served  as  cook  in  the  women's 
missionary  house  in  Liao  Chou.  He  was 
one  of  the  last  two  Christians  executed 
(Nov.  16,  1940).  Although  he  had  been 
released  from  arrest  earlier,  he  knew, 
like  the  others,  that  he  also  would  be 
killed.  The  family  realized  it  also.  The 
uncle  asked  Wang  Bao  Tien,  as  the 
aldest  surviving  male  of  his  brother's 
family,  to  care  for  the  surviving  widows 
and  children  as  best  he  could. 

After  the  lapanese  withdrew  from 
lorthern  China,  the  Brethren  attempted 
;o  meet  in  small  groups  in  private  homes 


to  pray,  study  the  Bible,  and  worship.  The 
meetings  were  never  public.  After  the 
communist  victory  in  China,  Christian 
worship  was  forbidden,  and  the  Brethren 
disbanded.  No  Christian  presence  carried 
on.  The  hospital  and  school  buildings  of 
the  Liao  Chou  mission  were  bombed  by 
the  Japanese.  The  church  building,  which 
was  constructed  very  well,  still  stands, 
although  it  is  empty  and  now  run  down. 
For  a  time  it  was  used  as  a  grocery  store. 
When  asked  how  he  would  like  read- 
ers to  remember  his  father  and  relatives 
and  the  other  Chinese  Brethren,  Wang 
Bao  Tien  expressed  the  deep  sorrow  and 
misfortune  that  war  brought.  He  still 
holds  good  thoughts  about  the  Ameri- 


cans and  the  church,  and  hopes  that  this 
might  be  a  bridge  for  good  relationships 
between  Chinese  and  US  people,  and 
bring  better  prospects  for  peace. 

The  grief  and  loss  suffered  by  Wang 
Bao  Tien's  family  and  the  other  families 
stand  alongside  the  faith  and  courage 
that  the  13  Brethren  of  Liao  Chou  (now 
Zuo  Xien)  showed.  Bao  Tien's  memo- 
ries are  a  gift  by  which  to  honor  the 
sacrifice  of  the  victims  and  their  sur- 
vivors, and  to  strengthen  faith  in 
Christ  as  witnesses  and  WTM 

peacemakers  in  the  present.  h2 

Jeff  Bach,  of  Richmond,  Ind..  is  associate  professor  of  Brethren 
and  Historical  Studies  at  Bethany  Theological  Seminarv. 


BRETHRENING 


Candy  corn  and  colored  mints 


'Let  me  see  what's  in  here.  Gene."  Preacher  Flory's  plump  fin- 
jers  delved  into  my  shirt  pocket,  wiggled  a  bit,  and  came  out 
jinching  three  grains  of  candy  corn. 

"Well!  What  have  we  here?"  he  beamed  as  he  handed  his 
jurprise  find  to  me.  At  this  point,  his  generous  grin  showed  a 
)old  tooth  or  two.  Sunday  before,  he  found  colored  mints 
liding  magically  in  my  pocket,  but  today's  chewy  candy  corn 
vas  his  specialty.  Whatever,  his  discoveries  were  on  a  par 
vith  Jesus'  loaves  and  fishes  and  a  lot  more  gratifying  at 
welve  o'clock  on  a  Sunday  morning. 

Even  if  he  had  never  found  candy  in  my  pockets,  I'd  have 
nade  sure  to  file  by  Preacher  Flory  at  the  close  of  the  Sunday 
norning  service.  He  teased  me  a  lot  in  a  nice  way.  He  never 
old  me  that  he  liked  me,  but  I  know  he  did.  I  never  told  him  I 
iked  him,  but  he  knew.  It  just  felt  good  to  be  around  Preacher 
•lory,  whose  first  name  was  Charles.  He  pastored  four 
hurches  in  southwestern  Ohio  from  1913  to  1941.  He  was 
lastor  of  my  church,  the  Troy  (Ohio)  Church  of  the  Brethren, 
rom  1932-1941.  He  died  in  1941  at  the  age  of  68. 

In  the  pulpit  he  was  ...well  ...active!  Were  it  proper  to  wager 
1  bag  of  candy  corn  on  Preacher  Flory,  I  would  wager  he  would 
vin  fists  down  in  several  categories  of  preaching  oratory. 

Right  off,  the  pulpit  must  have  been  made  of  two-inch  sold 
lak  or  ironwood  to  withstand  the  pounding  of  his  white-knuck- 
3d  fists  when  spiritual  truths  called  for  emphases.  His  unaided, 
leep  voice,  when  he  turned  on  the  power,  could  have  filled 
'ankee  Stadium.  Translated  to  our  small  church,  seating  capac- 
:y  of  about  100,  there  was  little  slumber  during  sermon  time. 

He  would  have  few  competitors  for  the  intensity  of  blood 


supply  to  his  head  and  neck,  and  no 
one  would  have  lost  more  body 
weight  in  a  20-minute  period.  He 
often  jested  that  not  many  souls 
were  saved  after  20  minutes  of 
preaching.  But  during  that  short 
period  he  was  all-out,  like  a  sprinter 
in  the  100-yard  dash. 

In  his  sermons  he  often  spoke 
of  the  Evil  One,  his  pernicious 
ways,  and  his  overheated  habitat. 
He  made  it  sound  like  an  excellent 

place  to  avoid.  He  talked  of  gOS-  Reverend  Charles  Flory 

sipers,  fornicators  (I  had  no  idea  what  that  meant),  cheats, 
and  liars,  and  made  suggestions  about  how  to  behave  and 
not  behave  in  order  to  establish  a  desirable  residency  in  that 
long  period  of  time  which  he  said  had  no  end.  Some  of  his 
preaching  was  pretty  scary  for  a  young  kid  like  me. 

Most  often  though,  he  spoke  of  Jesus  and  God's  love.  Jesus 
the  peacemaker;  Jesus  who  taught  forgiveness;  Jesus  the  one 
who  taught  the  second-mile  principle;  Jesus  the  storyteller; 
Jesus  who  walked  on  water.  He  was  always  inviting  us  to  follow 
his  Jesus.  I  think  he  wanted  us  to  think,  act,  and  be  like  Him. 

"God  is  love,"  shouted  Preacher  Flory.  "God  is  love,"  he 
whispered.  "God  is  love,"  his  life  proclaimed.  Preacher  Flory's 
love  was  imprinted  on  each  grain  of  candy  corn  and  mints  he 

found  in  my  pocket.— Gene  Palsgrove 

Gene  Palsgrove,  of  Modesto,  Calif.,  is  moderator  of  the  Modesto  Church  of  the  Brethren. 


Messenger  December  2000 


story  and  photography  by  David  Radcliff 


Can  you  pick  a  Christian  out  of  a 
crowd?  Does  something  about  their 
appearance  or  manner — the  clothes 
they  wear,  the  cut  of  their  hair,  the  way  they 
speak — give  them  away? 

In  one  sense  we  should  not  be  able  to  readily 
differentiate  believers  from  the  general  popula- 
tion. Jesus  was  one  who  moved  easily  among 
the  crowd,  mingling  and  mixing  with  persons  of 
many  stripes.  And  there  is  nothing  to  suggest 
that  his  clothing  or  other  outward  condition  set 
him  apart  from  others.  Indeed  it  is  telling  that, 
for  all  the  gospel  writers  recorded  about  Jesus, 

Jesus  could  be  quite  contrary,  resisting  trends  and 

realities  he  saw  as  opposed  to  God's  way.  Indeed,  we 

could  say  that  Jesus  lived  his  life  in  creative  tension 

with  the  prevailing  values  of  his  time,  including  the 

accepted  norms  of  the  religious  community. 

no  mention  is  made  of  his  appearance  or  of 
particular  personal  idiosyncrasies.  Outwardly, 
our  Lord  must  have  been  remarkably  ordinary. 

Yet  Jesus  was  clearly  distinguishable  from 
the  crowd  in  another  sense.  He  could  be  quite 
contrary,  resisting  trends  and  realities  he  saw 
as  opposed  to  God's  way.  Indeed,  we  could  say 
that  Jesus  lived  his  life  in  creative  tension  with 
the  prevailing  values  of  his  time,  including  the 
accepted  norms  of  the  religious  community. 
His  attitude  toward  outsiders,  his  acceptance  of 
women  and  children,  his  understanding  of 
God,  his  perspectives  on  enemies,  sinners,  the 
ill  of  body  or  mind — all  these  set  him  apart.  In 
these  and  other  ways,  he  resisted  many  of  the 
prevailing  tendencies  of  the  society  of  his  day. 
This  is  not  to  say  that  Jesus  in  any  way  despised 
or  disparaged  the  world  around  him.  He  seemed  to 
enjoy  being  with  people,  especially  "worldly"  folks. 


He  referred  to  God's  creation  repeatedly  in  his 
teaching.  And  he  refused  to  remove  his  flock  of  fol- 
lowers from  society  in  search  of  ethical  or  religious 
purity.  He  and  they  were  fully  in  the  world — the 
world  which,  according  to  the  gospel,  God  so  loves. 

Nevertheless,  Jesus  found  himself  resisting 
trends  in  the  world  that  were  destructive  to 
God's  children.  In  some  cases,  he  resisted 
things  we  inflict  upon  ourselves,  such  as  the 
worship  of  money  and  the  spiritual  toll  this 
exacts.  Jesus  also  resisted  portrayals  of  God  thali 
limited  God's  love  to  a  select  company  or  that 
made  God  seem  more  interested  in  rule-keepingi 
than  grace-giving.  Other  points  of  resistance 
involved  the  way  people  treat  one  another.  Jesus 
would  not  tolerate  racism,  sexism,  or  violence 
among  his  followers  or  in  the  world  around  himi 
People  around  Jesus  certainly  noted  his  pecu- 
liar attitudes  and  teachings.  Some  were  excited 
enough  to  leave  everything  to  follow  him  on  this 
path.  Others  were  intrigued  enough  to  climb  a 
tree  or  travel  great  distances  to  get  a  better  look 
Still  others  were  put  off  enough  by  Jesus'  differ- 
ent approach  that  they  conspired  to  kill  him. 
One  thing  was  certain:  his  life  and  his  approach 
to  his  world  could  not  be  easily  ignored. 

Since  Jesus'  time,  the  relationship  of  the 
church  to  the  world  has  taken  many  forms.  Dif 
ferent  segments  of  the  church  have  responded 
to  the  world  in  different  ways,  depending  on 
their  understanding  of  Jesus'  teachings  and  thf 
particular  situation  in  which  they  lived. 

On  the  whole,  however,  I  would  suggest  that 
the  church  has  rarely  been  willing  to  live  in  the 
kind  of  creative  tension  with  the  world  that  char- 
acterized Jesus'  ministry.  Instead,  many 
"mainline"  churches,  and  increasingly  even  thosf 
born  at  the  margins  of  Christendom,  have  becon 
acclimated  to  the  world  around  them  to  the  extei 
that  one  would  be  hard-pressed  to  discern  sub- 
stantial differences  in  attitudes  or  actions. 


km, 


d  temptations,  a  Christian  stands  out  in  a  crowd 


•■'■''mm 


Christians  are  not  instructed  by  Jesus  to  auto- 
natically  reject  or  despise  the  world,  including 
ts  cultural  and  societal  dimensions.  Yet  when 
esus  tells  us  that  we  are  to  be  "salt"  and  "light" 

0  the  world,  there  seems  to  be  an  implicit 
icknowledgment  that  there  will  be  something 
ubstantially  different  about  the  way  we  are  in 
he  world.  Indeed,  according  to  this  teaching, 
he  world  should  be  able  to  look  to  the  Christian 
;ommunity  as  a  beacon  of  another  way  of  living, 

1  way  of  living  contrary  to  prevailing  norms. 

It  is  difficult  for  Christians  or  anyone  to  consis- 
ently  go  against  the  flow  of  popular  opinion  or 
iccepted  mores.  We  all  want  to  be  liked  and 
iffirmed  by  those  around  us,  and  going  against  the 
system"  can  sometimes  lead  to  estrangement  or 
van  evoke  anger.  In  addition,  our  lives  are  bound 
ip  in  the  society,  from  its  economy,  to  its  social 
tructure,  to  its  assumptions  about  morality.  Thus 
0  take  a  different  course  can  sometimes  mean  to 
urn  our  backs  on  things  that  have  become  part  of 
he  fabric  of  our  lives.  And  few  of  us  enjoy  the  iso- 
ating  experience  of  taking  a  minority  viewpoint 
hat  makes  us  appear  quirky,  misguided,  or  worse. 

Being  Brethren  presents  yet  another  hurdle, 
s  we  like  to  be  known  for  being  good  citizens 
nd  cooperative  neighbors.  We  like  to  be  liked; 
ome  of  us  live  to  be  liked.  Yet  whether  we  like 
t  or  not,  the  world  we  live  in — just  as  Jesus' 
/orld — cries  out  for  people  to  resist  the  many 


destructive  dimensions  at  work  in  it  and  to 
point  the  way  to  a  new  day. 

Nonresistance,  rather  than  resistance,  has  been 
more  the  Brethren  way.  Refusing  to  fight.  Declin- 
ing to  retaliate.  Choosing  not  to  litigate.  We  have 
gone  out  of  our  way  to  keep  from  actively  resist- 
ing wrongdoing.  In  most  cases  this  is  a  biblical 
and  appropriate  response  to  wrongs  inflicted 
upon  us  or  even  upon  our  community  of  faith. 

Today,  however,  we,  our  neighbors,  and  our 
neighborhoods  are  subject  to  forces  that  call  for 
resistance  if  we  are  to  live  the  kind  of  lives  God 
intends.  And  many  of  the  wrongs  are  being  done 
not  so  much  against  us  as  against  our  neighbors 
and  our  neighborhood.  Our  neighbors — our 
kindred  near  and  far —  suffer  hunger  and  injus- 
tice, or  the  depersonalization  of  modern  society 
and  enslavement  to  the  consumer  culture.  Our 
neighborhood — God's  good  creation — is  under 
assault  as  never  before  in  history. 

I  have  mentioned  some  of  the  points  at  which 
Jesus  felt  the  need  to  resist  the  flow  of  society. 
Where  are  our  points  of  possible  resistance?  Where 
are  the  places  where  a  Christian  witness  is  needed 
to  restore  our  spirits,  to  renew  our  relationships,  to 
reconnect  us  with  the  goodness  of  God's  earth? 

Depersonalization.  A  friend  was  pleased  to 
be  able  to  conduct  all  his  banking  over  the 
Internet,  noting  that  such  an  arrangement  saves 
time  and  fossil  fuel.  But  is  there  a  hidden  cost? 


We  all  want  to 
be  liked  and 
affirmed  by 
those  around 
us,  and  going 
against  the 
"system"  can 
sometimes 
lead  to 

estrangement 
or  even  evoke 
anger. 


Messenger  December  2000 


Can  we  dare  to 

become  engaged 

with  our  world, 

recovering  a 

sense  of  our  own 

important  role  as 

individuals  and  as 

people  of  faith? 


y 


0 

0 


This  is  one  more  area  of  life  with  the  personal 
dimension  removed  from  it,  reducing  to  a 
string  of  numbers  any  relationship  between  us 
and  our  financial  institution. 

Automation.  While  we  spend  $30  billion  on 
weight  loss  programs  every  year,  Americans  seem 
bent  on  taking  physical  exertion  out  of  even  the 
simplest  tasks.  Will  peeling  a  potato  become  a  lost 
art  in  a  society  that  gets  20  percent  of  its  "veg- 
etable" intake  from  french  fries  and  potato  chips? 
Accumulation.  In  less  than  10  years  our 
estimate  of  the  amount  of  money  needed  to  pro- 
vide us  with  the  "necessities"  of  life  has  doubled. 
So  has  the  amount  of  money  spent  on  each  of  us 
by  advertisers.  From  the  forests  to  the  seas  to  the 
skies,  the  earth  is  paying  a  price  for  our  consum- 
ing ways.  And  still,  just  like  the  litde  band  from 
Liverpool  sang  long  ago,  "Money  can't  buy  me 
love."  We're  no  happier  and  a  lot  more  stressed 
than  we've  ever  been. 

Militarization.  We  spend  $  1 
billion  a  day  on  our  military  while 
letting  our  children  watch  200,000 
acts  of  violence  on  television  before 
they're  18  years  old.  Is  it  any  wonder 
we're  so  quick  to  turn  to  violence  in 
our  foreign  policy  or  on  the  soccer 
field?  High  abortion  rates  and  escalat- 
ing teen  suicide  rates  likewise  testify  to 
the  devaluation  of  human  life. 

Fascination  fueled  by  commer- 
""^    cialization.  We  live  our  lives  through 
the  exploits  of  game  show  contestants,  athletes 
or  other  performers,  and  in  the  process  tolerate  or 
even  glamorize  their  greed,  pride,  or  arrogance. 

insulation.  Workers  in  a  Chinese  fac- 
tory— some  as  young  as  14 — earn  $3  for  a 
16-hour  shift  stuffing  take-home  toys  into 
plastic  bags  for  fast  food  meals.  Meanwhile, 


we  spend  a  billion  dollars  a  day  eating  out.  Is 
there  anything  wrong  with  this  picture?  j 

Over-saturation.  When  I  asked  a  group  of 
pastors  recently  about  the  number  one  challenge  ; 
to  deepening  the  spirituality  of  congregations, 
their  first  response  was:  "Football."  From  cell 
phones  to  sports  schedules,  we  too  seldom  carve 
out  a  sacred  space  for  the  development  of  our 
faith  and  our  commitment  to  the  church. 

If  these  are  some  of  the  areas  where  resis- 
tance may  be  needed,  what  then  is  our  response? 
Here  are  some  possibilities  in  a  world  like  ours. 

Discipline.  Few  of  us  can  just  say  no  to  invi- 
tations to  indulge  our  families  or  ourselves.  While 
our  credit  card  balances  provide  the  empirical  evi- 
dence, the  real  cost  is  to  the  planet  and  to  our 
spiritual  wellness,  as  we  fall  for  the  lie  that  things 
equal  happiness.  Why  not  form  a  group  in  your 
congregation  to  read  a  book  on  simple  living? 

Engagement.  The  entertainment  industry 
constantly  attempts  to  seduce  us  into  living  vic- 
ariously through  others.  Can  we  dare  to 
become  engaged  with  our  world,  recovering  a 
sense  of  our  own  important  role  as  individuals 
and  as  people  of  faith? 

Contemplation.  Perhaps  nothing  is  as 
important — and  as  challenging — in  a  24/7/365- 
world  like  ours  as  creating  the  mental  and 
spiritual  space  to  think  about  ourselves,  our  faith, 
and  our  world.  The  world  doesn't  want  us  to  stop 
and  think  for  fear  that  we  may  realize  the  futility 
of  conformity  or  the  beauty  of  simplicity. 

Redefinition.  Young  people  I  talk  to  can 
quickly  describe  the  "ideal"  teen  as  defined  by 
print  and  video  media.  And  even  though  it's 
hard  for  them  because  of  the  pressure  on  them 
to  conform  to  these  images,  they  can  see 
through  these  false  ideals  and  often  muster  the 
strength  to  reject  them.  Can  we  define  our- 
selves by  our  relationship  with  God  and  the 
quality  of  our  relationships  with  others  and 
with  God's  earth,  rather  than  let  someone  else 
tell  us  who  we  are?  In  a  world  in  which  we  are 
constantly  defined  as  "not  okay,"  this  will  take 
the  kind  of  self-esteem  that  only  an  assurance 
of  God's  love  for  us — as  we  are — can  give. 

Conscious  withdrawal.  It's  hard,  but  we 
can  do  it:  turn  off  the  television,  stay  away  from  thi 
mall,  get  off  the  mailing  list.  We  can  experience  the 
freedom  of  not  being  consumed  with  consumption 

Building  community.  Ironically,  the 
"information  age"  finds  us  less  in  touch  with  our 
neighbors  now  than  at  an  earlier  time  in  history. 
On  an  internafional  scale,  we  know  more  about 
our  world  and  take  more  trips  to  more  places  thar 
ever  before.  Yet  we  turn  a  blind  eye  to  the  grindinj! 


poverty  of  1 .5  billion  of  our  global  neighbors  and 
tolerate  a  massive  and  powerful  military  designed 
to  kill  millions.  It  is  a  radical  thing  to  share  life 
and  share  about  life  with  others  in  our  family, 
church,  and  neighborhood,  while  refusing  to 
accept  national  or  economic  boundaries  separat- 
ing us  from  God's  children  everywhere. 

Gardening.  The  editor  thought  this  was 
wimpy,  but  1  think  it's  essential.  Few  things  are 
as  mentally  therapeutic,  spiritually  renewing, 
nutritionally  rewarding,  or  ecologically  sound 
as  planting  a  vegetable  garden.  If  this  isn't 
possible,  build  a  relationship  with  someone  in 
the  "community-supported  agriculture"  move- 
ment— a  local  person  with  whom  you  can 
contract  to  keep  you  in  fresh  vegetables  much 
oi  the  year.  Seek  other  ways  to  take  small  tasks 
back  into  your  own  hands.  For  instance,  avoid 
automatic  doors,  unnecessary  electronic  appli- 
ances, and  hopping  in  the  car  to  take  a  short 
trip  to  the  store.  There  will  be  environmental 
as  well  as  health  benefits,  and  a  sense  of  recon- 
necting with  the  basic  routines  of  daily  life. 

Granted,  planting  a  garden  may  not  sound 
subversive.  Neither  may  the  other  simple  actions 
and  attitudes  mentioned  above.  But  think  for  a 
minute  of  the  different  life  histories  of  a  potato 
JT  tomato  you  grow  and  these  same  products  as 
they  show  up  at  a  fast  food  restaurant.  The 
amount  of  water,  energy,  and  chemicals  it  takes 
to  grow  them;  how  "imperfect"  samples  are 
dealt  with;  the  different  levels  of  equipment, 
storage  facilities,  packaging,  and  fossil  fuels 
nvolved  in  handling  and  shipping;  the  amount 
af  processing  and  the  way  the  food  is  cooked 
and  the  effect  this  has  on  its  nutritional  content; 
he  packaging  and  advertising  that  are  part  of 
Tiarketing  them  to  the  public;  the  energy  used  in 
3ur  getting  to  the  restaurant;  the  lost  opportu- 
nity for  a  meal  around  the  family  table;  the 
3er-unit  cost  of  the  final  product  (perhaps  10 
inies  more  when  eaten  out),  and  the  steward- 
hip  questions  this  raises.  Suddenly,  to  plant  a 
omato  is  to  make  a  statement!  And  the  end 
)roduct  may  actually  taste  like  its  namesake. 

In  a  world  like  ours,  with  increasing  trends 
oward  conformity,  dehumanization,  and 
lutomation,  these  seemingly  innocuous  deeds 
md  attitudes  are  very-nearly-radical  steps, 
'eople  around  us  will  recognize  them  as 
:ounter-cultural  and  as  marks  of  resistance — 
md  thus  as  signs  of  life  and  hope. 

Indeed  they  can  become  guideposts  for  our 
leighbors.  Many  people  feel  caught  up  in  things 
hey  believe  to  be  beyond  their  control.  They  sense 
hey  are  being  betrayed  by  the  empty  promises  of 


the  world  around  them.  To  know  someone  whose 
love  for  God,  for  others,  and  for  God's  earth  has 
caused  them  to  choose  another  path  may  be  just 
the  sign  of  hope  they  have  needed.  Strengthened 
and  supported,  they  too  may  begin  to  find  the  way 
to  genuine  fullness  of  life. 

"Resist  the  devil  and  he  will  flee  from  you."  I'm 
not  big  on  the  devil,  but  I  note  that  in  this  passage 
of  lames  4  the  writer  equates  the  demonic  with 
our  human  inclination  toward  pride,  greed,  vio- 
lence, and  war.  This  passage  righdy  asserts  that 
these  are  troubling  realities  in  our  world.  They  will 
not  go  away  with  our  wishful  thinking  or  by  simply 
pretending  they  are  not  for  real.  We  must  find 
ways  to  actively  resist  trends  that  are  destructive  to 
God's  people  and  God's  earth. 

And  though  we  sometimes  shy  away  from  out- 
wardly demonstrating  "another  way  of  living," 
we  might  find  that  there  are  those  around  us  who 
would  be  intrigued  and  attracted  to  such  a  wit- 
ness— just  as  people  were  to  our  Lord. 

As  I  walked  down  our  front  hallway  during  a 
break  in  a  Saturday  meeting  at  the  offices  some 
time  back,  I  heard  a  knock  on  the  front  door.  I 
could  see  a  person  through  the  glass  panel,  and 
went  over  to  speak  with  her.  As  we  talked 
through  the  glass — the  door  was  locked — I 
learned  that  she  had  come  to  shop  in  our  SERRV 
shop  which,  unbeknownst  to  her,  had  closed  sev- 
eral months  before.  We  arranged  to  meet  at  the 
back  door,  where  I  gave  her  a  SERRV  catalog. 

She  began  to  inquire  about  our  church, 
saying  that  she  was  attracted  by  our  commit- 
ment to  service  and  hadn't  found  other  churches 
with  similar  principles.  Not  long  after  this,  she 
showed  up  with  her  husband  at  our  congrega- 
tion. They  soon  brought  friends,  and  before  long 
the  whole  bunch  of  them  became  members. 

We  need  not  apologize  for  being  out  of  step 
with  some  aspects  of  modern  life.  Indeed,  as 
we  walk  this  path,  we  are  in  good  company,  as 
it  is  the  path  walked  by  our  Lord  before  us.  We 
will  find  that  our  lives  have  a  new  rhythm,  and 
perhaps  that  our  words  and  ways  are  helping 
make  needed  changes  in  our  world.  And  we 
soon  may  find  ourselves  joined  by  others  who 
have  been  looking  for  just  such  a  group  of 
travelers  that  they  themselves  might  join. 

Even  though  we  may  not  be  readily  identifi- 
able in  a  crowd,  if  we  resist  the  devilish  ways  of 
our  world  it  won't  take  others  long  to  see 
that  God  is  at  work  in  our  lives  in  strange,     WfM 
and  surprisingly  subversive,  ways.  mkM 

David  Radcliff,  a  regular  contributor  to  Messenger,  is  director  of 
Brethren  Witness  for  the  General  Board. 


We  need  not 
apologize  for 
being  out  of  step 
with  some 
aspects  of 
modern  life. 
Indeed,  as  we 
walk  this  path, 
we  are  in  good 
company,  as  it  is 
the  path  walked 
by  our  Lord 
before  us.  We 
will  find  that  our 
lives  have  a  new 
rhythm,  and 
perhaps  that  our 
words  and  ways 
are  helping 
make  needed 
changes  in  our 
world. 


Messenger  December  2000 


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ESSENGER 


1 


[NDEX  2000 


.isted  on  these  pages  are 
irticles,  editorials,  opinions, 
ind  names  of  contributors 
hat  have  appeared  in  IVIes- 
enger  during  2000.  They  are 
lassified  in  four  main 
iroups:  authors,  congrega- 
ions,  names,  and  subjects, 
iumbers  following  the  list- 
ngs  indicate  month  and 
lage  number,  with  1/2  repre- 
enting  the  combined 
anuary/February  issue. 


AUTHORS 
DAMS,  Sandy 

In  Touch 8-5 

LLEY,  Robert 

In  Touch 11-3 

ACH,  Jeff 

Remembering  Brethren  martyrs 

in  China 10-10 

Return  to  Liao  Chou 12-18 

ENEDicT,  James 

Here  am  I:  A  meditation  on  Mary's 
(aithand  ours 12-16 

ERKHEIMER,  RON 

In  Touch 7-4 

ITTINGER,  EMMERT 

A  day  with  the  John  Kline  riders. .11-10 

LAKE,  Robert 

How  churches  can  raise  the  veil 
on  mental  illness 4-12 

LoucH,  Joyce  C. 

In  Touch 19-5 

OLEYN,  Lester 

In  Touch 11-3 

OLEYN,  Esther  Frantz 

When  the  Bible  crashed  into 

Sudan  5-14 

OWERS,  Cindy 

In  Touch 10-4 

owMAN,  Chris 

What  to  do  unto  "others," 10-24 

rumbaugh-Cayford,  Cheryl 

In  Touch 11-5 

aracheo,  Sally  Jo 

Houses  tor  hurricane  refugees 
(Dominican  Republic) 6-15 

assel,  Franklin  K. 

Still  grooving  at  Brethren  Village  .8-19 

ROUSE,  Rebecca  Baile 

A  medical  doctor  with  a  mission. ..4-14 

ouGus,  Chris 

Recommended  reading  for 

spiritual  growth 11-14 

BERLY,  William  R. 

In  Touch 3-4 

DMONDs,  Eddie  H. 

The  children  of  Conference 9-18 

GBERT,  Barbara 

In  Touch 8-3 

rvin,  Tavia 

The  love  connection:  Why  there  are 
Brethren  homes 8-12 

Piecing  the  church  together 
(Annual  Conference) 9-17 


Farrar,  Fletcher 

The  look  of  the  new  Annual 

Conference 1/2-6 

For  the  love  of  Emily  (fyioderator 

Emily  IVIumma) 5-10 

Growing  the  spirit 5-20 

Back  to  work  in  India 8-21 

Ideas  and  eloquence 

(Annual  Conference) 9-20 

Editorial:  Bible  study  and  the 

Kingdom  of  God 1/2-32 

Editorial:  The  people  of  Turning 

Points 3-32 

Editorial:  Living  like  we're  dying. ..4-32 
Editorial:  Springtime  in 

the  neighborhood 5-32 

Editorial:  Forgiveness  isn't  fair. ..6-32 
Editorial:  To  Sam.  on  becoming 

an  Eagle  Scout 7-32 

Editorial:  Let's  talk  about  race. ...8-32 
Editorial:  Steady  until  the 

sunsets 9-32 

Editorial:  Beware  the  politics 

of  God-talk 10-32 

Editorial:  Treasure  hunt 

in  Tijuana 11-36 

Editorial:  Mystery  at 

Seneca  Rocks 12-32 

FiKE,  Melvin  and  Lisa 

In  Touch 9-4 

Flory,  Kendra 

In  Touch 8-5 

The  house  of  heritage  (Brethren 
Historical  Library  and  Archives)  ..9-22 

FouRMAN,  Larry  D. 

A  better  way  to  do  church  business 
(Worshipful-Work) 6-lC 

GiBBLE,  Kenneth  L. 

It  causes  me  to  tremble:  An  Easter 
reflection  on  a  favorite  spiritual. .4-24 

Gish,  Art 

Working  for  peace  in  the 

Holy  Land 7-22 

Golden,  Roger 

A  new  vision  for  senior  services. .8-17 

Groff,  Ken 

In  Touch 3-5 

Gross,  Rachel 

Brethrening:  Directions  and 

connections lC-23 

Grossnickle,  Stephanie 

Youth  share  the  spirit  at 
Shepherd's  Spring 9-8 

Grout,  Paul 

Seven  Symptoms  of  Wellness. ..11-17 

Hammaker,  Eva 

In  Touch 9-5 

Hare,  Bill 

Night  sounds  (Honduras) 7-21 

Henderson,  Sandy 

Come  with  me  to  a  quiet  place 

(retreat  house  at  Camp  IVIack)  ..4-26 

Hershey,  S.  Joan 

In  Touch 6-4 

HoLLiNGER,  Helen  S. 

Wes  Albm-A  walking  partner 4-11 

HORNBACKER,  TARA 

Worshiptul-Work  at  the  seminary  ...6-11 

HOSTETTER,  JULIE 

In  Touch 9-3 

Ivlinisters'  Association  hears 
■Preaching  in  a  Webbed  World'  ...9-14 

Keeney,  Mervin 

Gifts  of  living  water  (One  Great 
Hour  of  Sharing) 3-25 


Keeney,  G.  Martin 

What  churches  can  do  for  the 
depressed 4-10 

Keltner,  Margaret  Hartsock 

In  Touch 7-3 

Kirk,  Edie 

Nurturing  the  ministry  of  Brethren 
homes 8-14 

Krause-Vilmar,  Georg 

(Vlaking  a  difference 10-14 

Laszakovits,  Greg 

Writing  to  death  row  (Death  Row 
Support  Project) 3-10 

Lawrence,  Michael 

Making  a  difference 10-14 

Leiter,  Mike 

A  life  devoted  to  nonviolence 
education 1/2-5 

Lersch,  Phil 

In  Touch 7-4 

Lersch,  Jean 

Brethrening:  Family  values 1/2-25 

LooMis,  Andrew  J. 

Reflections  on  a  Balkan  journey. .3-22 

Matteson,  Erin 

A  solution  for  the  church  bored  ..6-13 

Gifts  make  worship  work:Bringing  God 

close  at  Annual  Conference 9-14 

Mayer,  Robin  Wentworth 

Discovering  a  vision 7-25 

McFadden,  Wendy 

From  the  publisher 1/2-2,  3-2,  4-2, 

5-2,6-2,7-2,8-2,9-2,10-2 

11-2,12-2 

On  the  inward  journey:  New  efforts 
to  foster  spiritual  formation  ....11-12 

McKlBBEN,  Dixie 

Toothless:  A  great-grandchild 
adventure 10-18 

Cheryl  Mishler 

In  Touch 12-5 

Mitchell,  Glenn 

Seven  Symptoms  of  Wellness. ..11-17 

Moerdyk,  Ruth 

In  Touch 8-4 

Morphew,  Beth  Sollenberger 

Finding  God  in  the  everyday 11-24 

Neher,  Ken 

Brethrening:  Clothespin 
memories 10-17 

NoLEN,  Heather 

Say  yes  to  Jubilee  2000 3-15 

Oltman,  Berwyn  L. 

Adventures  with  grandchildren. ..10-18 

Page, M.  Therese 

Flower  power:  Peter  Becker 
Community  draws  thousands  to 
its  annual  bloomfest 8-17 

Palmer,  Anne  E. 

In  Touch 6-5,  12-4 

Palsgrove,  Gene 

Brethrening 12-19 

Pavone,  Laurie 

In  Touch 5-3 

Poling,  Ed 

Annual  Conference  delegates  reflect 
on  changes 9-10 

Radcliff,  David 

Caring  for  creation:  Reflections 
from  a  Faith  Expedition  to 
Central  America 4-19 

J2K:  New  hope,  New  Day:  A  status 
report  on  spirituality  in  action. .11-16 

Resist  the  Devil:  By  bucking  trends 


and  temptations,  a  Christian 
stands  out  in  a  crowd 12-20 

Replogle,  Jim 

In  Touch 12-3 

Reynolds,  Irene  Shull 

In  Touch 5-5 

Rhoades,  Amy 

The  life  of  Haitians  in  the  Dominican 
Republic 4-17 

Rhodes,  Donna 

In  Touch 3-5 

Rieman,  Phil  &  Louie  Baldwin 

In  Touch 10-4 

Roth,  Paul 

Introducing  a  spiritual  presence  to 
Annual  Conference 6-13 

Rover,  Howard  E. 

Celebration  and  struggle 

(National  Council  of  Churches 

assembly) 1/2-17 

In  Touch 5-4 

Honduras:  Empowering  God's 

people 7-12 

Shaffer,  Ken 

Caring  for  our  "mother"  church  ...6-18 

Shetler,  Marcia 

From  Africa  to  Indiana  (Nigerian 
student  at  Bethany) 1/2-20 

Smeltzer,  Ken  Kline 

In  Touch 7-5 

Smith,  Jeanne  Jacobv 

Alexander  Mack  is  back 6-20 

Smyth,  Allan 

In  Touch 3-3 

Sollenberger,  Elaine 

In  Touch 7-4 

Sara  Speicher 

0  troubled  town  of  Bethlehem 12-10 

Sprinkle,  Patti 

Brethrening:  How  a  bike 
averted  disaster 6-22 

TiMMONS,  Glenn 

On  the  cover:  Worshipful-Work 6-1 

Vecchio,  Joe 

In  Touch 8-5 

Waltersdorff,  Christy  J. 

Preach  sisters! 1/2-13 

Wilson,  Sara 

In  Touch 4-3 

Wiltschek,  Walt 

A  different  kind  of  church 

camp 1/2-22 

Celebrating  25  years  of  peacemaking 

(OEPA) 1/2-24 

God's  word  in  Nuer 5-15 

Ministry  of  medicine  (Interchurch 

Medical  Assistance) 5-24 

Hunger  for  justice:  Christian 

Citizenship  Seminar  takes 

youth  to  power 6-23 

Andrew  Young  shares  fond  memories 

of  Camp  fi/lack 7-6 

Camp  changes  lives 7-9 

Raves  for  the  Jubilee  tour 8-11 

The  Brethren  connection 

to  a  saint 10-16 

Catching  the  spirit  for  youth 11-21 

Still  fresh  and  green  (National 

Older  Adult  Conference) 11-28 

Yoder,  Wanda 

In  Touch 11-5 

Young,  David  S. 

Brethren  poised  for  renewal 3-19 

ZuNKEL,  Wayne 

In  Touch 11-4 


CONGREGATIONS 

28tti  Street,  Altoona,  Pa. 1/2-3, 1-7 

Akron,  Pa 10-23 

Ambler,  Pa 9-10 

Antioch,  Rocky  Mount,  Va 9-4, 10-3 

Aughwick-Germany  Valley, 

Stiirleysburg,  Pa 9-11 

Battle  Creek,  Mich 9-17 

Beachdale,  Berlin,  Pa 11-10 

Beaver  Creek,  Knoxville,  Tenn.  ..1/2-5 

Bella  Vista,  Los  Angeles,  Calif 5-6 

Bethel-Keezletown, 

Keezletown,  Va 9-5 

Black  Rock,  Glen  Rock,  Pa 11-30 

Bridgewater,  Va 11-3 

Broadwater,  Essex,  Mo 7-3 

Brook  Park,  Ohio 7-5 

Brothersvalley,  Berlin,  Pa 11-10 

Brownsville,  Md 10-4 

Cando,  N.  D 11-33 

Cedar  Grove,  New  Paris,  Ohio. .9-12 
Central  Evangelical  Korean, 

Los  Angeles,  Calif 4-8 

Ctiambersborg,  Pa 1/2-3, 10-23 

Champaign,  III 11-4 

Chiques,  Manheim,  Pa 3-8 

Collinsville,  Va 8-11 

Crest  Manor, 

South  Bend,  Ind 6-11,10-22 

Curryville,  Pa 3-32,4-5 

Dayton,  Va 3-4 

Denton,  Md 9-11 

Donnels  Creek, 

North  Hampton,  Ohio 5-11 

Dunnings  Creek,  New  Paris,  Pa.  ...7-4 

Dupont,  Ohio 12-5 

Elizabethtown,  Pa.. ..3-18,  4-14, 11-4 

Elkins,  W.Va 1/2-11,12-32 

Ellisforde,  Tonasket,  Wash 10-7 

Elm  Steet,  Lima,  Ohio 1/2-4 

English  Prairie,  Brighton,  Ind.  .11-5 

Ephrata,  Pa 6-4 

Faith,  Batavia,  III 6-12 

First,  Chicago,  III 5-11 

First,  Harrisburg,  Pa 4-7,  4-11 

First,  Mount  Airy,  N.C 10-23 

First,  Phoenix,  Ariz 3-13,  4-7 

First,  St.  Petersburg,  Fla. 

1/2-25,5-11,7-4 

First,  Springfield,  III 9-18 

Franklin  Grove,  III 5-7, 10-21 

Fraternity,  Winston-Salem,  N.C.  ...9-5 

Genesis,  Putney,  Vt 4-1 

Germantown,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

4-7,6-18 

Green  Tree,  Oaks,  Pa 5-5 

Greenville,  Ohio 3-5 

Grossnickle,  Myersville,  Md 9-14 

Hagerstown,  Md.... 1/2-5, 1/2-23,  3-8 

Harrisonburg,  Va 1/2-3 

Hatfield,  Pa 3-20 

Hempfield,  East  Petersburg,  Pa.  ...6-3 


Messenger  December  2000 


IINDEX  2000 


Highland  Avenue,  Elgin,  III. 

6-17,10-1,  12-3 

Hollidaysburg,  Pa. 

1/2-5,  1/2-16,  5-10 

Jackson  Park, 

Jonesborough,  Tenn 1/2-4 

Jeters  Chapel, 

Bedford,  County,  Va 8-4 

Jones  Chapel,  Martinsville,  Va.  ...8-10 

Koinonia,  Grand  Junction,  Colo 8-4 

Kokomo,  Ind 7-26 

La  Porte,  Ind 4-27 

La  Verne,  Calif 4-8,  9-21 

Lafayette,  Ind 4-5 

Lampeter,  Pa 6-4 

Lancaster,  Pa 7-3 

Lebanon,  Pa 1/2-3 

Lincolnshire,  Fort  Wayne,  Ind 6-20 

Linville  Creek,  Broadv»ay,  Va. 

6-4,6-13 

titz.  Pa 6-4 

ttle  Pine,  Ennice,  M.C 1/2-5 

ve  Oak,  Calif 6-5,  6-25,  7-5, 12-4 

ving  Stone,  Cumberland,  Md....ll-3 
Long  Green  Valley,  Glen  Arm,  Md. 

1/2-22,  5-5 

Lynchburg,  Va 9-12 

Mack  Memorial,  Dayton,  Ohio  ...6-8 

Manassas,  Va 1/2-9,  9-11 

Manchester,  North  Manchester,  Ind. 

3-4,5-7,7-8 

Maple  Grove,  Salix,  Pa 11-10 

Marilla,  Mich 3-5 

McPherson,  Kan 5-7,  6-22, 

8-11,9-18 

Mechanicsburg,  Pa 4-3,  9-13 

Memorial,  Martinsburg,  Pa.. ..10-25 

Messiah,  Kansas  City,  Mo 7-3 

Midway,  Lebanon,  Pa 10-5 

Modesto,  Calif 10-23 

Moler  Avenue, 

Martinsburg,  W.  Va 9-19 

Mount  Vernon,  Waynesboro,  Va..3-20 
Mount  Pleasant, 

North  Canton,  Ohio 9-3 

Mountville,  Pa 6-3 

Myerstown,  Pa 10-9 

New  Beginnings, 

Warrensburg,  Mo 1/2-4 

New  Dale,  Lost  River,  W.Va 6-5 

New  Carlisle,  Ohio 3-5 

NewFairview,  YorkPa 6-5 

New  Covenant, 

Columbus,  Ohio 1/2-5 

New  Covenant  Fellowship, 

Gotha,  Fla 10-19 

Oak  Grove,  Roanoke,  Va 4-8 

Oakland,  Gettysburg,  Ohio  ..1/2-21 

Oakton,  Va 10-23 

Olathe,  Kan 6-12 

Osage,  McCune,  Kan 8-3,  9-19 

Palmyra,  Pa 10-23 

Panora,  Iowa 8-3 

Panorama  City,  Calif 4-5 

Panther  Creek,  Adel,  Iowa 8-5 


Peace,  Portland,  Ore 6-5 

Peniel,  Santo  Domingo,  D.R.  ...4-15 
Pine  Creek, 

North  Liberty,  Ind 1/2-28 

Pitsburg,  Arcanum,  Ohio 8-5 

Pittsburgh,  Pa 5-4 

Pleasant  Hill,  Grottoes,  Va 4-29 

Pleasant  Valley, 

Middlebury,  Ind 10-5 

Polo,  III 7-21 

Pomona  Fellowship, 

Pomona,  Calif 8-8 

Prairie  City,  Iowa 9-14 

Prince  of  Peace, 

Kettering,  Ohio 1/2-16 

Prince  of  Peace,  Littleton,  Colo.. .11-5 
Purchase  Line,  Clymer,  Pa.  ...4-4,  9-12 

Pyrmont,  Lafayette,  Ind 4-28 

Riddlesburg,  Pa 4-5 

Ridgely,  Md 4-4 

Ridgeway  Community, 

Harrisburg,  Pa 11-3 

Roanoke  Central,  Roanoke,  Va.  ...7-4 

Roaring  Spring,  Pa 9-12 

Sabetha,  Kan 12-5 

Salisbury,  Meyersdale,  Pa 11-10 

Scalp  Level,  Windber,  Pa 1/2-5 

Sebring,  Fla 1/2-4 

Shalom,  Durham,  N.C 1/2-8 

Sharpsburg,  Md 6-5 

Skyridge,  Kalamazoo,  Mich. 

4-4,8-4,  10-5 

Smith  Mountain  Lake,  Va.  .1/2-16,  5-4 
South  Waterloo,  Waterloo,  Iowa  ...6-7 

Spindale,  N.C 1/2-5 

Spring  Mount,  Warriors  Mark,  Pa.  ..4-4 
Springfield,  Coopersburg,  Pa. ..9-21 
Stone,  Huntingdon,  Pa.  .3-5, 4-13, 4-28 

Stonerstown,  Saxton,  Pa 7-5 

Tire  Hill,  Pa 10-23 

Trinity,  Botetourt  County,  Va. 1/2-3 

Union  Bridge,  Md 5-4,  6-24 

University  Baptist  and  Brethren, 

State  College,  Pa 3-24 

University  Park, 

Hyattsville,  Md 10-15 

Valley  View,  Whittier,  Calif 4-7 

Wabash,  Ind 10-4 

Washington  City, 

Washington,  D.C...6-6, 10-14, 12-4 

Waynesboro,  Pa 3-19,  9-12 

West  Charleston, 

Tipp  City,  Ohio 1/2-21 

West  Goshen,  Goshen,  Ind.  ...4-4,  9-6 

West  York,  York,  Pa 6-28 

Westminster,  Md. 1/2-11,  3-1,  5-25 

Westmont,  Johnstown,  Pa 1/2-5 

Whitestone,  Tonasket,  Wash.. .10-7 
Williamson  Road, 

Roanoke,  Va 9-3,  9-14 

Wilmington,  Del 10-21 

York  Center, 

Lombard,  III 1/2-13, 10-5, 10-21 


NAMES 


Abe,  Steven 1/2-11 

Addison,  Michael 9-7 

Albin,  Joyce 4-11 

Albin,  Wes 4-10,  11 

Archbold,  Phill  Carlos 10-8 

Asiala,  Cindy 3-5 

Aukerman,  Dale 3-12,  4-32 

Aukerman,  Ruth 3-1 

Ault, Molly 7-10 

Bach,  Jeffrey 1/2-10,  10-13 

Bachman,  Martha  Wenger 4-5 

Baker,  Jessica 10-23 

Ball-Miller,  Becky 4-27,  7-6 

Barker,  Joan 8-11 

Barkey,  Ray 11-5 

Barr,  Carolyn 9-18 

Beach,  Martha  R 5-7 

Beckwith,  Jim 7-4 

Bender,  Ann 7-6 

Bernhard,  Fred 8-14 

Bhagat,  Emmanuel  P 8-21 

Bhagat,  Shantilal 8-22 

Bittinger,  Emmert 3-18,  11-11 

Bixler,  Russell 5-4 

Blackwell,  Jane 1/2-5 

Blair, Kathy 1/2-5 

Blake,  Robert 4-12,  7-11 

Blickenstaff,  Delbert 

and  Louise 8-14,  9-17 

Blough,  Roy 5-4 

Boleyn,  Esther 3-6,  5-19 

Boleyn,  Lester 3-6,  5-7,  5-18 

Booz,  Donald  R 5-7 

Bosler,  SueZann 1/2-24,  6-32 

Boucek,  Jeanne  Suellentrop  ...1/2-10 

Bowman,  S.  Loren 8-22 

Bowman,  Stacey 10-23 

Boyer,  Charles 9-21 

Brandt,  Don 4-3 

Brann,  Morton 8-18 

Breckbill,  Anita  Stoltzfus 8-4 

Brown,  Ambrosia 7-7 

Brown,  Ken 4-5 

Brumbaugh,  Arlan  Scott 3-32 

Brumbaugh,  Barbara  Jo 3-32 

Brumbaugh,  Don 3-32 

Brumbaugh,  Harold  B 3-4 

Brunk,  Ron 4-19 

Bucher,  Christina 1/2-11 

Bugu,  Patrick 1/2-20,  9-6 

Burton,  D.  Conrad  and  Marjorie  ....4-5 

Bush, Clyde 4-5 

Cain,  Robert 8-15 

Calderon,  Karen 8-4 

Calvanese,  Lucy 8-1 

Camden,  Marshall 8-7 

Campbell,  Glen 8-22 

Caracheo,  Sally  Jo 6-17 

Carter,  Phyllis 4-27,6-20 

Cason,  Coy 7-5 

Cason,  Jo 7-5 

Cassel,  Franklin 8-19 

Chase,  Bob 8-6 

Christiansen,  Eric 4-5,  5-7 

Chronister,  Karen 9-12 

Clannin,  Lynn 8-9 


Clapp,  Steve 1/2-5 

Cleaver,  Emanuel 1/2-6,  9-16 

Coppock,  Doris 1/2-10 

Crim,  Virginia 8-16 

Grouse,  Gerald 9-21 

Crouse,  Merle  and  Jean 10-18 

Grouse,  Rebecca  Baile 4-18 

Crowell,  Sally  Carlson 9-15 

Crumley,  Patty  and  John 3-9 

Croushorn,  Luke 12-3 

Daniels,  Marta 3-8 

Davis,  Barbara 1/2-21 

Davis,  Linda 9-13 

Delk,  Ed 1/2-10 

Derstine,  Paul 5-24 

Detrick  Ralph 11-4 

Diaz,  Jan 8-11 

Dobberstein,  Peter 8-7 

Doran,  John  12-3 

Dotterer,  Judy 5-4 

Douglas,  Chris 3-8,11-15, 

11-21,  12-3 

Drew,  Norman  and  Margaret  ...8-18 

Drexel,  Katharine 10-16 

Drudge,  Casey 6-20 

Dulabaum,  Nevin 9-7 

Eberly, Chris 4-22 

Edgar,  Robert 1/2-18,  9-20 

Edmonds,  Eddie 9-18 

Egbert,  Vernon  and  Barbara 8-3 

Encarnacion,  Guillermo 4-6 

Engle,  Steve 3-5 

Ervin,Tavia 8-13,9-18 

Eshbach,  Theresa  C 4-5 

Espinoza,  Noemi 7-19,  9-21 

Fahs,  Eldon  "Gene" 6-5 

Fast,  Anita 3-16 

Faus,  Bob 8-6 

Faus,  Nancy 3-7 

Faus,  Sheryl 4-8 

Fecher,  Don 1/2-3 

Fennel,  Joe 6-25 

Fields,  Sue  Wagner 3-17 

Fike,  Earle  and  Jean 6-9,  8-5 

Fike,  JohnT 8-17 

Fike,  Mel 10-3 

Finney,  Ron  and  Harriet 5-7,  9-6 

Firestone,  Reid 9-3 

Flora, Russ 11-4 

Florence,  Angela 4-5 

Flory,  Barbara 9-18 

Flory,  Brian 9-10 

Flory,  Charles 12-19 

Flory,  Kendra 8-6,  9-1,  9-24, 10-22 

Flory,  Lowell 6-9 

Flory,  Wendell 8-22 

Flory-Steury,  Mary  Jo. ..1/2-16,  9-6 

Fogelsanger,  Don 1/2-3 

Font,  Louis 1/2-8 

Foreman,  Jo  Anne 6-24 

Foster,  Richard 1/2-4,5-20 

Fourman,  Larry  D 6-11 

Frantz,  Catherine  Strahn 9-19 

Frantz,  Elmer  and  Dan 11-5 

Frederick,  Stafford 6-12 

Gandy,  Olivia  T 9-17 

Garber,  Nancy 12-3 

Garrett,  Dean 9-10 

Gibble,  Kenneth  L 4-25 


Gibble,  Lamar 8-23 

Gilbert,  Dena 4-8  ■ 

Gilbert,  Noel 4-8^ 

Gilbert,  Sharon 4-8i 

Gish,  Art 7-241 

Glessner,  Lois  Ann lO-Sf 

Godfrey,  Ben 9-14  = 

Golden,  Roger 8-18,  9-7 

Good,  Michael 7-8' 

Good,  Monroe  and  Ada 4-18 

Greenawalt,  Daniel 9-24 

Gregory,  Steve 1/2-11,  10-3  . 

Griffin,  Emilie 5-21  ,| 

Gross,  Bob 10-8  ^ 

Gross,  Rachel 3-10,  10-23  II 

Grossman,  Don 1/2-3  I 

Grout,  Paul 4-1,4-8,  4-32, 

6-8,9-8,9-12,11-17 

Grubb,  Sue 11-9  i 

Gump,  Judy 4-81 

Guynn,  Matt 3-9,  8-8  i 

Haas,  David 1/2-6 

Halterman,  Melvin  W 6-5 

Hammaker,  Eva 9-5 

Hanley,  Rich 11-26 

Hansen,  Allen 4-6,  9-14,  11-8 

Hare,  Bill 7-21 

Hatfield,  Terry 8-3 

Hayes, Guy 1/2-10 

Haynes,  Pete 1/2-22 

Heckman,  Demetra 7-10 

Heishman,  Nancy  and  Irvin 4-11 

Henderson,  Sandy 4-27 

Hendricks,  Rachael  Elizabeth. ..10-5 

Henry,  Jen 9-17 

Hershey,  Rochelle 8-6, 10-21 

Hershey,  S.  Joan 7-26 

Hiatt,  Bobby 10-23 

Hill, Ray 9-11 

Hollinger,  Helen  Stutzman 4-111 

Hollinger,  Karen 9-lli 

Holman,  Craig 1/2-1(1 

Hornbacker,  Tara 6-lli 

Hosteller,  Josih 10-21 

Hostetter,  Julie 9-191 

Hostetter,  Pearl ll-25i 

Houff,  Rebekah 7-10 

House,  Daniel 10-23. 

Hurst,  Tom 1/2-24,  5-7,  6-£ 

Hyde,  Crystal 9-5 

Ilyes,  Charles 9-21 

Ingold,  Roger 5-f 

Inhauser,  Marcos 3-( 

Jehnsen,  David 1/2-5,  6-; 

Jimenez,  Orlando  Antonio 4-: 

Jobe,  Forest 8-lf 

Johnson,  Bob 3-2( 

Jones, Kathi 1/2-! 

Jones,  Kay 8-11 

Jones,  Phil 1/2-1 

Joseph,  Karl 4-21 

Judy,  Roy  and  Jean 

Kachime,  Junko 3- 

Kagarise,  Leon 5- 

Karpenske,  Jack 9-1 

Keeney,  Ben 11-2 

Keeney,  G.  Martin 4-1 

Keeney,  Merv 1/2-20,  3-< 

3-27,  4-6,  7-21,  8-21,  lOH 


1 


Messenger  December  2000 


INDEX  2000 


eim,  George 1/2-10 

Bller,  Arlene  Schlosser 10-5 

Bllerman.  Krlstc 10-9 

snsinger,  Jan 9-19 

Byser,  Judy 4-7 

elfaber,  Alan 9-11 

ester,  Russell 12-5 

ndy,  Cliff 5-7,6-7,7-7 

ngery,  Dennis 12-3 

nsel,  John 4-8 

nzie,Earl 1/2-10 

rk,Edie 8-16 

emm,  Nancy 8-8 

•ause-Vilmar,  Georg 10-15 

■istos,  Megan 9-0 

^erematen,  Richard 6-18 

indis,  Linda 8-20 

iszakovits,  Greg 3-13,  4-7, 

5-7,6-7 

iwrence,  Michael 10-15 

iininger,  Phyllis 7-11 

ilan,  Carol  White 1/2-10 

imieux,  Napoleon 8-12 

immer,  Adam 3-5 

inhart,  Audrey  E 1/2-9 

!w,  Young  June 11-2 

pscomb,  Corinne 6-25 

pton.  Dennis 1/2-8,  6-9 

ttman,  Elsa 4-27 

ing,  Theodore 6-5 

jngenecker,  David 10-9 

)omis,  Andrew  J 3-24 

alone,  Sarah  Q 7-5 

ambula,  Jabani  P 9-4 

artin.  Donna  Ritchey 9-14 

artin-Adkins,  Myra 8-7 

artinez,  Justine 6-25 

ason,  Nancy 8-20 

ason,  Steve 5-9 

atteson,  Erin 6-12 

ayer,  Robin  Wentworth 7-26 

cCauliff,  Linda 1/2-5,4-8 

cCleer,  Daisy 8-12 

cCoy,  Bo 8-3 

cCoy,  Meade  and  Velma 4-3 

cCullough,  John  L 11-8 

cDaniel.  Lucille  and  Alton 4-4 

cDearmon,  Scott 10-22 

cFadden,  Dan 3-8,7-12 

cFadden,  Wendy. ...3-7, 8-10, 11-14 

cKibben,  Dixie 10-18 

etzler,  Harold 7-12 

iller,  Beth 9-12 

iller,  Carol 5-10 

iller,  David 5-7 

iller,  Donald 1/2-4 

iller,  James 3-6 

iller,  Martha  L 6-5 

iller.  Norma 4-27 

iller.  Rex 1/2-23,  9-8 

ishler.  Cheryl 10-3 

itchell,  Belita 9-16 

itchell,  Glenn 11-17 

itchell,  Helen 9-5 

ock,  Ruth  and  Clair 7-4 

ohier,  Harold 3-4 

orphew,  Beth  Sollenberger....ll-27 

orris,  Samantha 4-23 

oyer,  Rita 8-1 


Moyer,  Claude 8-16 

Mumma,  Emily 1/2-16,  5-10,  9-10 

Murphy,  Rita 5-11 

Murray,  Andy 1/2-24,  4-9 

Murray,  Dorothy  G 11-4 

Myer,  James 9-11, 10-8 

Myers,  Carl  and  Doreen 11-28 

Myers,  Donald 6-5 

Naff,  Jerry 5-4,  11-6 

Neff,  Robert  A 4-8,  11-30 

Neher,  Ken 6-7,  10-17 

Nelson,  Marilyn 9-7 

Nichol,  Larry 9-12 

Notfsinger,  Debra 3-7 

Noffsinger,  Jill 10-23 

Noffsinger,  Stan 1/2-9,  11-8 

Nogle,  Joel 9-16 

Nolen,  Wil 10-7 

Nolen,  Heather 3-17 

Olivencia,  Nate 4-8 

Oilman,  Berwyn  L 10-19 

Osborne,  Gary 9-3 

Page,  M.  Therese 8-20 

Palsgrove,  Ed  and  Chris 6-24 

Parker,Don 11-16 

Retry,  Caroll  M 11-27 

Retry,  Larry 3-3 

Retry,  Margie 1/2-10,  7-6,  8-5 

Petty,  Marie 7-3 

Phillips,  Violet 9-5 

Pittman,  Marianne 4-8,  11-6 

Poling,  Edward 9-13 

Portela,  Beth 3-12 

Powers,  F.  Willard 3-4 

Pratt,  Mary  Elizabeth 6-5 

Puffenberger,  Bill 7-3 

Race,  Denise 1/2-10 

Radcliff,  David 6-24,  7-1,  7-3, 

7-12,11-16 

Ragnjiya,  Toma 12-6 

Reed,  Virginia  Cunningham 7-5 

Regier,  Rosella  Wiens 8-10 

Reimer,  Judy  Mills 1/2-16,  4-6, 

6-5,7-10,9-6,9-20,  12-6 

Reinacher,  Peggy 4-2 

Remnant,  Kelly 11-3 

Rensberger,  Dan 9-13 

Replogle,  Shawn 6-7 

Reyes,  Sebastian 4-6 

Reyes,  David 9-14 

Rhoades,  Amy 1/2-3,  4-17 

Rhodes,  Beth 8-6,  10-21 

Rhudy,  Curtis 1/2-5 

Ricardo,  Hildas 4-14 

Richard,  Wesley  and  Sue 1/2-4 

Richer,  Linda 8-4 

Rittenhouse,  David 10-8 

Rogers,  David  L 4-8 

Romero,  Gilbert 5-6,  6-7,  9-14 

Ronk,  Patricia 4-8 

Ross,  Jimmy 4-8, 11-29 

Roth, Paul 6-13 

Royer,  Daniel 8-7,  9-9 

Ruun,  Haruun 9-32 

Satterlee,  Alma 8-15 

Satvedi,  Violet  Anet 3-4 

Sayler,  Barbara 10-8 

Schaudel,  Stephanie 7-3 

Schrock,  Jan  West 11-5 


Schrock,  Roger 8-24 

Sewell,  Ernie 4-7 

Shaffer,  Ken 6-19,9-23 

Shank,  Mary  Jacoby 6-21 

Shankster,  Owen 11-4 

Shartner,  Ellen 11-21 

Sheller,  Meghan 8-7 

Shetler,  David 1/2-220 

Shively,  Jonathan 3-7,  8-8 

Shriver,  Ron 6-24 

Shumate,  Donna 1/2-5 

Sisco,  Richard 10-20 

Sloan,  Mark 4-8 

Smeltzer,  Ken  Kline 10-6 

Smith,  Allan  and  Vercey 1/2-3 

Smith,  Jeanne  Jacoby 6-21 

Smith, Sid 1/2-10 

Snyder,  Leonard  and  Mable 8-5 

Sollenberger,  David. ...3-6,  3-8, 11-30 

Spire,  Ron  and  Shirley 10-9 

Sprinkle,  Patti 6-22 

Starkey,  Patrick 1/2-21 

Steiner,  Duane 1/2-6 

Stephey,  Dion 10-23 

Stern,  Mike  and  Katie 10-6 

Stiles,  Robert 4-23 

Stocksdale,  Paul  and  Cynthia  ...4-2, 

7-2,9-1 

Stoddart,  Tracy 7-10,  11-9 

Stoltzfus,  Joyce 11-4 

Sweitzer,  Erica 4-5 

Termkunanon,  Orapan 3-5 

Thakor,  Ernest 8-24 

Thomas,  Chet 7-12 

Thompson,  Jan 12-7 

Timmons,  Glenn 6-1, 11-12 

Tomlonson,  John  and  Veva 10-5 

Townsend,  Frances 10-6 

Traughber,  Earl 11-6 

Trausch,  Laura 8-8 

Troeger,  Thomas 1/2-6,  9-14 

Tutu,  Desmond 5-8 

Tyler,  Rick 1/2-10 

Ullery,  Catherine 9-12 

Ulrich,  Dale  and  Claire 1/2-21 

Utz,  Harley  and  Sylvia 8-5 

Van  Meter,  Tim 5-7 

Wade, Clinton 5-4 

Wagner,  Miriam  Longenecker....5-3 

Walker,  Jerry 8-15 

Walker,  Lydia 1/2-9, 1/2-27 

Waltersdorff,  Christy 7-7,  8-24, 

10-21 

Wampler,  Guy  Jr 6-9 

Westfall,  Randall 10-21 

Wicks,  Dale  and  Ruth 8-5 

Williams,  Ashley  and  Amy 10-4 

Williams,  Flora 4-5 

Wiltschek,  Walt 1/2-11,  4-2 

Wine, David 9-7 

Witter,  Ruby 11-28 

Wooten,  Eddie 1/2-5 

Wright,  Lani 3-7 

Vaconelli,  Mark 3-8 

Yelinek,  Prue 11-26 

Yoder,  Marisa 4-21 

Yoder,  Randy 5-11 

York,  Verle  and  Eva 8-5 

Yost.Kelsey 11-3 


Young,  Andrew 1/2-10,  7-6 

Young,  David  S 3-20,  5-20 

Ziegler,  Earl 6-4 

SUBJECTS 


Anniversaries,  church 4-4,  6-5, 

7-4,9-5,10-5,11-4 

Annual  Conference 1/2-6,  3-7, 

4-8,5-10,6-13,9-10,  10-9 

Archives 9-22 

Association  of  Brethren  Caregivers 

5-9,6-9,  12-7 

Balkans 3-22 

Belize 4-19 

Bethany  Theological  Seminary 

1/2-10,1/2-16,  1/2-20, 

6-9,6-11,8-9 

Bible 5-14,12-16 

Bible  study 1/2-32,3-5 

Boy  Scouts 7-32, 10-26 

Brazil 3-6 

Brethren  Volunteer  Service  ..1/2-9, 

1/2-11,3-7,8-5,9-5, 

11-9,  11-36 

Brethren  Revival  Fellowship 6-3, 

9-21,10-8,11-6 

Brethren  Historical  Library  and 

Archives 9-22 

Brethren  Colleges  Abroad  ..3-8,  9-9 

Brethren  Benefit  Trust 7-7,  10-7 

Brethren  Service  Center. ..8-6,  11-8 

Camp  Mack 4-26 

Camps,  camping 1/2-22,  4-26, 

7-6,7-9,8-9,10-3,10-17 

Childcare,  disaster 1/2-26,  4-8 

China 10-10,  12-18 

Chinese  Brethren 10-10,  12-18 

Christian  Citizenship  Seminar. ...6-23 

Church  planting 11-6 

Civil  rights 4-5 

Cross-Cultural  Ministries  Team....6-8 
Death  penalty 3-10,  5-30, 

7-29,8-28 

Death  Row  Support  Project 3-10 

Death 4-32 

Debt  relief 3-14,6-6 

Depression 4-10 

Dominican  Republic 4-6,  4-14, 

6-14,11-4,11-7 

Easter 4-24 

Elizabethtown  College 9-9 

Emergency  Disaster  Fund 1/2-9, 

3-6,4-9,5-7,6-9 

Environment 4-19,  5-9 

Evangelism  ...7-25,  10-2,  11-33,  34 

Family 1/2-25,  10-18 

Fellowship  of  Brethren  Homes. .8-8, 

8-17 

Forgiveness 6-32,  8-28 

General  Board 4-7,  5-2,  5-6, 

9-6,9-20,12-6 

Germantown  Trust 6-18 

Global  Food  Crisis  Fund 5-7,  6-9 


Grandchildren 10-18 

Guatemala 4-19 

Habitat  for  Humanity 3-4 

Haiti 4-17 

Hebron 7-22 

Homes  and  retirement 

communities 8-8,  8-12, 10-27 

Honduras 7-12,  8-7,  9-21 

Hymnal 3-7 

India 8-21,10-7,  10-8,12-8 

Iraq 7-3 

Israel 12-10 

Japan 3-3 

John  Kline 11-10 

Jubilee  2000 3-14 

Juniata  College 3-8 

Kosovo 3-22 

Leadership 1/2-11,6-8 

Love  feast 6-1 

Mack,  Alexander 6-20 

Manchester  College 7-8 

McPherson  College 1/2-10 

Medicine 5-24,4-14 

Membership 7-7,  7-24 

Mental  illness 4-10,6-27 

Middle  East 7-22 

Military 1/2-8 

Ministry  Summer  Service. ...8-6, 10-20 
Ministry 1/2-12-16,4-6, 

4-29,8-6,10-20 

National  Older  Adult  Conference 

4-8,11-28 

National  Council  of  Churches  ...1/2-17 

Nicaragua 7-3,  9-7 

Nigeria 1/2-20,  5-8,  5-28,  9-4,  9-6 

Nonviolence 6-4,  10-9 

On  Earth  Peace  Assembly  ...1/2-24, 

5-9,9-8,10-8,12-8 

One  Great  Hour  of  Sharing 3-25 

Palestinians 12-10 

Peace 12-20 

Pension  plan 1/2-3 

Politics 10-32, 12-20 

Race  relations 4-4, 8-32, 9-3, 10-29 

Renewal 3-18,7-27 

Resurrection 4-1 

Servant  leadership 3-19 

Shepherd's  Spring 1/2-22,  6-29 

Song  and  Story  Fest 10-8 

Spirituality 1/2-4,  3-8,  3-18,  4-24, 

4-26,  5-20,  9-3, 11-2, 11-12 

Sudan 3-6,  5-14,  7-8,  9-32, 11-33 

Sunday  school 8-10 

Tijuana,  Mexico 11-36 

Vieques,  Puerto  Rico 5-7,  6-7,  7-7 

Violence 1/2-3,  5-8 

Women 1/2-12-16 

Worshipful-Work 1/2-5,  6-1, 

6-10,9-11,11-16 

Young  adults 3-9,  5-9,  8-8 

Youth 5-9,6-7,6-8,6-23, 

9-8,11-8,11-21,12-: 


Messenger  December  2000 


LETTERS 


^^  I  think  most  Brethren  would  agree 
that  we  do  have  sonnething  special  to 
offer  to  people  searching  for  nneaning  and 
purpose  in  an  increasmgly  hedonistic  and 
materialistic  society. 


## 


Evangelism:  Off  the  hook 

I  found  Wendy  McFadden's  October 
column  of  real  interest,  and  I  agreed 
with  most  of  it.  She  expressed  the 
ambivalence  of  the  Brethren  toward 
evangelism  quite  well,  and  her  view 
that  "evangelism  isn't  in  the  Brethren 
DNA"  is  a  good  one. 

But  she  lets  the  Brethren  off  too 
easily.  Past  failures  are  no  excuse  for 
present  and  future  negligence.  Every 


denomination  has  diversity,  but  we  need 
not  use  that  as  an  excuse  to  do  nothing. 

She  speaks  of  a  "form  of  evangelism 
that  unifies  rather  than  divides  us." 
Brethren  love  to  be  intellectual  and 
theological,  and  the  church  seems 
more  concerned  about  what  it  means 
to  "be  Brethren"  than  what  it  means  to 
be  a  Christian. 

There  are  plenty  of  models  out  there 
for  proclaiming  the  word  of  God,  and 
what  the  church  needs  to  do  is  choose 


fBrethrenPress    com 

This  day.  24  hours  a  day. 


one  and  try,  then  choose  another  and 
try,  and  keep  trying.  Hospitality  and 
relationship  are  aspects  of  evangelism, 
but  it  is  not  where  the  hard  work  is 
done.  Unhappily,  you  give  every  con- 
gregation something  to  justify  their 
inaction  and  indifference.  Brethren  can 
sit  back  and  talk  about  hospitality  and 
relationship,  but  they  need  to  put  their 
shoulder  to  the  plow  if  they  are  to  see 
any  crops  from  the  field  of  outreach.  O 
they  can  accept  their  fate  as  an  increas, 
ingly  marginalized  church,  living  on 
past  successes,  self-absorbed,  and 
diminishing  in  influence  and  numbers 

Brethren  will  continue  to  toss  aroundl 
the  "concept"  of  evangelism  at 
meetings  and  Annual  Conferences, 
intellectualize  it  to  death,  and  do  noth- 
ing. That  is  not  my  idea  of  the  Christian 
faith,  of  the  church  alive,  of  even  disci- 
pleship. 

Ron  Keenii 
Gilbert,  Ari 


Evangelism:  Hit  the  nai 


I'm  writing  to  say  Wendy  McFadden's 
column  on  evangelism  in  the  October 
issue  really  hit  the  nail  on  the  head.  I'v 
never  even  envisioned  it  being  said 
better.  Thank  you  for  so  expressing  it 
and  being  enough  years  as  a  Brethren 
to  be  in  a  position  to  voice  the  view. 

B.J.  Murdoiij 

Fort  Dodge, 


Evangelism:  We  don't  invite 

Wendy  McFadden's  words  in  the  | 

October  issue  were  both  insightful  anc| 
revealingly  truthful  on  Brethren  and 
evangelism.  Having  spent  28  years  as 
founding  pastor  in  two  new  church       ; 
starts  in  Drexel  Hill,  Pa.,  in  1953,  and 
Cape  Coral,  Fla.,  in  1976,  I  can  speak     | 
from  some  of  my  own  personal  strug-| 
gles  as  we  worked  at  evangelism  in      | 
those  two  distinctly  different  settings.] 
seems,  as  you  suggest,  that  "it's  as  if  i 


3  Messenger  December  2000 


LETTERS 


^^  Unhappily,  you  give  every  congregation 

something  to  justify  their  inaction  and 

indifference.  Brethren  can  sit  back  and  talk 

about  hospitality  and  relationship,  but  they  need 

to  put  their  shoulder  to  the  plow  if  they  are  to 

see  any  crops  fronn  the  field  of  outreach.  " 


vangelism  isn't  in  the  Brethren  DNA." 

'hat  was  my  feeling  exactly.  We 

eemed  to  feel  more  comfortable  giving 

ssistance  to  persons  who  were  hurt- 

ng,  and  stopping  there.  So  often  I 

Dund  myself,  and  most  in  those  con- 

regations,  being  "reluctant 

vangelists,"  being  unwilling  to  talk 

bout  the  Christ  who  motivated  us  to  do 

he  good  things  we  did.  We  really  were 

ot,  most  of  the  time,  invitational,  invit- 

ig  some  of  those  same  persons  to 

ecome  followers  of  Jesus  Christ! 

I  think  most  Brethren  would  agree 

Tat  we  do  have  something  special  to 

ffer  to  people  searching  for  meaning 

nd  purpose  in  an  increasingly  hedonis- 

c  and  materialistic  society.  But  how  do 

/e  get  out  the  word?  Therein  do  we 

ave  great  disagreement.  But  get  out 

ine  word  we  must,  if  we  are  to  be  faith- 

■j|  to  our  Lord  and  our  early  Brethren 

ioneers,  who  at  great  personal  sacri- 

ce  but  deep  commitment  to  the  Great 

»ommission,  went  to  China,  Africa, 

I 

;idia,  Ecuador,  and  other  places,  to 

[hare  the  Good  News  of  Jesus  Christ. 

I  "Do  the  Brethren  really  want  to  do 

Ivangelism?"  Wendy  asks.  I  wonder 

i/hat  would  happen  if  130,000  Brethren 

esponded  with  a  resounding  "YES!" 

Ve  might  actually  have  a  revival! 

Donald  H.  Shank,  pastor 

Highland  Avenue  Church  of  the  Brethren 
Elgin.  IIL 


Evangelism:  Teach  Jesus 

he  publisher  has  some  interesting 
nsights  on  evangelism,  but  few 


answers.  To  say  evangelism  "isn't  in  the 
Brethren  DNA"  may  mean  that  in  all 
reality  it's  more  important  to  teach 
Brethren  heritage,  protocol,  beliefs,  and 
practices  than  to  teach  Jesus.  We  look 
for  a  program  or  technique  that  pleases 
everyone,  and  not  finding  it  we  pro- 
claim it  must  not  be  God's  will.  So  let's 
have  a  sale  and  raise  money,  let's  start  a 
credit  union,  let's  send  out  a  mission- 
ary, anything  but  telling  my  neighbor 
about  Jesus. 

True,  "hospitality  and  relationship"  are 
key  aspects  of  church  growth,  but  one 
can  find  them  at  the  corner  pub  or  local 
deli,  and  often  find  them  with  more  glee 
and  acceptance  than  the  local  church. 

The  answer  is  found  in  the  heart  of  the 
shepherd.  When  the  shepherd  has  the 
heart  for  the  lost  sheep,  he  diligently 
teaches  his  flock  to  reach  out.  He  sets 
the  atmosphere  for  growth  by  the  soul 
love  he  himself  is  experiencing  from  his 
Master.  We  can  blame  the  building,  the 
age  of  the  saints,  the  denomination,  etc. 
But  if  the  shepherd  is  slinging  rocks, 
death  is  more  likely  than  life.  As  he 
allows  his  flock  to  know  they  are  loved, 
cared  for,  and  nurtured,  they  want  to  tell 
others  about  this  Jesus  fellow  that  their 
pastor  is  showing  them  about. 

Perhaps  the  time  is  at  hand  to  lay 
down  our  programs  and  send  all  the 
wasted  money  instead  to  help  those 
who  need  Jesus.  We  need  to  quit  being 
so  busy  being  someone  in  a  faceless 
world,  and  use  the  time  to  talk  to  some 
about  our  Lord. 

Jim  Powers,  pastor 

Osceola  Church  of  the  Brethren 

Osceola,  Mo. 


Evangelism:  Renounce  it 

Although  I  have  not  been  a  member  of 
the  Church  of  the  Brethren  for  30  years, 
my  parents  still  subscribe  to  Messenger 
for  me  and  I  read  it  with  interest.  I  am 
writing  because  of  Wendy  McFadden's 
October  article  on  evangelism. 

What  disappoints  me  most  in  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren  is  the  absence  of 
a  contemplative  tradition.  There  is  no 
instruction  in  meditation  or  emphasis 
on  personal  spiritual  development.  Cur- 
rently I  find  spiritual  fulfillment  as  a  Zen 
Buddhist  and  I  am  training  to  be  a 
priest. 

Meditation  does  not  devalue  service, 
but  is  a  good  way  to  better  develop  the 
compassionate  wisdom  to  be  serviceful. 
It  also  helps  a  person  to  drop  the  barri- 
ers that  perpetuate  a  sense  of  me  /  you, 
which  brings  me  to  my  main  point. 
Evangelism  is  not  service.  It  implies  an 
arrogance  toward  your  neighbor,  "I 
know  what  is  best  for  you,"  and  it 
exhibits  a  lack  of  trust.  It  brings  up  the 
subject  of  faith.  People  who  are  not 
well-grounded  in  an  abiding  faith  look 
outside  of  themselves  to  find  fulfill- 
ment. This  often  takes  the  form  of 
evangelism. 

There  are  two  Zen  phrases  that  come 
to  mind.  One  is,  "Trust  in  the  unknown." 
The  second  is,  "Not  knowing  is  most 
intimate."  I  will  not  comment  on  these. 
They  speak  for  themselves. 

There  is  much  that  is  good  about  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren:  service,  com- 
munity, and  opposition  to  war.  If, 
however,  the  church  wants  to  reinvigo- 
rate  its  membership,  I  hope  it  will 
renounce  evangelism  and  seek  more 
real,  fulfilling  ways,  such  as  meditation. 


Terry  Rothrock 

Yucca  Valley.  Calif. 


Displaced  Brethren  needs  a  home 

I  am  a  displaced  Brethren,  about  35  to 
40  miles  from  a  Church  of  the 
Brethren  congregation.  In  the  past. 


Messenger  December  2000 


LETTERS 


I  have  been  very  active  in  botti  local 
churches  and  the  Southern  Plains  Dis- 
trict. Since  moving  to  Tulsa,  I  have 
been  feeling  so  alone.  I  have  not  been 
able  to  go  to  the  nearest  church 
because  of  health  reasons,  but  I  feel 
so  incomplete.  I  have  always  taught 
Sunday  school,  churned  out  a 
newsletter,  and  even  filled  in  at  the 
pulpit  when  necessary.  I  have  written 
since  I  was  a  preteen,  but  at  this  time, 
I  seem  to  have  no  outlet. 

This  really  isn't  a  pity  letter.  I  just 
want  to  know  how  I  can  feel  useful  to 
the  denomination  again.  I  serve  the 
Lord,  but  I  want  to  serve  in  the 
church,  also.  To  become  connected 
again,  atthistime  in  my  life,  would  be 
wonderful.  Can  you  advise  me  on 
what  to  do? 

Susan  Johnson 
Kiefer,  Okia 

dotnsue@aol.com 


^^  Whenever  I  hear  the  name  Brethren 

whether  it  be  connected  to  our  church  or  if 

song  or  other  reference,  it  conveys  a  nneaninc: 

of  a  group  of  people  coming  together  with  c\ 

common  purpose.  And  our  purpose  asi 

Brethren  is  to  live,  love,  and  serve  the  way 

the  Lord  has  commanded  us  to.^^' 


Like  the  name  Brethren 

I  guess  I  might  be  in  the  minority  but  I 
happen  to  like  and  embrace  the  name 
Church  of  the  Brethren.  Even  though 
the  Webster  dictionary  does  refer  to  it 
as  meaning  "a  group  of  men,"  it  has 
never  given  me  that  impression.  When- 
ever I  hear  the  name  Brethren,  whether 
it  be  connected  to  our  church  or  in  song 
or  other  reference,  it  conveys  a  mean- 
ing of  a  group  of  people  coming 
together  with  a  common  purpose.  And 
our  purpose  as  Brethren  is  to  live,  love. 


and  serve  the  way  the  Lord  has  com- 
manded us  to. 

When  I  first  came  to  the  Manassas 
Church  of  the  Brethren  19  years  ago, 
one  ofthethings  I  liked  was  the  name. 
It  portrayed  to  me  a  group  of  people 
that  felt  a  deep  commitment  to  Christ 
and  to  His  people.  My  husband  and  I 
have  raised  our  two  children  to  be 
Brethren  and  I  am  proud  when  I  tell 
people  I  belong  to  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren. 

Susan  C.  Harris 

Manassas  Church  of  the  Brethre' 
Manassas,  Vjt 


CLASSIFIEDi 


Chaplain  and  Director  of  Religious  Life: 

Department  of  College  Life— Elizabethtown  Col- 
lege invites  applications  and  nominations  for  the 
position  of  Chaplain  and  Director  of  Religious 
Life.  This  is  a  full-time,  10-month  position. 
Master's  degree  and/or  Seminary  training 
required;  terminal  degree  desirable.  Position 
available  8/01/01.  For  detailed  information  of 
responsibilities  and  instructions  to  apply  visit 
our  website,  www.etown.edu/humanre- 
sources/opportunities.htm.  Nancy  Florey,  Director 
of  Human  Resources,  Elizabethtown  College,  One 
Alpha  Drive,  Elizabethtown,  PA  17022. 

Christian  Family  Practice  group  is  seeking  a 
family  physician  and/or  a  physician  exten- 
der (PA-C  or  RN-FNP)  to  join  our  growing 
practice.  We  are  located  in  North  Central  Indi- 
ana, near  Goshen.  We  provide  obstetrics  with 
many  deliveries  done  at  an  Amish  Birthing  Center 
near  Shipshewana.  Opportunities  for  short-  or 
long-term  missions.  Independently  owned  (six 
physicians  &  one  PA)  and  committed  to  remain- 
ing sensitive  to  the  needs  of  the  local  community. 
Option  to  buy  in.  Contact  Steve  Wendler,  Admin- 
istrator, at  Middlebury  Family  Physicians,  PO  Box 
459,  [Vliddlebury,  IN  46540.  Day  telephone:  219- 
825-2900  Evening:  219-825-7506. 

Messenger  December  2000 


Executive  Director  for  COBYS  Family  Services, 

an  agency  of  the  Atlantic  Northeast  District.  Pro- 
grams include  Foster  Care,  Adoption,  Teen  Mother 
and  Child  Group  Home,  Counseling  and  Parent  Edu- 
cation. Graduate  degree  required;  MSW  preferred. 
Should  have  experience  in  the  human  service  set- 
ting. Supervisory  and/or  administrative  experience 
required.  Send  resume  by  December  31,  2000  to 
Search  committee,  COBYS  Family  Services,  1417 
Oregon  Road,  Leola,  PA  17540. 

Job  announcement.  Iowa  Peace  Network,  a  peace 
and  justice  organization  affiliated  with  the  Brethren, 
Mennonite,  Quaker  and  United  Methodist  churches, 
is  seeking  a  full-time  coordinator  Responsibilities 
include  publishing  Dovetail  newsletter,  program- 
ming, networking,  and  administration/fund-raising. 
Salary:  $15,600  per  year,  plus  a  modest  health 
stipend.  EOE  Job-sharing  couples  are  encouraged 
to  apply.  Direct  inquires  to:  Search  Committee  Russ 
Leckband,  1916  Bear  Creek  Road,  Earlham,  lA  50072. 
Applications  due:  November  27,  2000  or  until  posi- 
tion is  filled. 

Travel  with  a  purpose— TWO  TOURS.  (1) 
"CRADLE  OF  CIVILIZATION"  Featuring-Cross- 
ing  the  Red  Sea,  St.  Catherine  Monastery  on  Mt. 
Sinai,  Petra  and  the  Holy  Land.  March  16-29, 2001. 


(2)  "ROYAL  HOLIDAY"  Featuring-The  Britis' 
Isles.  Visiting:  England,  Scotland,  Wales  and  Ire 
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TURNING  POINTS 


This  monlh's  Turning  Points 
includes  all  listings  received  prior  to 
W/2J/00  not  previously  published 

New  members 

\mblcr,  I'a,:  Luke  Buucrlcin. 
llvii  Kononchuk 

\nlioch,  Rocky  Mouni,  Va.: 
IclT  Callahan.  Rochellc 
Callahan 

icihany.  Greenwood,  Del.: 
Iud>  Nalley.  .'\my  \o  Roborls. 
K\lc  Roberts.  |acob  Hochst- 
cdler.  lonas  Hochsledler. 
Raehel  Maczis.  Garrett 
Slater,  Andrew  Layton.  Lori 
Williams.  Mike  Massey. 
Mary  Massey 

irandls.  Saint  Thomas,  Pa.: 
Lynn  Frey.  Mike  Heckman. 
Benjamin  Hostetter,  Candy 
McCauley.  loshuah 
McCauley.  Cody  Rhodes. 
Dar\\in  Grove 

troadfording.  Hagerstown. 
Md.:  Tcrrv  Ballam.  loan 
Ballani.  Ke\in  Ballam.  Dale 
Binklev,  Rebecca  Burkett. 
Ph\  His  Carter.  Betty 
Courscv.  RaeAnn  Ebersolc. 
Kyle  Gi^aybill.  Debra  High. 
Kirk  Mullenix.  Tammy 
Poper.  Philena  Powell'.  Sally 
Stephen 

Iroadwaler.  Essex.  Mo.:  Cvn- 
thia  Sanders,  Cliff  lollifi',' 
Charlotte  lolliff 

!!abool.  Mo.:  Roger  Schrock. 
Carolyn  Schrock.  Arnold 
Larson.  Russelle  Rust, 
lammie  Russell.  Lynn 
Larson. 

enlraL  Roanoke.  Va.:  Taylor 
Bryant.  Wendy  Bryant,  Tommy 
Bryant,  Ir.,  Brianna  Gallatin. 
Harry  Gallatin.  Taylor  Corn- 
wall. Dana  lamison 

'hiqucs.  Manheim.  Pa.:  Natsha 
Shenk.  Karen  Weatherbie. 
Chris  Weatherbie.  Marian 
Brandt,  lamie  Shaffer.  Dave 
Grolf.  Rosene  Groff.  lohn 
Hampton.  Tracy  Hampton. 
Ion  Slothour.  lerry  Long, 
lason  Sauder.  lessica 
Saudcr,  Charis  Haldeman. 
Zachary  Hosier,  .Ashley  Krei- 
der.  Zachary  Nowland 
ovcniry.  Pottstown.  Pa.:  Beth 
Bush.' Ashley  Randle 

)upont.  Ohio:  Mark  Webb,  leff 
Prowant.  Kelli  Prowant, 
loEllen  Fickel,  Don  McK- 
ibben.  lean  McKibben 

inders.  Neb.:  loci  Grosbach. 
Stephanie  Spady.  Emily 
Spady 

ilade  Valley.  Walkersville. 
Md.:  Dennis  Hoffman.  Lor- 
raine Hoffman 

mperial  Heights.  Los  Angeles. 
Calif.:  ludy  Patterson.  Linda 
Patterson.  Claiborne  Patter- 
son, lanel  Tyler,  Norman 
W'ilson 

ndcpcndence.  Kan.:  Brian  B. 
Bourbina.  lannett  L. 
Bourbina.  Martha  j.  Burns. 
Terry  A.  Burns.  Arlene 
Newton 

ilarkle.  Ind.:  Shanna  Lipp. 

Jennifer  OReilly 
anther  Creek,  Roanoke.  111.: 
Stacy  Baize  Yordy 


Pleasant  Dale.  Dccalui,  Ind.: 
Kalhy  Smith 

Rayman.  Friedens.  Pa.:  Gary 
Baumgardner.  Amy  Baum- 
gardner.  losie  Baumgardner, 
Mil  Baumgardner,  Mike 
Berkebile,  Debbie  Berkebile, 
Lisa  Berkebile,  lennifer 
Waronek.  Elwood  Yoder, 
Sherry  Yoder.  joe  Yoder. 
Annette  Yoder.  Church 
Mahon.  Ruth  Mahon. 
Chuckle  Mahon.  Tom 
Fitzgerald,  Carol  Fitzgerald, 
Tom  Shepherd,  Tonya  Shep- 
herd 

Ridge,  Shippensburg,  Pa,:  leff 
Shughart,  Betsy  Shughart, 
Karen  Goss,  Timothy  Clark, 
Kelly  Clark,  |odi  Helm.  |oey 
Smith.  Beth  Smith,  Terry 
lones.  Angle  lones,  Paul 
Aikman 

Sugar  Ridge.  Custer.  Mich.: 
.Angle  Mickevich 

Trinity.  Blountville,  Tenn.: 
Larry  Fritts.  Betsy  Fritts, 
Geoffrey  Fritts,  leremy 
Fritts,  Ernest  Hyde,  Anna 
Hyde,  Pete  Roudebush. 
Martha  Roudebush 

West  Milton.  Ohio:  Angela 
Winterbotham,  Phillip 
DeAngulo.  Brian  Niswonger 


Wedding 
anniversaries 

Becker,  Raymond  and  Flo- 
rence. Troy.  Ohio.  50 

Burton.  Leo  and  lune, 
Roanoke,  Va.,  50 

Check,  Earl  and  Mary,  Sebring, 
Fla.,  60 

Floyd.  Dick  and  luanita. 
Roanoke.  Va..  60 

Poor.  1.  Clifford  and  Naomi, 
Curryville,  Pa.,  55 

Fyock.  Wayne  and  |oy,  Wind- 
ber.  Pa.!  50 

Garst.  Paul  and  Doris. 
Roanoke.  Va.,  50 

Gomis.  Paul  and  Helen,  Des 
Moines.  Iowa,  50 

Gottshall,  Dick  and  Dottle, 
Roanoke,  Va..  55 

Hamilton.  David  and  Velma. 
Virden.  111..  72 

Heisey.  Sam  and  Dorothy,  Lan- 
caster, Pa..  60 

Holtry.  Bruce  and  Naomi. 
Shippensburg,  Pa..  50 

Hoover.  Charles  and  Elizabeth. 
Goshen.  Ind.,  55 

Kepler.  Don  and  Ruth,  Pits- 
burg.  Ohio.  50 

Koons.  Carroll  and  Vera.  Des 
.Moines.  Iowa.  50 

Leininger.  Norman  and  Mae. 
Manheim.  Pa..  70 

McKinstry.  Frank  and  Mabel. 
Sebring.  Fla..  55 

Muck.  Charles  and  Mary,  Way- 
nesboro, Pa.,  60 

Nelson,  Gerald  and  Rosella, 
Sebring,  Fla..  60 

Pfierman.  Floyd  and  Rebckah. 
Garrett.  Ind.,  60 

Riner.  .Aubrey  &  Frances. 
Fayetteville.  WVa..  50 

Schcll.  Delmerand  Eileen. 
Scherr.  W.Va..  50 

Shcnk.  Layser  and  Elizabeth, 
Manheim.  Pa..  60 


Townscnd.  George  and  Ev 
Des  Moines.  Iowa.  65 

Wcldy.  Dale  and  AnnaBelli 
Elkhart.  Ind..  50 


Deaths 

Bahr.  llah  Mae,  73,  Copemish, 

Mich.,  Sept.  12 
Bickel.  Harry  H..  85. 

Pottstown,  Pa..  July  9 
Brightbill.  Hiram  1.,  92, 

Cleona,  Pa..  Oct.  14 
Brubaker.  Joyce.  76.  La  Verne. 

Calif..  Aug.  3 
Brumbaugh.  Averie  E..  94. 

Kent.  Ohio.  Oct.  8 
Bucher.  Esther.  91.  Palmyra. 

Pa..  Oct.  12 
Buirley.  Cliff.  82.  Troy,  Ohio. 

Sept.  21 
Clague.  luanita  "Pat "  Simmons, 

72,  Harrisonburg,  Va., 

Sept.  21 
Clemens.  Matilda.  80.  Hatfield. 

Pa.,  luly  18 
Clinefelter,  Ralph,  88,  West 

Milton,  Ohio,  Feb.  6 
Cost.  Elsie.  91.  Troy.  Ohio. 

Sept.  24 
Davidson.  Stephen  Dale,  51. 

Virden.  111..  Aug.  2 
Davis.  Janice.  47.  Gray,  Tenn.. 

March  24 
Deardorff.  Dollie,  95.  Flora. 

Ind..  luly  27 
Deeter.  Bill.  94,  Greenville, 

Ohio.  Aug.  1  5 
Dellinger.  Forrest  Owen,  78, 

Mount  lackson.  Va.,  Aug.  23 
Douglas.  Artemisa.  92.  lohn- 

son  City.  Tenn.,  March  1 
Driver,  Ethel,  83,  Staunton, 

Va.,  Sept.  5 
Eaton.  Evelyn  Knopp.  90,  Har- 
risonburg, Va.,  Sept.  21 
Ferguson,  Earl.  83.  Tucson. 

Ariz..  Sept.  10 
Fifer.  William  Edward,  88. 

Mount  Solon.  Va..  Sept.  3 
Finkbiner.  Winfield.  89. 

Lebanon,  Pa..  Aug.  13 
Flora.  Russell,  |r.,  72,  Tipp 

City,  Ohio.  Sept.  4 
Ford,  lames,  98,  McPherson, 

Kan.,  Oct.  14 
Foust.  Alice  K..  79.  New 

Oxford.  Pa.,  Aug.  15 
Fox.  Kirby  Luther,  |r.,  68, 

Stanley,  Va..  Sept.  4 
Gahagan.  Harry.  Chambers- 
burg.  Pa..  Sept.  1  5 
Gettel.  Robert,  84,  Shippens- 
burg, Pa.,  luly  31 
Gift.  Tillic.  86,  Waynesboro, 

Pa..  April  16 
Glenn.  .Anne.  65,  Waynesboro, 

Pa..  Aug.  22 
Good.  George,  63.  Prescott, 

Mich..  Aug.  4 
Good.  Samuel  C,  75,  Har- 
risonburg, Va.,  Aug.  23 
Grant.  Mabel,  83,  Roanoke, 

Va..  May  6 
Green.  Shelby.  73.  Boones 

Mill.  Va..  Sept.  16 
Hanley.  Carrie.  91.  Ogden. 

Iowa.  Oct,  1  7 
Heishman.  Nettie  Virginia,  93, 

Strasburg,  Va..  Aug.  3 
Hershberger,  Neva.  87. 

Davidsville.  Pa..  Sept.  7 
Hoover.  Vergie  Stoneburner. 

102.  Woodstock.  Va., 


Sept.  1  1 

Hutts,  Emelyn.  86.  Roanoke, 
Va..  Feb.  12 

fames.  Violet.  86.  Roanoke. 
Va..  Aug.  12 

LaSalle.  Carol  Ann.  66,  Baker, 
W.Va.,  Aug.  22 

Layman.  Mervyl  A..  85.  Har- 
risonburg. Va..  Oct.  5 

Lininger.  Blanche.  104,  La 
Verne,  Calif..  Sept.  28 

Linn.  Grace.  74.  Shippensburg. 
Pa.,  lune  23 

Lutz.  Russell.  93.  Greenville. 
Ohio.  Oct.  4 

McKee,  Verda.  80.  Dayton. 
Ohio,  Aug.  1  7 

Meador.  Mary.  88,  Roanoke, 
Va.  Aug.  6 

Mentzer.  Buford.  72,  Waynes- 
boro, Pa.,  Feb.  8 

Miller,  Ava.  81.  Roanoke,  Va., 
Sept.  28 

Miller,  Harvey,  Ir..  82.  Smiths- 
burg,  Md..  Oct.  3 

Nunemaker.  Bernadette.  61, 
May  30 

Pentz,  Betty,  73,  Waynesboro, 
Pa.,  luly  28 

Rotruck.  Dorsey.  92,  McPher- 
son, Kan..  Oct.  3 

Royer.  Robert  H..  82.  Carlisle. 
Pa..  Sept.  20 

Ruckman.  Charles  Wright.  77, 
Mathias,  W.Va..  Sept.  18 

Schnepp.  Elsie,  82,  Beaverton, 
Mich..  Sept.  23 

See.  Roland  Craig,  47,  Peters- 
burg, W.Va.,  Sept.  1  7 

Shade.  Peggy.  61,  Waynesboro, 
Pa.,  luly  10 

Shaffer,  Margaret  E..  82. 
Chester  Springs.  Pa.. 
Aug.  28 

Spangler.  Mildred.  78.  Waynes- 
boro. Pa.,  Aug.  7 

Steigerwalt.  Lois  G.,  89,  Ash- 
land, Ohio.  Oct.  10 

Weagley,  Mary,  77.  Feb.  18 


Ordinations 

Blough.  Lester  lunior,  Sept. 
24,  Syracuse.  Ind. 

Burk,  Kelly,  Oct.  8.  Westmin- 
ster, Md. 

Cary,  lack  Lee,  Sept.  17.  Osce- 
ola, Ind. 

Collins,  lohn  Wayne,  Sept.  24, 
First.  Pulaski.  Va. 

Ober.  Barbara.  Sept.  10.  Live 
Oak,  Calif. 

Spry.  Charles  Gregory.  Sept. 
10,  Union.  Plymouth,  Ind. 


Pastoral 
placement 

Beasley,  Sterling  Ray,  to  pastor, 

Fostoria,  Ohio.  April  30 
Bendes.  Mark  Steven,  from 

pastor,  Salamonie,  Warren. 

Ind.,  to  pastor,  Somerset, 

Pa.,  Oct.  1 
Betz.  Russell  Warren,  from 

pastor.  First,  Phoenix.  Ariz.. 

to  pastor,  Waterford.  Calif.. 

Oct.  22 
Burk.  Kelly,  from  associate 

pastor  to  pastor.  Richmond. 

Ind..  Oct.  15 
Christophel.  Sandford  1.,  from 

pastor.  Bradford.  Ohio,  to 


pastor,  Coventry.  Pottstown, 
Pa..  Oct.  1 

Deardorff,  Timothy  |.,  to 
pastor.  Pyrmont.  Delphi, 
Ind..  Sept.  1 

Den  Harlog.  Benson,  to  pastor, 
Worlhington.  Reading. 
Minn..  Aug.  1  5 

Doss.  Martin  Clay,  from  pastor. 
Blue  Ridge,  Va.,  to  pastor, 
Fairview,  Mount  Clinton, 
Harrisonburg.  Va.,  Oct.  1 

Gehr,  G.  Douglas,  from  pastor, 
Uniontown,  Pa.,  to  pastor, 
Pottstown,  Pa.,  Oct.  19 

Hammond,  Todd,  from  pastor. 
Waynesboro.  Va.,  to  pastor 
for  special  ministries.  Oak- 
land, Bradford.  Ohio.  Sept.  5 

Hayhurst  William  E.,  from 
interim  pastor  to  pastor. 
Hopewell.  Va.,  April  16 

Hileman.  Michael  C.  to  associ- 
ate pastor.  Kent,  Ohio,  April 
30 

Hurst,  Thomas  E.,  from  execu- 
tive director,  On  Earth  Peace 
Assembly,  New  Windsor, 
Md..  to  pastor,  Downsville, 
Williamsport,  Md..  Oct.  2 

Longenecker,  David  L.,  from 
associate  district  executive, 
Atlantic  Northeast  District, 
to  pastor,  Myerstown,  Pa.. 
Sept.  1 

Murphy.  Granville,  to  associate 
pastor.  New  Hope,  Seymour. 
Ind..  Sept.  1 

Norris.  Victor  S..  from  pastor. 
Center  Hill.  Kittanning.  Pa. 
to  pastor.  Shippensburg.  Pa.. 
Sept.  24 

Paterson,  Harry  J.,  to  pastor, 
Longmeadow,  Hagerstown. 
Md.,  Oct.  1 

Pennington.  R.  Wayne,  from 
interim  pastor  to  pastor. 
Bethel,  Arrington,  Va..  July  2 

Remillet.  Charles,  to  pastor. 
Buffalo.  Ind.,  March  19 

Roop,  Calvin  M..  from  pastor. 
Valley  Pike.  Maurertown.  Va. 
to  pastor.  Schuylkill.  Pine 
Grove,  Pa..  Sept.  1 

Sgro.  lohn  A..  II.  from  pastor 
of  special  ministries. 
Sebring,  Fla.,  to  youth 
pastor,  Pleasant  Dale. 
Decatur.  Ind.,  June  4 

Shively.  [onathan  Adin.  from 
pastor.  Pomona  Fellowship. 
Pomona,  Calif,  to  director. 
Brethren  Academy,  Rich- 
mond, Ind.,  Sept.  1 

Simmons,  Keith,  from  pastor. 
Bethlehem,  Boones  Mill,  Va.. 
to  pastor.  Agape,  Fort 
Wayne.  Ind.,  Oct.  1 

Starkey.  Earl  Patrick,  to  pastor. 
Ninth  Street.  Roanoke.  Va.. 
Sept.  I 

Wagenaar.  Marlene.  to  minister 
of  Christian  nurture.  South 
Waterloo,  Waterloo.  Iowa, 
Sept.  1 

Messenger  December  2000 


EDITORIA 


I  made  my 

way  south 

through 

glorious  hills, 

the  trees  in 

muted  colors, 

now  two 

weeks  past 

their  autumn 

prime. 

I  looked  down 

on  valleys 

filled  with 

fog  like 

cream  soup, 

while  steam 

rose  from 

mountain 

lakes  warmed 

by  the 

morning. 


Mystery  at  Seneca  Rocks 


M 


y  mystical  journey  to  West  Virginia  began 
I  two  years  ago  in  a  shop  that  sells  old 
postcards  in  the  Haight-Ashbury  district 
of  San  Francisco.  There  I  was  drawn  to  a  card  with 
an  old  tinted  picture  of  forested  slopes  and  a  big  rock 
formation.  On  the  back  was  a  place  for  a  one-cent 
stamp  and  the  legend,  "Seneca  Rocks,  900  feet  high, 
on  US  Route  5,  near  Elkins,  W.Va."  I  bought  it. 
At  home  I  consulted  the  Yearbook  and  was 
delighted  to  find  there  is  a  Church  of  the  Brethren 
congregation  at  Elkins,  knowledge  I  filed  away, 
hoping  for  a  further  connection  sometime.  Then 
this  year  I  volunteered  for  the  project  organized  by 
the  General  Board's  Office  of  Ministry  to  send  staff 
members  into  districts  to  listen  to  pastors'  concerns. 
I  was  asked  if  I  wanted  to  go  to  West  Marva  Dis- 
trict. Eyeing  my  old  postcard,  I  said  of  course. 

A  lifelong  flatlander,  I  had  never  been  to  this 
part  of  the  country,  whose  late-October  beauty 
captivated  me.  From  Cumberland,  Md.,  fellow 
General  Board  staffer  Lester  Boleyn  and  I  set  out 
in  his  pickup  across  the  Potomac  River  and  back, 
winding  through  hills  and  hollers  to  three  gather- 
ings of  pastors  that  weekend.  Surely  God  would 
never  want  to  flatten  this  place,  but  it  must  have 
been  in  reference  to  Allegheny  topography  that 
Isaiah  wrote  of  God's  power  to  transform: 

"Every  valley  shall  be  lifted  up,  and  every  moun- 
tain and  hill  be  made  low;  the  uneven  ground  shall 
become  level,  and  the  rough  places  a  plain.  Then  the 
glory  of  the  Lord  shall  be  revealed"  (Isa.  40:4,5). 

Listening  to  pastors  in  the  West  Marva  District 
convinced  me  they  must  have  deep  faith  to  keep 
going  in  an  idolatrous  world.  We  asked  the  pastors 
what  discourages  them.  Not  surprisingly,  it  is  when 
people  in  their  congregations  "don't  come  through." 
They  become  discouraged  when  young  adults  drift 
away,  when  members  backslide,  or  when  school 
sports  take  priority  over  church  events. 

What  encourages  them?  It  is  when  their  people 
"get  it."  Seeing  lives  transformed  by  faith  makes 
their  vocation  worthwhile.  Helping  people  come  to 
Christ  gives  them  energy.  Watching  a  congrega- 
tion capture  a  vision  is  exciting.  Calling  people  to 
the  ministry  renews  pastors. 

There  were  no  contentious  issues  in  these  discus- 
sions, no  theological  disagreements  aired  or  criticisms 
offered.  It  was  as  though  we  were  all  in  this  predica- 
ment together,  trying  to  lead  people  to  Christ,  happy 
when  they  get  there,  disappointed  when  they  don't. 
'All  people  are  grass,"  writes  Isaiah  (40:6-8), 
"their  constancy  is  like  the  flower  of  the  field.  The 
grass  withers,  the  flower  fades;  but  the  word  of 


1 


our  God  will  stand  forever." 

At  one  stop,  a  church  member  asked  about  the 
denomination's  position  on  ordination  of  homose> 
als.  I  merely  provided  the  answer  sought,  without 
getting  into  my  views  on  the  subject,  which  may  h£ 
differed,  at  least  on  the  surface,  from  the  views  of  t 
person  asking  the  question.  Had  we  had  a  chance  1 
get  to  know  each  other,  we  may  have  learned  we 
share  a  common  concern  for  how  homosexual  Chr 
tians  are  welcomed  into  the  body  of  Christ,  or  how 
homosexual  members  of  our  own  families  are  treat 
by  a  hostile  world.  Whole  denominations  are  fightii 
to  resolve  issues  of  homosexuality,  getting  nowhert 
while  positions  harden.  There  are  times  to  leave  big 
issues  in  God's  hands,  while  we  build  relationships 
that  will  help  us  to  spread  the  love  of  Christ. 

Sunday  I  made  my  way  south  through  glorioi 
hills,  the  trees  in  muted  colors,  now  two  weeks 
past  their  autumn  prime.  I  looked  down  on  valle 
filled  with  fog  like  cream  soup,  while  steam  rose 
from  mountain  lakes  warmed  by  the  morning 
Inside  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  in  Elkins,  W 
Va.,  I  was  welcomed  like  family.  After  church  I 
showed  around  the  postcard  that  brought  me  he 
"Oh  yes,  Seneca  Rocks.  Part  of  the  formation  fei 
down  a  few  years  ago."  I  got  directions  and  a  kit 
lady  led  me  to  the  right  highway  at  the  edge  of 
town.  Thirty  miles  east  I  came  upon  the  pic- 
turesque Onego  Church  of  the  Brethren,  where 
sheep  grazed  a  pasture  next  to  the  church  parkin 
lot,  still  filled  with  cars  after  noon.  Another  mile 
and  there,  looming  before  me,  were  the  900-footP' 
sandstone  pinnacles  of  Seneca  Rocks. 

Inside  the  visitor  center  I  learned  the  story  of  its 
formation  200  million  years  ago,  and  the  legend  of  til 
Indian  princess  Snowbird,  who  challenged  suitors  to| 
follow  her  to  the  top,  the  one  who  made  it  winning  h 
hand.  I  was  intrigued  by  a  more  recent  event.  In  Oct( 
ber  1987  a  20-ton,  30-foot-high  formation  known  a; 
Chimney  Rock,  a  familiar  feature  of  the  Seneca  Rod 
skyline,  fell  down,  smashing  into  a  million  pieces. 

Before  leaving  the  visitor  center  I  bought  a  new 
postcard  to  go  with  my  old  one,  which  I  pulled  out  ad 
showed  to  the  uniformed  guide  who  waited  on  me. 

He  studied  the  picture.  "Interesting,"  he  said. 
"Chimney  Rock  isn't  there."  I  looked  and  he  was 
right.  The  30-foot  formation  that  fell  down  in 
1987  wasn't  where  it  should  have  been  in  the  pic- 
ture from  long  before  then.  I  can't  explain  it, 
except  to  read  again  from  Isaiah  40: 

"Have  you  not  known?  Have  you  not  heard?  The 
Lord  is  the  everlasting  God,  the  Creator  of  the  ends 
of  the  earth.  He  does  not  faint  or  grow  weary;  His 
understanding  is  unsearchable." — Fletcher  Farrar 


Messenger  December  2000 


5542"* 


2001  HJTIOML  VOMIIIIK 

Seeking  the  Road  Less  Traveled 


mwi  mw 


mm  ]\M 


June  16-24 

June  17-23 

June  18-24 

June  18-25 

July  8-14 

July  16-22 

July  16-22 

July  23-29 

July  23-29 

July  29-Aug.  4 

July  30-Aug.  5 
July  30-Aug.  5 
Aug.  6-12 
Aug. 


Mendenhall,  MS  (BRF) 
Americus,  GA 
Harlingen,  TX 
Puerto  Rico 
Pine  Ridge,  SD 
Chicago,  IL 
Keyser,  WV 
Ba 


June  25-29  Harrisburg,  PA 

June  25-29  Indianapolis,  IN 

July  9-13   Inspiration  Center,  WI 

July  9-13   New  Windsor,  MD 

Aug.  1-5     Washington  DC 

Aug.  6-12   Bayview,  VA(Jr  &  Sr.  High) 


Because  He  cared 

Because  you  cared 


REJ®ICE 


Good  (Christian  Friends  H^oice!  with  heart  and  soul  and  voice! 

Now  ye  hear  of  endless  UissQesus  Qhrist  was  horn  for  this! 

J~[e  has  opened  heaven^s  door,  and  we  are  blessed  for  evermore. 

Qhrist  was  horn  for  this!  Qhrist  was  horn  for  this! 

Qood  Brethren  Friends^  '^R^oice!  with  heart  and  soul  and  voice! 

Work^e\e  done  this  year  is  this:  fed  and  preached  and  tears  we  h}ssed. 

Qare  has  opened  our  hearts  more,  and  we  are  happy  to  the  core. 

We  were  horn  for  this!  We  were  horn  for  this! 

^an\Youl 

From  the  ChuTch  of  the  Brethren  General  Board  and  those  we  minister  with  and  to, 
Your  prayers  and  support  this  year  mean  more  than  you  ever  dared  dream  or  imagine. 


J/ierry  Qhristmas 

t  he  with  you  today  and  always  Jlmen. 


HOUCHEN    -<r 

*b!ndeby  ltd  ^ 
\*     2004