NEWSLINE, October 14, 2014

“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12).

NEWS
1) ‘Every single person was just so kind’: BVSers talk about their cross-country bicycle trek
2) Brethren attend 15th Ordinary Synod of the Church of North India
UPCOMING EVENTS
3) ‘Honor God by Honoring Others’ is theme for Junior High Sunday
4) Christian Citizenship Seminar 2015 to focus on immigration
5) Progressive Brethren Gathering to discuss growth of the ‘not religiously affiliated’ population
6) Brethren bits: Job openings with BVS and Camp Placid, New Fairview hosts deacon training, Briery Branch restores a house, “Peace and Mental Health,” Fahrney-Keedy’s Autumn Social, CROP in Bridgewater, blogpost plugs McPherson’s Automotive Restoration Program, and more
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Quote of the week:
“Everyone always asks, who’s the craziest person you met? Or, what’s the craziest thing that happened? I think the craziest thing that happened is that everyone we met--every single person--was just so kind.”
-- Chelsea Goss, one of the Brethren Volunteer Service workers to take part in “BVS Coast to Coast,” a cross-country bicycle trek this past summer. She and Rebekah Maldonado-Nofziger traveled from the coast of Virginia to the coast of Oregon by bicycle, promoting BVS along the way. Read more in the Newsline interview below.
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1) ‘Every single person was just so kind’: BVSers talk about their cross-country bicycle trek

Courtesy of BVSBVS Coast to Coast bicycle trip ends on coast of Oregon. Shown here are the two bicyclers and Brethren Volunteer Service workers Chelsea Goss (left) and Rebekah Maldonado-Nofziger (right).

In this Newsline interview, Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) workers Chelsea Goss and Rebekah Maldonado-Nofziger talk about their cross country bicycling adventure “BVS Coast to Coast.” They started off May 1 from the Atlantic coast of Virginia, and completed the trek Aug. 18 on the Pacific coast of Oregon. On the way they visited church communities and friends and family to promote BVS, and participated in three Church of the Brethren conferences. Their major learning? The kindness and caring of the people they met:
Newsline: So, did the trip meet your expectations?
Chelsea: It did. I wasn’t a biker before, so I knew it was going to be something that would challenge me. There never was any time that I thought I wasn’t going to make it, but it was challenging. And I thought that I would get to meet people and see beautiful sights, and both of those things happened.
Everyone always asks, who’s the craziest person you met? Or, what’s the craziest thing that happened? I think the craziest thing that happened is that everyone we met--every single person--was just so kind. Everyone was very hospitable and gracious, strangers would offer us places to stay or food or water or ask if we had everything we needed.
Rebekah: The bike across the country happened and in some sense it just seems like it was a dream. It happened in less than four months, and went by so fast. People were so kind and gave us a lot of love. I think it surpassed expectations, and it was a good time.

My dad and I had done some biking together. I biked up to Harrisonburg, Va., from Ohio to begin my freshman year in college, and I did a couple of other trips that weren't so long. My dad was an avid biker. He passed away two years ago. My dad's dream was to have our family bike out to the west coast and then down to Bolivia, so I thought this could be the beginning of completing the dream we had together. I still want to go to Bolivia, but this is just the beginning!
Newsline: How many church communities did you visit?
Chelsea: It was like 25-30 Brethren and then like 15-20 Mennonite, and then 15-20 others. That’s just where we stayed overnight. Sometimes we visited people throughout the day too, and family’s not counted in those numbers. And we tried to take a day off a week. Whoever’s house we stayed at, we’d usually sit down and have a meal together and would talk and hear stories. It was more the individual contact and conversations that we had that were more important to us.
Newsline: How did you come up with this idea?
Chelsea: I had the idea after coming back from a Learning Tour with David Radcliff to Burma. The last couple of years I’ve had a lot of opportunity to travel, and I love traveling abroad. I just had this realization that there’s so much of this country that I haven’t seen, and cultures in this country that I don’t know or haven’t met.
In Harrisonburg, Va., I was working for New Community Project, and Rebekah was a nurse and lived in the intentional community. I had given myself two weeks to find someone to bike with. I said to myself, if I can find someone in the next two weeks then I’ll go. But if not, then I’m going to leave this idea behind. And then Rebekah became my roommate and she said to me, “If you need someone for this bike trip I’d be interested.” We didn’t know each other at that point, but I said, “Ok, let’s go!”
Newsline: So it was a step of faith? Did you have apprehensions?
Chelsea: Yeah, I was nervous, of course. You’re always going to take some kind of risk in whatever you do--driving to work is a risk. This was definitely a risk, but it was a thought-out risk.
Newsline: What kind of planning did you do?
Chelsea: I had Google maps and I started pin pointing where I knew people in the country. When Rebekah came on board we started pin pointing her people on this map, and then BVS sites also. And then we connected the dots so we had our whole schedule planned out before we left. I could tell you before we left where I was going to be on August 16, for example. Of course, we left some room for buffer days, just in case we got off track.
Newsline: What was the hardest part of the trip?
Chelsea: I’d say anytime there was wind it was really the hardest. Everyone said we were going the wrong way because we were going against the wind! But I said, when does the hard way have to be the wrong way? Something I knew, but it was emphasized more in the trip, was how being mentally present and aware of what you have in front of you really helps.
Rebekah: Not being able to stay longer with such nice people we met along the way! The bike trip was a challenge in various ways: routing, hard terrain, weather, communication, and just feeling plain tired on some days. But I think we learned from those experiences and moved forward.
Newsline: What learnings do you take away from this?
Chelsea: I took away the importance of just slowing down. Since we were able to slow down and not have a schedule running through our heads all the time, or a list of things to do, there was room for other things to think about. Or not to think about. I often found myself just enjoying the creation around us. You feel all the elements, if there’s rain or wind or sunshine. Some days I would just find myself in prayer, not consciously, it would just automatically happen.
One of what Rebekah called our “pump up songs” was “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley. “Don’t worry about a thing, ’cause every little thing’s gonna be alright.” Jesus says the same thing: “Don’t worry.” I think we worry a lot on a day-to-day basis, and it was neat to see how we were taken care of.
Rebekah: We listened to two songs in particular...“Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley and “One Day” by Matisyahu. Both songs we used as our time to gear us up to continue biking, and get me motivated  to keep pedaling onward. In “Three Little Birds,” Bob Marley writes that we should not worry--and it was a time of reflection and meditation for me. When listening to “One Day” it encouraged me--the young generation--that we can change the world, and we can work towards a more peaceful world. There is hope.

Another learning experience for me is that communication is really important. Ha, who would of thought! Being with the same person for such a long time shows how human you are.
I also learned more about the Church of the Brethren and the values and beliefs. I am so thankful and honored to be included in the family of the Church of the Brethren and be able to share the trek across the country with Chelsea! The Church of the Brethren has great examples on how to follow the revolutionary way of Jesus through loving your enemies, your neighbors, those in need. Look at Peggy Gish, for example, working with Christian Peacemaker Teams in Iraq. I am so thankful for the example folks in the church have challenged me to live!
Newsline: Was there any particular experience on the ride that you are going to remember?
Rebekah: I have been challenged by people we have met on this trip, both in the church and out, that have showed acts of love and mercy towards us and the world. I have found that it is very easy to make generalizations of people groups that we do not know very much about. By biking across the country, I have learned that there are very kind people that are so giving--that's all we encountered! To have us, two young women, bike across the country seems risky to many, but we found nothing but love and lots of care towards us.
Newsline: What’s next for you?
Chelsea: I’ve actually done my year of BVS, but I’m staying on a couple months to help with fall orientation. I just got my visa for Australia, and my brother Tyler and I are moving there to work with Jarrod McKenna and the First Home Project, as well as being the youth pastors at a church there. At this point, we're planning on leaving in December and staying for roughly a year.
Rebekah: I'll be working as a nurse with Seattle Mennonite Church and Seattle University College, in a program that partners to serve the homeless population. I will help them transition from the hospital to a more permanent home, assisting them with their health care needs.
-- Find out more about BVS Coast to Coast, read a blog, and see pictures from the experience at http://bvscoast2coast.brethren.org .

2) Brethren attend 15th Ordinary Synod of the Church of North India

Photo by Stan Noffsinger

Church of the Brethren leaders general secretary Stan Noffsinger and mission executive Jay Wittmeyer joined the Church of North India (CNI) at its 15th Ordinary Meeting of the Synod. The triennial event was held Oct. 1- 4 at Sherwood College in the hill station community of Nainital, Uttrakhand, and was build around the theme “Come; Let Us Rebuild...” (Nehemiah 2:17).
The meeting was opened with Holy Communion conducted by the moderator of CNI, the Most Rev. Dr. P.P. Marandih, and the inaugural address was given by Rev. Prof. Jerry Pillay, president of the World Communion of Reformed Churches. The meeting gathered all officer bearers of CNI, bishops from its 27 dioceses, superannuated bishops, diocesan representatives, presbyters, fraternal delegates, and mission partners.
The assembly worshiped together, and heard reports from all ministries of CNI including a very positive report from the treasurer, Prem Masihi, on the financial conditions of the synod. Many spoke to the need to stand with the oppressed and marginalized of society, to advocate on their behalf for justice in a culture of persecution. CNI also hosted an Overseas Partners Meeting on Sept. 30 at the All Saints’ College, to focus on partnership in mission. In total 27 persons representing 17 partners were in attendance.
The Rt. Rev. P.K. Samantaroy was installed as the 13th moderator of CNI following his election, and will serve the synod for the next three years in this capacity.
Noffsinger and Wittmeyer also traveled to the State of Gujarat to meet Church of the Brethren/Church of North India congregations who now find themselves without any church property to gather for worship following a Supreme Court decision last September that awarded the First District Church of the Brethren contested churches. Brethren met with leaders in Vyara, Ankleshwar, Nausari, and Valsad.
In each area, Noffsinger and Wittmeyer were warmly greeted and highly felicitated, which means in the Indian context to give garlands and some small presents. CNI/COB Brethren also submitted a list of concerns and requests to the Church of the Brethren in hopes that their predicament of worshiping under trees might be addressed in some manner. Brethren also visited several hostel ministries of CNI that bring children from remote areas into larger communities for education and training.
On Oct 5, Noffsinger and Wittmeyer spent the day with the First District Church of the Brethren to celebrate what the FDCOB terms “Victory Day,” the day it won its court case. After a morning service and lunch, the FDCOB held a business meeting for questions and answers and then finished the day with fireworks and dancing.

-- This report was submitted by Jay Wittmeyer, executive director of Global Mission and Service for the Church of the Brethren.

UPCOMING EVENTS

3) ‘Honor God by Honoring Others’ is theme for Junior High Sunday
Churches of the Brethren are encouraged to celebrate Junior High Sunday on Nov. 2. The theme for the 2014 observance of Junior High Sunday is “Honor God by Honoring Others,” based on Matthew 7:12, “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.”
Resources for this annual special Sunday are available online, designed to aid junior high youth and their adult advisors lead their congregations in worship. Downloadable resources include the theme logo in several different formats, and worship resources written by Church of the Brethren members Marcus Harden, Stephen Hershberger, Audrey Hollenberg-Duffey, Rachel Witkovsky.
Worship resources include calls to worship and benedictions, invitations to give and blessings for the offering, a litany of confession, a scripture jam, a children’s story, and other creative worship elements.
Download resources from www.brethren.org/yya/jr-high-resources.html .

4) Christian Citizenship Seminar 2015 to focus on immigration
“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:2). This theme scripture will help guide the Christian Citizenship Seminar for 2015 in a study of US immigration.
This seminar for senior high youth and their adult advisors is scheduled for April 18-23, 2015, and will be held in New York City and Washington, D.C. It is sponsored by the Church of the Brethren Youth and Young Adult Ministry.
“Please join us as we delve into topics that will challenge and support growth in our knowledge, compassion, understanding, and faith in learning about such an important and timely issue,” said an announcement.
The brochure for the event notes that “US immigration policy is a complex and polarizing issue, regardless of whether it is discussed in the halls of Congress or the Fellowship Hall.... Participants at the 2015 Christian Citizenship Seminar will strive to understand current government policy, various suggested reforms, and the consequences of both on immigrant communities. We will learn how our faith in Jesus, expressed in our theology and action, can inform and compassionately shape our response to immigration.”
Registration for the seminar opens Dec. 1. Space is limited to 100 people so early registration is advised. Cost is $400. For more information and a downloadable brochure, go to www.brethren.org/ccs .

5) Progressive Brethren Gathering to discuss growth of the ‘not religiously affiliated’ population
“Spiritual but Not Religious: Living Faith in the World Today” is the theme of the 7th annual Progressive Brethren Gathering on Nov 7-9, hosted by Stone Church of the Brethren in Huntingdon, Pa.
“Who are the Progressive Brethren? Progressives are people who are open to new possibilities and directions that God’s spirit may be leading,” explains an announcement of the gathering. “We embrace the gifts of diversity, hospitality, intellectual pursuit, honest engagement, and creative worship.” The event is a joint venture of several organizations including the Open Table Cooperative, the Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests, and Womaen’s Caucus.
The event will address current statistics and survey results indicating a growth in the population of the “not religiously affiliated” and those who consider themselves “spiritual” but not “religious.” “Between 1990 and 2010, the number of Americans who claimed to have no religious affiliation more than tripled, from 14 million to 46 million. This makes the so-called nones--individuals who respond to questions about their religious affiliations with ‘none’--the fastest growing ‘religious’ group in the United States,” said the announcement. “So what does this mean for the church? What does this mean for Progressive Brethren?”

The keynote speaker for the gathering is Linda A. Mercadante, professor at Methodist Theological School in Ohio and author of “Beliefs Without Borders: Inside the Minds of the Spiritual but Not Religious.”

The registration deadline is Oct. 15. Hotel blocks and special rates are available from three local hotels. Members of the Stone Church also are willing to host participants in their homes at no charge. A limited number of scholarships are available for those needing financial assistance to attend. Please contact the Progressive Council atwebmaestra@progressivebrethren.org .

For more information and online registration go to www.progressivebrethren.org/events/progressive-gathering-2014 .

6) Brethren bits
-- The Church of the Brethren seek candidates for the full-time salaried position of coordinator of orientation for Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS). Major responsibilities include organizing orientation, securing facilities and resource leaders, providing leadership, reviewing volunteer applications, counseling volunteers, facilitating community building, and evaluating orientation upon conclusion. The coordinator also oversees social media connections for BVS including Facebook, Twitter, and the BVS webpage. Additional responsibilities include co-supervision of BVS staff volunteers and providing administrative back up in the absence of the BVS director. This position requires significant travel that can take up to a month at a time. Required skills and knowledge include knowledge of Church of the Brethren heritage, theology, and polity; ability to articulate and operate out of the vision of the Mission and Ministry Board; and demonstrated ability to perform administrative and management tasks. Candidate must enjoy working in a team environment and must be flexible with evolving program needs. Training or experience in group building and dynamics, training of groups and individuals, and recruiting and assessment of individuals is required for this position. A bachelor’s degree is required. Application of relevant philosophies learned through course work and seminars is helpful. This position is based at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill. Applications will be received beginning immediately and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Request the application form by contacting the Office of Human Resources, Church of the Brethren, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120; 800-323-8039 ext. 367;humanresources@brethren.org . The Church of the Brethren is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
-- The Southeastern District Camping Program has an opening for a permanent Outdoor Ministry Director (OMD) at Camp Placid in Blountville, Tenn. The district seeks someone with a passion for Christian outdoor ministry to children and adults. Camp Placid covers 50-plus acres of land that includes several cabins, a kitchen/dining area, and outdoor swimming pool, two ponds, and other ministry buildings. The person called to this position will be responsible for directing and maintaining a camp that can be used year round, will understand that in the eyes of a child it is the small things that make the biggest difference, will go beyond the call of duty to help make a camper feel welcome. The manager of Camp Placid will be a member of the Outdoor Ministries Association and will hold a critical position for making Camp Placid a success. The Southeastern District and the OMA are dedicated to making our camps more than just your typical summer camp, and are determined to make an everlasting impact on a child’s life. The camp manager will be the ambassador for the camp, its campers, and the district, and will represent the camp at OMA meetings, Camp Board Meetings, and District Conference. A strong sense of communication between the District Camp Board and the manager is key for effective operations. The camp manager will be involved deeply in every camp aspect, from office management/bookkeeping, to all maintenance of the facility, to being the shoulder for a camper to cry on. Camp promotion is an aspect where the manager has the ability to use his/her creativity to show the district and community all we have to offer. This position should be considered with great prayer and discernment. Resumes and letters of intent will be accepted through Oct. 31. To apply send resume and letter of intent to the Southeastern District Office at sedcob@centurylink.net or to Southeastern District, P.O. Box 8366, Gray, TN  37615.
-- New Fairview Church of the Brethren in York, Pa., hosts a Deacon Training on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Kim Witkovsky will lead the training, which is offered by the Deacon Ministry of the Church of the Brethren. Workshops will address the topics, “What Are Deacons Supposed to Do, Anyway?” “The Art of Listening,” and “Beyond Casseroles: Offering Support Creatively.” Cost is $15 per person or $25 for a couple. Cost for .45 continuing education credit for ministers is an additional $10. The registration deadline is Nov. 10. Contact Southern Pennsylvania District, P.O. Box 218, New Oxford, PA 17350; 717-624-8636.
-- Briery Branch Church of the Brethren in Dayton, Va., has partnered with area businesses and individuals to restore the interior of a house that is home to a family with three young children. The family faces medical issues and other challenges, reports the district newsletter. More information is available from the church office, 540-828-7139.
-- Shenandoah District Pastors for Peace will sponsor “Peace and Mental Health--A Mental Health First Aid Training Event” on Nov. 21-22 at Linville Creek Church of the Brethren in Broadway, Va. “Mental Health First Aid is aimed to help attendees understand the signs and symptoms of a variety of mental health conditions and provide the skills and knowledge to be able to help if present when someone is experiencing a mental health crisis,” said an announcement. The presenter will be Rebekah Brubaker of the Harrisonburg Rockingham Community Services Board. Cost is $40 and includes dinner on Friday and lunch on Saturday. Ordained clergy can earn 0.8 continuing education credit. Overnight accommodations and breakfast at the nearby John Kline Homestead are available for an additional fee. The registration deadline is by noon on Nov. 10. Space is limited to the first 30 registrants. For registration information go to http://origin.library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1110837621104-374/2014PeaceMentalHealth+Reg+Form.pdf . For questions contact David R. Miller at drmiller.cob@gmail.com or 540-578-0241.
-- Western Pennsylvania District holds its district conference at Camp Harmony in Hooversville, Pa., on Oct. 18.
-- Fahrney-Keedy Home and Village has issued an invitation to an Autumn Social from 1-4 p.m. on Oct. 24. “Folks attending will have an opportunity to tour available independent-living apartments and cottages. As well, guests can encounter the Fahrney-Keedy lifestyle, in the fall, tour the campus, enjoy autumn-themed refreshments, and learn about plans for growth over the next several years,” said a release from the retirement community located near Boonsboro, Md. During the event, two seminars will be presented with topics related to dealing with a move, on the topics “Selling Your Home in Today’s Market,” and “Stress-Free Moving Solutions.” Two fall discount specials for new contracts are in effect during the event: those paying a new entrance fee in full by Dec. 31 will receive a 20 percent discount, and those paying a new entrance fee in full by Feb. 28, 2015, will receive a 10 percent discount. For more information about the Autumn Social, call 301-671-5038.
-- Bridgewater (Va.) College holds a CROP Meal from 5-7 p.m. on Oct. 30 in the main dining hall in the Kline Campus Center, when faculty, staff, and members of the community may purchase CROP Meals surrendered by students and enjoy “dinner out,” said a college release. “The meals have been paid for on the student meal plan, and all proceeds go directly to CROP’s hunger relief, education, and development programs in 80 countries around the world,” the release said. Cost of the meal is $7 for adults, and $5 for children 12 and under. The Bridgewater/Dayton area CROP Hunger Walk begins at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 2, at the Bridgewater Community Center. Bridgewater College students will join members of the community in getting sponsors for every kilometer of the 10 kilometer (6.2 mile) or 5 kilometer (3.1 mile) route they walk, with the money going toward stopping hunger. “While the world’s poverty and pain can be overwhelming, the CROP Meal and CROP Hunger Walk are simple yet significant steps anyone can take to make a very real difference in the lives of others,” said college chaplain Robbie Miller.

Courtesy of McPherson CollegeMcPherson College Automotive Restoration Program

-- “McPherson College overhauls its four-year Automotive Restoration Program” is the title of a blogpost by Kurt Ernst for Hemmings Daily, a news source on classic cars. The post reviewed the McPherson (Kan.) College four-year degree program in automotive restoration, the only school in the US offering such a degree. “McPherson’s program combines the hands-on approach of shorter programs with the benefit of a comprehensive liberal arts education,” the blog said. “Recognizing that its sole-source advantage may not last forever, and in an effort to maintain its appeal to the next generation of restorers, the college has undertaken an effort to improve and upgrade the Automotive Restoration Program with new hardware and a sharpened focus from its faculty.” The report follows on a first-ever strategic planning meeting that included outside participants such as Paul Russell of European restoration specialist Paul Russell and Company, and Adam Bank of Rad Rides by Troy. Also, “to experience what world-class shops collections do differently, the college sent a team of seven faculty, two students and two advisers...to tour a series of facilities and collections in California...where the team got to experience everything from brass-era cars through contemporary race cars.” Updates planned for this fall, according to the blogpost, include a Pullmax P5 power hammer, “and judging from the school’s Facebook feeds, it’s been all hands on deck this summer in an attempt to get labs and work benches refurbished in time for the fall semester.” McPherson also is “examining the possibility of short-term paid internships, where faculty would be given the opportunity to work for shops, collections, or even museums to gain real-world experience.” Read the blogpost athttp://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2014/07/15/mcpherson-college-overhauls-its-four-year-automotive-restoration-program . For more about McPherson College visit www.McPherson.edu .
-- Juniata College has received a $100,000, three-year grant from the Andrew J. Mellon Foundation to assess and redefine its general education curriculum, said a release from the school in Huntingdon, Pa. The grant will “ultimately reshape the college’s liberal arts education model to better reflect the needs and values of students in the 21st century,” the release said. “This grant is important not just because of what it will enable us to do in assessing general education and ensuring the salience and primacy of the liberal arts throughout the curriculum, but because recognition by Mellon--because of its reputation for recognizing excellence in liberal arts education--affirms that Juniata belongs among the top liberal arts colleges nationally,” said Lauren Bowen, provost, in the release. The grant will provide funds to help the college organize and implement an assessment of the courses that comprise general education, and will engage faculty in conversation about the optimal design and content of a contemporary liberal arts education. This focus will strengthen Juniata’s intentional commitment to define the content, skills and courses that every Juniata student must experience to ensure they graduate with a fully rounded education, said the release. Find out more about Juniata atwww.juniata.edu .
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Contributors to this issue of Newsline include Deborah Brehm, Stan Dueck, Mary Kay Heatwole, Michael Leiter, Russell and Deborah Payne, Glen Sargent, John Wall, Jay Wittmeyer, and editor Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of News Services for the Church of the Brethren. The next issue of Newsline is scheduled for Oct. 21. 

NEWSLINE, October 7, 2014

NEWS
1) Grants support BDM project site in New Jersey, war recovery in Gaza, Ebola response in Liberia
2) Nigerian and American Brethren continue aid to those displaced by violence, MMB members to engage in advocacy for Nigeria
3) Ecumenical study committee shares preliminary work, plans for Annual Conference 2015
4) On Earth Peace board meeting helps mark 40 years, celebrates Bob Gross
5) Theme announced for Bethany Seminary Peace Essay Contest
PERSONNEL
6) Bob Gross announces departure from On Earth Peace
7) Enten Eller resigns position at Bethany Seminary
FEATURE
8) Statelessness and the Least of These: Nationality, identity, and when you have neither
9) Brethren bits: Correction, remembering Charles Bieber and Wayne Zook, personnel, job opening, webinar postponed, CDS new training opportunity in Florida, Shine request for teachers, art gallery gives to GFCF, and much more
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1) Grants support BDM project site in New Jersey, war recovery in Gaza, Ebola response in Liberia
The Brethren Disaster Ministries staff is directing a total of $54,000 from the Church of the Brethren Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) to the disaster rebuilding project at Toms River, N.J., war recovery work by the Shepherd Society in Gaza, and the fight against the spread of Ebola in Liberia.
An allocation of $40,000 continue funding for a Brethren Disaster Ministries rebuilding project in Toms River, N.J., following devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy in Oct. 2012. The ministry is partnering with O.C.E.A.N., Inc., which is providing the land to build six single family homes in Berkeley Township, N.J. The new homes, to be managed and maintained by O.C.E.A.N., Inc., will be rented on a sliding scale to low- and moderate-income families with special needs who also were affected by Super Storm Sandy.
Currently construction of the first three homes is being completed, and construction on three more homes is expected to begin as soon as the foundations are laid. Brethren Disaster Ministries anticipates the response in this region to expand to include more new homes as well.
A grant of $10,000 has been given to the Shepherd Society to aid in war recovery efforts in Gaza following a 50-day war between Gaza and Israel. The Shepherd Society has a goal to help 1,000 Gazan families with a minimum of $200 per family. The Brethren grant will provide humanitarian assistance to 50 families devastated by the war, providing food, medicine, and supplies including blankets, mattresses, and gas bottles, as well as rent for displaced families.
A grant of $4,000 to Church Aid in Liberia continues the Brethren Disaster Ministries response to the worst Ebola outbreak in history. The Church of the Brethren has partnered with Church Aid in Liberia in the past through grants for humanitarian assistance, agriculture support, and reconstruction after the civil war. Also, Global Food Crisis Fund grants have been given for seeds and agricultural inputs. Today Church Aid is working to educate the public about Ebola to help prevent the continued spread of the disease. This grant provides funds for training, travel expenses, and support of trainers working in Liberia.
A previous grant of $15,000 was given in August to an IMA World Health appeal for support of Ebola health workers in Liberia, through the Christian Health Association of Liberia.
To support Brethren Disaster Ministries and the Emergency Disaster Fund, go to www.brethren.org/edf .

2) Nigerian and American Brethren continue aid to those displaced by violence, MMB members to engage in advocacy for Nigeria

Photos from a day of blessing for one of the relocation sites for Nigerians displaced by violence, which are being developed by Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) in cooperation with Brethren Disaster Ministries. A former president of EYN, Filibus Gwama (at left below) visited the site with EYN staff liaison Markus Gamache (at right below) to meet with the people in the camp as well as local community leaders, and to lead in blessing the project. Shown below, the two EYN leaders meet with a local community leader who welcomed the project, Gamache reported. Above, displaced youth receive blessing from an elder.

Efforts continue by Nigerian and American Brethren to aid those displaced by violence in northeastern Nigeria, where news media report continued fighting and EYN members report more attacks in which members of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) were abducted or killed.
Two members of the Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board--chair elect Don Fitzkee and Naperville (Ill.) pastor Dennis Webb--will be in Washington, D.C., tomorrow for a training, and while in the city will visit their congressional district offices in an advocacy effort focused on Nigeria. The two also will meet with the president and general secretary of the National Council of Churches, and will be hosted for a meal hosted by Office of Public Witness director Nate Hosler.
The Office of Public Witness has prepared a document outlining goals for the advocacy focused on Nigeria, and the message to share with US politicians. In addition to information about the devastating situation faced by EYN, based on a recent report from EYN president Samuel Dali (seewww.brethren.org/news/2014/newsline-special-eyn-is.html ), the effort encourages a “demilitarized response” to the instability in Nigeria.
The document points out that the US government “has disproportionately emphasized and developed military responses to its foreign policy and assistance to conflict stricken regions.... Instead, we encourage you to strengthen accounts and offices such as the US Bureau of Conflict Stabilization Operations that are critical to encouraging and supporting effective peacebuilding and conflict mitigation efforts in Nigeria and the broader region.”
Other messages urge provision of “rapid and robust assistance” to internally displaced people and refugees and their host communities in Nigeria, as well as support for local nongovernmental organizations, and job creation for the young and un- or underemployed.
In a section titled, “Accountability and Compassion as Our Guide,” the document urges the US and international community to help screen Nigerian security service personnel with an aim to identifying those with a history of human rights abuse and sympathizers of Boko Haram. It quotes EYN president Samuel Dali, who wrote in a communication to the United Nations earlier this summer: “Mercy, compassion, and importance of every human life should guide the thinking, activities, and action of the UN.”
Work to aid the displaced continues
With leadership from EYN staff, work continues on two relocation project sites for displaced people. One of the sites is open to the interfaith community and provides shelter for affected families from both Christian and Muslim backgrounds side by side.
Filibus K. Gwama, a former EYN president, traveled with EYN staff liaison Markus Gamache to the relocation project sites in central Nigeria and held blessing ceremonies with youth, women, and others who were present. He also met with local community leaders, and aided in the work required to purchase the land, according to a report from Gamache.
The recent grant to the work in Nigeria from the Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) will be focused on providing food and supplies to a large refugee encampment, and the work of CCEPI, reports Brethren Disaster Ministries associate executive director Roy Winter. CCEPI, or the Center for Compassion, Empowerment, and Peace Initiatives, is a nonprofit humanitarian organization founded and led by prominent EYN member Rebecca Dali with a focus on aid for widows and orphans of the violence, and displaced families.
The large-scale food and supplies distribution is taking place in the city of Yola, where many EYN members and others fled in mid-August after the community of Michika and surrounding area was overrun by Boko Haram insurgents, and the area north of the city of Mubi was threatened.
Fighting, killing, abductions also continue
News media in Nigeria reported fierce fighting this week between the army and insurgents in the Michika area north of Mubi, as Nigerian forces attempt to regain control there. Reports cite hundreds of people killed, both insurgents and Nigerian soldiers, as well as civilians.
An interview with Rebecca Dali by World Watch Monitor echoes a report she posted on Facebook last week concerning the situation in Michika, which is her home town. She also reported an attack by Boko Haram on the community of Ngoshe, in which many people--including whole families--were abducted or killed. “How can I celebrate my birthday with a homeless, scattered family?” is the title of her interview with World Watch Monitor, at www.worldwatchmonitor.org/2014/10/3413197 .
In the communities of Shaffa and Shindiffu, an attack by insurgents in late September burned at least three EYN churches and a parsonage, as well as an EYN dispensary and secondary school, a Bura Bible translation office, staff quarters of Theological Education by Extension (TEE), and many homes. Among those killed were pastors and leaders of EYN and other churches, community leaders, and EYN members and families, among others. A report of the attack from an EYN member was received by e-mail, sent to a former mission worker.
Gifts to the Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) help support the disaster relief work in Nigeria. Make gifts online at www.brethren.org/edf or send by mail to Emergency Disaster Fund, Church of the Brethren, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120. More information about the work of the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria and about EYN is atwww.brethren.org/nigeria .

3) Ecumenical study committee shares preliminary work, plans for Annual Conference 2015
By Liz Bidgood Enders and Nancy Miner

Ecumenical Vision Study Committee members enjoy the rose garden at the home of committee member Wanda Haynes (not pictured: Jennifer Hosler).

The Annual Conference study committee on an Ecumenical Vision for the 21st Century met Aug. 27-28 in Seattle, Wash. With gorgeous weather and a stunning view of Mt. Rainier, the group was blessed to receive the hospitality of Columbia-Lakewood Community Church in Seattle, which is jointly affiliated with the Church of the Brethren and the United Church of Christ.
The committee was tasked by the 2012 Annual Conference to “write a ‘Vision of Ecumenism for the 21st Century’ that builds upon our history while calling us into the future of the church of Christ as part of a community of communions.” The Seattle meeting was the second face-to-face gathering of this group. Last year, committee members met in New Windsor, Md., to set direction for the paper and outline a process by which to gather information and create a shared vision.
At the Seattle meeting, members shared preliminary findings from an online survey and two insight sessions held at Annual Conference 2014. Sections of the paper will include scriptural connections, a history of ecumenical involvement, current realities in local, national, and world ecumenical partnerships, and a vision for the future that honors a Brethren value of relationship-building.
As the committee met, it felt important to include voices from the wider church, and the group will solicit input from ecumenical partners and from the leadership of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria). Plans are to present the paper at the 2016 Annual Conference.
In reference to the hope and goal of our work together, Tim Speicher who is convener of the committee, wrote, “We are looking to empower individuals, congregations, and the denomination to serve in the work and voice of Christ as we cooperate in common concerns with ecumenical and interfaith partners.”
In addition to outlining sections of the paper, the committee developed preliminary plans for insight sessions at Annual Conference 2015 that will go beyond offering information to include resources for communities and a challenge to embrace partnerships n the wider body of Christ.
Members of the study committee are Tim Speicher of Wyomissing, Pa., convener; Liz Bidgood Enders of Harrisburg, Pa.; Wanda Haynes of Seattle, Wash.; Jennifer Hosler of Washington, D.C.; and David Shumate of Roanoke, Va. Larry Ulrich of Lombard, Ill., also had been a member of the committee until his death in Dec. 2013. Staff support is given by Stan Noffsinger, general secretary of the Church of the Brethren, and Nancy Miner, manager of the Office of the General Secretary.
-- Liz Bidgood Enders and Nancy Miner contributed this report.

4) On Earth Peace board meeting helps mark 40 years, celebrates Bob Gross

Photo courtesy of On Earth PeaceThe On Earth Peace board and staff.

By Gail Erisman Valeta

During the 40th anniversary of the ministry of On Earth Peace, board and staff met for their fall board meeting at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., on Sept. 17-20. Throughout this anniversary year, On Earth Peace is leading a Visions and Dreams of Building Peace campaign, including recorded interviews of hopes for peace for the next 40 years.
To continue the way forward in anti-war and peace and justice efforts, the On Earth Peace board and staff examined how and where our journey with structural power, privilege and racism can improve. We realize that almost every war begins with projecting the enemy as “less than” and instituting racism. A proposal from the Anti-Racism Planning and Design Task Force was submitted to help create a more permanent design to address oppression such as racism. An On Earth Peace Anti-Racism Transformation Team will be created. On Earth Peace will be accepting applicants to better achieve that goal.

The board and staff also hosted a Farewell Celebration of Bob Gross’ time on staff, recognizing the huge contributions he has made in his 20 years in a variety of staff positions, including former executive director. Friends, family, and supporters joined the On Earth Peace staff and board to show our appreciation with a Visions and Dreams video clip, a skit, and notes of appreciation from all across the denomination. Our heartfelt thanks goes to Bob and Rachel, and family, for their incredible journey with the organization.

The board heard updates about our work at National Youth Conference and current efforts with conflict transformation and nonviolent social change. The staff also is exploring how our work can grow. Bill Scheurer, executive director, will be attending the Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board, and staff and board will continue to attend district conferences.

We recognized and appreciated the service of board members Ken Wenger and David R. Miller, and welcomed three new board members: Carla Gillespie, George Barnhart, and Barbara Avent. A Peace Day service was led by staff member Matt Guynn. Peace Day is an annual event on or near Sept. 21 to help promote peace in our lives, families, communities, and world.

-- Gail Erisman Valeta serves as vice chair of the On Earth Peace board.

5) Theme announced for Bethany Seminary Peace Essay Contest
By Jenny Williams
Aspiring student writers are encouraged to begin considering their entries for Bethany Seminary’s 2015 Peace Essay Contest: Peacemaking, Creation Justice, and the Beloved Community. Building on its success in 2014, the contest again is being held as part of the peace studies program at the seminary.
The peace essay contest is open to seminary, graduate school, college, and high school students who are fully enrolled in a program en route to a degree. Prizes of $2,000, $1,000, and $500 will be awarded for the top three essays. Topics to address may include but are not limited to the following:
-- creation care
-- a just peace with creation
-- indigenous communities’ rights
-- environmental racism
-- gender and ecology
-- creating a greener economy
-- creation-centered spirituality
-- forging alliances across the traditional “left-vs.-right” ideological framing of US politics
-- intercultural coalitions for the common good
Scott Holland, Slabaugh Professor of Theology and Culture at Bethany, sees the 2015 theme as a timely one, noting how the recent People’s Climate March in New York City drew participants from across political, religious, and cultural boundaries toward a common cause. “I have spoken with career farmers, experimental urban gardeners, and students of religion and science who--in the spirit of the New York march--are convinced that creation care is becoming a unifying peace and justice issue. All express the conviction that it will be difficult to achieve peace among the nations unless we together make peace with the gift of God's creation through responsible stewardship of the land.”
A natural fit within the teaching and learning in peace studies at Bethany, the essay contest is underwritten by the Jennie Calhoun Baker Endowment, funded by John C. Baker in honor of his mother. Described as a “Church of the Brethren woman ahead of her time,” she was known for actively pursuing peacemaking by meeting the needs of others, providing community leadership, and upholding the value of creative and independent thinking in education. John Baker saw her vision and modeling of contemporary peacemaking reflected in Bethany’s collaborative leadership among the three Historic Peace Churches and thus selected the seminary to administer the endowment’s programs.
John Baker, a philanthropist for peace with a distinguished career in higher education, and his wife had also helped establish the peace studies program at Bethany with an earlier endowment gift. “John and Elizabeth Baker were deeply committed to building cultures of peace,” says Holland. “This peace essay contest is intended to encourage thoughtful writing on peace in essays that are informed by the rich traditions of God's shalom and Christ's peace yet articulated in voices that are public, ecumenical, and interfaith. There is also the hope that this contest will lead to international networking and partnerships in pursuit of peace.”
Holland administers the Baker endowment programs and is assisted in the essay contest by Bekah Houff, coordinator of outreach programs, who chairs the planning committee. Other members of this year’s committee are Kirsten Beachy, assistant professor of visual and communication arts at Eastern Mennonite University (Mennonite); Ben Brazil, assistant professor and director of the Ministry of Writing Program at Earlham School of Religion (Friends); Randy Miller, editor of the Church of the Brethren “Messenger” magazine; Abbey Pratt-Harrington, alumna of Earlham School of Religion (Friends); and Joanna Shenk, one of the pastors at First Mennonite Church in San Francisco. Brazil, Holland, Miller, and Shenk also will serve as judges.
Essays can be submitted between Jan. 1-26, 2015, and results will be announced by the end of Feb. 2015. Winning essays will appear in selected publications of the Church of the Brethren, Friends, and Mennonite faith communities. For guidelines, terms, and submission procedures, go to www.bethanyseminary.edu/peace-essay . Contact Bekah Houff at houffre@bethanyseminary.edu or 765-983-1809 for additional information.
-- Jenny Williams is director of communications and alumni/ae relations for Bethany Theological Seminary.

PERSONNEL

Photo by : File photoBob Gross

6) Bob Gross announces departure from On Earth Peace
On Earth Peace's development director, Bob Gross, has announced his departure from the staff, effective Dec. 31. Gross has served with On Earth Peace since 1994, when he joined the staff as part-time coordinator of the Ministry of Reconciliation.
He also served as co-director and executive director of the organization for many years. On Earth Peace plans to share a fuller retrospective on his service in December as his departure date approaches.
“We are grateful for Bob's two decades of service, and excited that he will continue being involved with On Earth Peace as a program volunteer!” said a recent announcement from On Earth Peace.

7) Enten Eller resigns position at Bethany Seminary
Enten Eller, director of electronic communication and educational technology at Bethany Theological Seminary, will resign as of Nov. 7. He began his employment at Bethany in July 2006.

Initially hired as director of distributed education and electronic communications, Eller expanded the scope of both programs. In 2010 he moved into a full-time position as director of electronic communication, with the number of master of divinity students in the Connections distance education program having more than tripled during his tenure. His communications work has included redesign and expansion of the seminary’s website, establishing a prevalent use of webcasting, and installation of a technology classroom for Bethany’s first-ever synchronous class offerings.

Eller lives in Ambler, Pa., where is part of a part-time bivocational pastoral team at Ambler Church of the Brethren with his wife, Mary, a position he will continue to hold. He also plans to explore other employment opportunities.

-- Jenny Williams is director of communications and alumni/ae relations for Bethany Theological Seminary.

FEATURE
8) Statelessness and the Least of These: Nationality, identity, and when you have neither
This first appeared as a Sept. 18 blog post by Nate Hosler of the Church of the Brethren Office of Public Witness, about his experience at a consultation on statelessness held in Den Dolder, the Netherlands, on Sept. 12-14, sponsored by the World Council of Churches and the Dutch Christian organization Kerk in Actie. The consultation was in preparation for the First Global Forum on Statelessness organized by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Tilburg University in the Hague, the Netherlands:
A week ago I boarded a flight from D.C. to Amsterdam to head to the World Council of Churches’ Consultation on Statelessness and the First Global Forum on Statelessness, where participants from over 70 countries were present. We had booked a flight, made sure I had a place to stay, and I quickly packed, about two hours before leaving for the week-long trip. The organizers of the World Council of Churches’ Consultation on Statelessness knew I was coming but other than the airline and the hostel, the Netherlands was unaware of my imminent arrival as was the US of my departure. Though unannounced I sailed through passport control barely breaking my stride.

While as an Anabaptist/Church of the Brethren variety of Christian I am rather ambivalent concerning nationality and the notion of national identity, this ease of border crossing (and my presumption that they will let me back in upon arrival in D.C.) is a level of assurance that is, well, assuring. This is, however, far from universal experience.

The two conferences I have been attending, both the WCC’s consultation and the First Global Forum on Statelessness, deal with people on precisely the opposite end of the spectrum. It is estimated that there are more than 10 million people throughout the world who are stateless. By stateless we mean they are without a nationality and without the benefits that this typically confers. People can be de jure or de facto stateless. The former is when a person is legally without a nationality and the latter is when someone is unable to effectively establish nationality or whose nationality is either disputed or ineffective.

Some discussion around statelessness focuses on the lack of identity that people feel. It is in this part of the discussion that I feel some ambivalence. As a follower of Jesus, in whom “there is no Jew or Greek” and presumably no American, Canadian, or Nigerian, I hold that the nation-state is not the locus of identity. So while I don’t wish to undervalue people’s sense of displacement I find the lack of national identity as a less poignant concern of the many concerns bound up in statelessness.

Much discussion, however, focuses on those communities and individuals who suffer severely from neglect and active repression. At the WCC consultation we were visited by Imon Khan. He was part of the Rohyinga ethnic minority in Myanmar. In 1982 a change in citizenship laws rendered thousands of Rohyinga stateless. Iman was one of those who ended up in Bangladesh stateless. Eventually, after both parents died and someone convinced him that he would easily find a job in the Netherlands, he paid a smuggler to get him to Amsterdam.

Upon arrival he was alternately conned out of his money and pushed to the streets. When he visited the consultation, he wore a hat pulled low. In addition to telling his story he said he suffered from high blood pressure from the anxiety and uncertainty. Eventually, through the afternoon and evening he spent with the group, he removed his hat and began to relax. Upon leaving he said that this was the first time in his 26-year life that he felt like people had treated him like a human. While I don’t want to over analyze this brief encounter, it illustrates the double component of lack of identity and belonging, as well as the risk and deprivation that stateless persons experience.

In hopes of helping people like Imon, we drafted a statement affirming the the WCC’s 10th Assembly statement adopted last year on statelessness, and recommending ways in which we as member churches can begin or continue to address statelessness in our corners of the world. The statement we released set our theological commitments alongside the problem before moving on to concrete recommendations:

-- “The underlying theological assumption of active concern for those who are suffering is the belief that all people created by God constitute an inextricable unity. Solidarity and compassion are virtues that all Christians are called to practice, regardless of their possessions, as signs of their Christian discipleship. Compassion and care for one another and acknowledging the image of God in all humanity is at the core of our Christian identity and an expression of Christian discipleship.”
-- “These biblical and theological bases motivate us as churches and Christian bodies to express our Christian commitment and to be engaged in our prophetic witness to speak for the rights of those who are voiceless and marginalized as stateless people.”
As I board the plane tomorrow and make the journey home I will certainly be thinking about the many things I heard and remembering the many people I met. More importantly, however, I will be reflecting on the ways the Office of Public Witness can bring the issue of statelessness and the people affected into our work.

-- Nate Hosler is director of the Church of the Brethren Office of Public Witness, based in Washington, D.C. Find the full statement from the consultation atwww.oikoumene.org/en/press-centre/files/DENDOLDERRECOMMENDATIONS.pdf . Find a WCC release reporting on the First Global Forum on Statelessness atwww.oikoumene.org/en/press-centre/news/church-voices-address-statelessness-at-the-hague-global-forum . This reflection was first published as a blog post. Find more reflections from the Office of Public Witness and how to sign up to receive blog posts by e-mail at http://blog.brethren.org/category/public-witness .

9) Brethren bits
-- Correction: The location for the Gathering event in Western Plains District on Oct. 24-26 was given incorrectly in a previous issue of Newsline. The Gathering will be held in Salina, Kan., at the Webster Conference Center. The Gathering is held annually as a transformational initiative in the district. This year the theme will be “Blessed, Broken, and Inspired,” from Mark 6:30-44.
-- Remembrance: Charles M. Bieber, 95, who served as moderator of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference in 1977 and was a former mission worker in Nigeria as well as a former district executive, died on Sept. 27. He and his wife, Mary Beth, served as Church of the Brethren mission workers in Nigeria from 1950-63. He worked as a district executive minister in Northern Indiana District for seven years, from 1978-86. He also served pastorates in Nebraska and Pennsylvania and was pastor emeritus at Ephrata (Pa.) Church of the Brethren. In addition to moderating Annual Conference, his volunteer leadership in the denomination included a term on the former General Board, participation in an Annual Conference study committee on world missions, service on the Board of Trustees of Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa., and membership on the board of the Disaster Relief Auction. He also wrote articles for “Messenger” magazine and published two books, a history of the Ephrata Church titled “Keeping the Embers Aglow,” and an autobiography, “Around the World in Eighty Years.” He was a graduate of Juniata College, Philadelphia School of Nursing, and Bethany Bible School, now Bethany Theological Seminary. He was born Sept. 11, 1919, in Williamsport, Pa., to the late George and Edith (Seriff) Bieber. He married Mary Beth High on June 24, 1944. They celebrated 60 years of marriage before her death in July 2004. He is preceded in death by an adopted son, Karagama Gadzama. He is survived by children Larien (Nancy) Bieber of Millersville, Pa.; Dale (Carla Nester) Bieber of Iowa City, Iowa; Bonnie Concoran of Amery, Wis.; Marla (Jim) Bieber Abe of Carlisle, Pa.; Doreen (Myron) Miller of Lebanon, Pa.; “adopted” children, Jeannette Matarita, Xinia Tobias, Bellanice Cordero, and Njidda Gadzama; grandchildren; and great-grandchildren. The family has thanked his special pen pal, Mary Ann Payne, for her friendship with him for many years. Two memorial services were held, on Oct. 3 at the Brethren Village Chapel in Lancaster, Pa., and on Oct. 4 at Ephrata (Pa.) Church of the Brethren. Memorial contributions are received to the EYN Compassion Fund aiding Nigerians affected by violence, or to Juniata College.
-- Remembrance: Wayne B. Zook, 86, who twice served on the former General Board of the Church of the Brethren and was a family physician for 39 years in Wenatchee, Wash., passed away on Sept. 9. Dr. Zook served on the former General Board from 1963-69, and again from 1972-73. During the 1970s and 1980s he was very involved with the church at the district and denominational levels. His father, Ray E. Zook, had been a district executive in the Church of the Brethren and a Brethren minister for 50 years. Wayne Zook was born in Cresco, Iowa, on Oct. 2, 1927, and grew up in Flora, Ind. He attended Manchester College in North Manchester, Ind., and while in college volunteered as a Heifer Project “seagoing cowboy” for two trips taking livestock by ship to war-ravaged Poland. He attended medical school at Indiana University. While there he married Evelyn Johnson in 1950. He was an active member of Wenatchee Brethren-Baptist Church and was active in the Wenatchee Rotary Club where he served as president 1971-72, and was president of the Wenatchee Chamber of Commerce in 1987. In addition he was an active member of many professional medical associations, and was named Washington State Family Physician of the Year in 1982. He is survived by his wife of 64 years and daughter Teri Zook White and sons Kim Zook and Dale Zook, and numerous extended family members. A memorial service was held on Sept. 27 at Wenatchee Brethren-Baptist Church.
-- Southeastern District of the Church of the Brethren has hired Jane Collins as communication manager for the district office. She is an active member at Jackson Park Church of the Brethren in Jonesborough, Tenn., and hold a degree in accounting and business management from Milligan College. She also is reading clerk for the district.
-- Pinecrest Community, a Church of the Brethren-related nonprofit continuing care retirement community in the Rock River Valley of Illinois, is seeking a director of Social Services. The primary purpose of this position is to plan, organize, develop, and direct the overall operation of the facility’s Social Service Department in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations, and established policies and procedures to assure that the medically related emotional and social needs of residents are met and maintained on an individual basis. This person manages the admission process and needs to be knowledgeable in the areas of Medicare, Medicaid, and insurance. The qualified candidate will have a bachelor’s degree in Social Work, with a master’s degree preferred, and must be licensed in the State of Illinois. The candidate must possess leadership ability and willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise personnel. A minimum of two years of experience in a long-term care facility or other related medical facility is required. Submit a resume to Victoria L. Marshall PHR, Human Resources Director, Pinecrest Community, 414 South Wesley Ave., Mount Morris, IL  61054. Find more information about Pinecrest Community at www.pinecrestcommunity.org .
-- An upcoming webinar has been postponed. “Telling the Truth and Shaming the Devil: A Postcolonial Take on Urban Mission in the 21st Century” originally scheduled for Oct. 9 has been postponed due to unforeseen circumstances. “We look forward to scheduling a future date with Dr. Anthony Reddie,” said an announcement from Stan Dueck, director of Transforming Practices for the Church of the Brethren.
-- Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) has added a new volunteer training to its fall schedule. “This is the first training scheduled as a result of our Gulf Coast Expansion project,” reports Kathleen Fry-Miller, associate director of Children’s Disaster Services. The training will take place in Sarasota, Fla., on Nov. 21-22, hosted by the American Red Cross (2001 Cantu Ct., Sarasota, FL 34232). The local contact person is Joy Haskin Rowe, CDS Gulf Coast Regional Coordinator, 540-420-4896, cdsgulfcoast@gmail.com . Already scheduled by CDS is a training on Oct. 24-25 in Portland, Ore. For more information and registration forms to take part in CDS trainings, go to www.brethren.org/cds .

-- “We want to hear from Shine teachers!” said an invitation from the Shine curriculum, a joint project of Brethren Press and MennoMedia. “Sometimes it is best to get feedback while people are in the midst of using an item. As we make plans for Year 2 of Shine, we’d like to have input from those using Shine about what works and doesn’t work for them and for their group of children.” In addition to the evaluation form on the inside front cover of every Shine teacher’s guide, there is an online evaluation form available athttps://shinecurriculum.com/evaluationform . “If you are a teacher, please complete one of these forms,” said the invitation. “If you work with teachers, encourage them to complete an evaluation form soon.”
-- In more news from Shine and Brethren Press, orders for Quarter 2, Winter 2014-2015 can be made now. “Products are in our warehouses, ready to be shipped to your congregation,” said an announcement. “Order early to give new teachers time to review the materials.” Contact Brethren Press at 800-441-3712 or order online at www.brethrenpress.com . For more about the Shine curriculum go to www.shinecurriculum.com or check out the Shine Facebook page at www.facebook.com/shinecurriculum .

Photo by Cheryl Brumbaugh-CayfordChurch of the Brethren staff receive a check for the Global Food Crisis Fund from the Colors of Humanity Art Gallery, represented by Nancy Watts of the Treasurer’s Office, and Matt DeBall of donor communications.

-- The Church of the Brethren Global Food Crisis Fund (GFCF) recently received a unique gift, from the Colors of Humanity Art Gallery. “We are a brand new online art gallery that has monthly juried art shows. Each month we donate 10 percent of all entry fees to a worthy organization,” explained Janelle Cogan in an e-mail to GFCF manager Jeff Boshart. “Our October show is ‘Landscapes’ and we would like to donate to the Global Food Crisis Fund.” A check of $116 representing 58 entries received, was mailed in by Colors of Humanity late last month. The Landscapes show will run Oct. 1-31. For more information go to www.colorsofhumanityartgallery.com .
-- His Way Church of the Brethren in Mills River, N.C., is celebrating its 10th anniversary on Oct. 12 at 3 p.m., at Rapha House (127 School House Rd., Mills River). All are welcome to come and help celebrate, said an announcement from Southeastern District.

-- Prince of Peace Church of the Brethren in the Denver area is starting a new inter-generational opportunity called “Messy Church.” Said a Facebook post by Gail Erisman Valeta, one of the pastoral team: “We are so excited about starting Messy Church at Prince of Peace on Sat. Oct. 11 from 5-6:30! Check it out! Life is messy so come as you are!” The event is intended to “bring together all generations to celebrate God's love and the presence of Jesus in our lives.”
-- A “Spiritual Renewal Circuit Ride” in Iowa featured Samuel Sarpiya, a Church of the Brethren minister and church planter from Rockford, Ill. He spoke at four Churches of the Brethren in Iowa (Fairview, Ottumwa, English River, and Prairie City) on four consecutive evenings, Oct. 5-8. All of the meetings started with a meal, followed by worship and the message.
-- Pews from Enders (Neb.) Church of the Brethren have found a new home at the Tok’ahookaadi congregation and Lybrook Community Ministries in Cuba, N.M., after the Enders Church building was closed. The building had suffered damage in several thunderstorms. Western Plains District reported in its newsletter that Dave and Jane Sampson of Hutchinson Community Church of the Brethren drove a trailer filled with pews and several boxes of Sunday school material from Nebraska to New Mexico on Sept. 15. “The Enders congregation is very happy to find a home and good use for some of the church’s possessions,” the newsletter said.
-- Western Plains District recently published a wrap up of the district conference, which was held July 25-27 on the theme, “Pursuing Peace.” Highlights included representation from 28 congregations including the Tok’ahookaadi Church of the Brethren and Lybrook Community Ministries in Cuba, N.M. “Kim and Jim Therrien presented a Lybrook insight session, where several Lybrook community members shared their stories,” the report said. Service projects supported the local United Way and $7,330 dollars were raised through the Projects Unlimited Auction. The theme inspired dramas and works of art, and was highlighted in business sessions through video interviews of district elders Paul Hoffman and Ellis Yoder, who shared their personal life stories and perspectives on conscientious objection and the military. The district youth shared their experiences and insights from National Youth Conference, and a message was given by On Earth Peace executive director Bill Scheurer. Ordained ministers who were honored for significant milestones in ministry were Mike Schneider and Jon Tuttle, 5 years; Barbra Davis, 10 years; Sonja Griffith and Tom Smith, 15 years; Stephen Klinedinst, 20 years; Edwina Pote (in memoriam, deceased June 26, 2014), 25 years; Francis Hendricks and Jean Hendricks, 35 years; John Carlson, 45 years; Lyall Sherred, 55 years; Dean Farringer and Charles Whitacre, 70 years.
-- Two Church of the Brethren districts held their annual district conferences last weekend: Idaho District, which met at Nampa (Idaho) Church of the Brethren on Oct. 3-4; and Atlantic Northeast District, which gathered at Leffler Chapel on the campus of Elizabethtown (Pa.) College on Oct. 4. Three more districts will be meeting this coming weekend: Atlantic Southeast District plans to meet in conference at Sebring (Fla.) Church of the Brethren on Oct. 10-11; Mid-Atlantic District will meet at Manassas (Va.) Church of the Brethren on Oct. 10-11; and Southern Ohio District gathers at Happy Corner Church of the Brethren in Clayton, Ohio, on Oct. 10-11.
-- “Caregiving in the Midst of Conflict: The Deacon’s Role” is the title of a deacon training workshop to be hosted at the Village Green at the Village at Morrison’s Cove in Martinsburg, Pa., on Nov. 1. Cost is $40 per person or $30 per person for church groups of 3 or more. The registration deadline is Oct. 24.
-- New courses are offered in Ventures in Christian Discipleship at McPherson (Kan.) College. The Ventures courses do not offer college credit, but offer high-quality instruction at a reasonable cost. “The goal of the program is to empower lay people, especially in smaller congregations, to more effectively carry out the work of discipleship, following in Jesus’ footsteps to transform ourselves and the world,” said an announcement. All courses cost $15 and all times are central time. Some courses are offered both onsite at McPherson College and as online webinars. For webinars, group rates of $75 are available for 5 or more participants in one location. A computer with high-speed Internet connection and external powered speakers is recommended. Upcoming courses are: “Beyond the Numbers: The Power of Small Places (Think Small)” taught by Duane Grady online Nov. 8 from 9 a.m.-12 noon; “Laughing at Jonah and Sustaining Ourselves” taught by Duane Grady and offered online Nov. 8, 1:30-4:30 p.m.; “A Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness: Engaging Social Justice Movements” taught by Carol Wise on campus at McPherson College on Jan. 9, 2015, 12 noon-3:30 p.m., and offered online on Jan. 10, 2015, 9 a.m.-12 noon; “Starting with the Basics: Language, Sex and Gender” taught by Carol Wise on campus at McPherson College on Jan. 9, 6:30-8:30 p.m., and online on Jan. 10, 2015, 1:30-4:30 p.m.; “Innovation on a Timeline: Embracing Your Creativity Angels” taught by J.D. Bowman online on Feb. 7, 2015, 9 a.m.-12 noon;  “Come to the Table, but Bring Your Crayons” taught by J.D. Bowman online on Feb. 7, 1:30-4:30 p.m.; “Reading the Bible for Spiritual Growth” taught by Bob Bowman online on March 14, 2015, 9 a.m.-12 noon; “Reading Church History for Spiritual Growth” taught by Bob Bowman online on March 14, 2015, 1:30-4:30 p.m. For registration, course descriptions, and instructor introductions, go to www.mcpherson.edu/ventures .
-- Elizabethtown (Pa.) College president Carl J. Strikwerda spoke at the Fourth Annual President's Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge National Gathering, which took place Sept. 22-23 at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., according to a release from the college. The event was sponsored by the White House and Inter-Faith Youth Core. Strikwerda was on a panel on the topic “Connecting Mission to Action: Prioritizing Interfaith Cooperation as a College President” and shared the progress made by Elizabethtown College in interfaith understanding, and also took part in a plenary sessions on “Power of Interfaith Work,” “Effective Practices in Campus Interfaith Work,” and “Celebration and Inspiration.” Tracy Sadd, Elizabethtown College chaplain, also was on a panel on the topic “Partnering with IFYC to Achieve Campus Impact.”
-- A student at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa., has made the news for his photography. “Gordon Dimmig may only be a college sophomore, but he's already achieved a goal on the bucket list of any artist. His photography is hanging in the Smithsonian,” reports LancasterOnline. Dimmig, who comes from Elizabethtown, Pa., was the student winner of the “People in Wilderness” category of a competition by Nature’s Best Photography and the Smithsonian Institution called “Wilderness Forever: 50 Years of Protecting America's Wild Places.” The online news piece reports that his photo is part of an exhibition of 50 images that opened Sept. 3 and runs through next summer at the Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. “At Juniata, Dimmig is studying environmental science, and he says he's considering doing field research with birds or wildlife.” Find the full report at http://lancasteronline.com/entertainment/art/e-town-teen-s-award-winning-fly-fishing-photograph-on/article_35876562-4910-11e4-867f-0017a43b2370.html . For more of Dimmig's photography, visit gwd-photography.com .
-- The annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is scheduled for Jan. 17-25, 2015. The theme for 2015 comes from the gospel of John: “Jesus said to her: ‘Give me to drink.’” The theme, which is proposed by Christians in a different country or area of the world each year, in 2015 comes from a group of Brazilian Christians called together by the National Council of Christian Churches of Brazil (CONIC), reports the World Council of Churches. “The biblical gesture of offering water to whomever arrives, as a way of welcoming and sharing, is something that is repeated in all regions of Brazil,” said an announcement. “The proposed study and meditation on the story of Jesus meeting a Samaritan woman at the well is to help people and communities to realize the dialogical dimension of the project of Jesus, which we call the Kingdom of God.” For more information and links to online resources go to www.oikoumene.org/en/press-centre/events/week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity . Click on “more information” to find a page with links to a brochure about the 2015 event.
-- The Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD) theme for 2015 is “Breaking the Chains: Mass Incarceration and Systems of Violence.” The annual gathering in Washington, D.C., is scheduled for April 17-20, and will be the 13th annual national gathering. “Join over 1,000 Christian advocates in Washington, D.C., in building a movement to shake the foundations of systems of human exploitation (Acts 16:16-40), including a prison-industrial system that incarcerates millions of people in the US and abroad,” said an invitation. “A world that incarcerates so many and allows some to profit from the exploitation of slave, trafficked, and forced labor remains far from the ‘beloved community’ which we are all called to seek.” The event includes prayer, worship, advocacy training, networking, and mobilization with other Christians, culminating with EAD's Congressional Lobby Day on Capitol Hill. Go to www.AdvocacyDays.org for more information, downloadable brochures, bulletin inserts, hotel information, and to register.
-- The World Council of Churches general secretary has welcomed a letter from a group of Muslim scholars, according to a WCC release. “The WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit has welcomed publication of an open letter by a group of 126 Muslim scholars to Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, leader of the self-proclaimed ‘Islamic State’ (IS) and his followers. The letter, issued on 24 September, condemns actions of the IS from an Islamic religious perspective,” the release said. “The meticulous, detailed and scholarly rebuttal of the claims of the IS to represent authentic Islam offered by this letter will be an important resource for Muslim leaders who seek to enable people of all religions to live together with dignity, respecting our common humanity,” Tveit said. “I am especially concerned at present for the safety and flourishing of Christian communities in the Middle East, as well as in other continents. This document is a significant contribution to how we together as people and leaders from our faith perspective and address threats to our one humanity.” Find the letter from the Muslim scholars at http://lettertobaghdadi.com .
-- Representatives of Christian organizations and the United Nations took part in a World Council of Churches meeting on Ebola, held in Geneva, Switzerland, on Sept. 29. The meeting responds to the Ebola crisis in West Africa, which as of the end of September had taken more than 3,000 lives. The release also cited a World Health Organization estimate that numbers of infected persons could top 1 million by Jan. 2015. Dr. Pierre Formenty, an epidemiologist and coordinator of the WHO campaign against Ebola, while addressing the WCC consultation said, “This is a situation where everyone needs to work together: politicians, media, communities, faith organizations. We all have to do something. If one fails, everybody will fail.... Faith organizations in Africa have a huge role to play.” Dr. Gisela Schneider from the German Institute for Medical Mission, who was in Liberia a few weeks ago, shared observations from her visit. “Christian hospitals are highly vulnerable,” she said. “This is why ‘keep safe, keep working’ is an important slogan we promote for the health workers serving Christian hospitals.... People working on the ground need a great amount of encouragement, training, mentorship, and support.” Read the WCC release at www.oikoumene.org/en/press-centre/news/churches-and-agencies-formulate-responses-to-ebola-outbreak .
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Contributors to this Newsline include Marla Bieber Abe, Marie Benner-Rhoades, Liz Bidgood Enders, Jeff Boshart, Kathleen Fry-Miller, Markus Gamache, Kendra Harbeck, Elizabeth Harvey, Nathan Hosler, Nancy Miner, Russell and Deborah Payne, Shawn Flory Replogle, Gail Erisman Valeta, Nancy Watts, Jenny Williams, Roy Winter, and editor Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of News Services for the Church of the Brethren. The next issue of Newsline is scheduled for Oct. 14. 

NEWSLINE SPECIAL, September 30, 2014

Newsline Special: ‘EYN is severely damaged’ Nigerian Brethren leader reports

"Save your people, God!" (Psalm 28:9a, CEB).

Global Mission and Service and Brethren Disaster Ministries this week have received new reports from Samuel Dali, president of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria).
EYN closes 26 of 50 district councils, reports 3,038 members killed
Dali shared a report he gave to the Christian Association of Nigeria yesterday, Sept. 29, enumerating losses experienced by EYN and warning of the possibility of “genocide” of Christians in northern Nigeria. He reported that terrorist attacks on some villages including places well known to Brethren--Chibok, Garkida, Lassa, and more--are happening weekly, with little or no resistance from the available security agents.
“EYN is severely damaged by the terrorists in many ways,” Dali wrote in a follow up e-mail. “The whole Lardin Gabas, the historical center of EYN, has been almost destroyed. So, continue to pray so that the Lord can increase our faith and give the strength to bear the suffering.”
Up to the time of his report, “no one can tell you what exactly is the situation in the areas controlled by the Boko Haram fighters,” Dali wrote. “Since they took control of the areas, the people they have killed [are] still uncounted and not buried.”
He reported that “Gwoza, Madagali, Gulak, Michika, and Bazza are still under the control of the terrorists.”
Dali added that he has been traveling to visit and help families find safe places, and to attend meetings since the EYN Headquarters was evacuated in August. He signed his e-mail, “Yours...in deep pain.”
The EYN president’s report to the Christian Association of Nigeria enumerated the denomination’s losses:
“Today as I am speaking, 26 out of the 50 EYN District Church Councils, together with its 156 local church council or parishes, have been closed down. 70 out of the 156 local church councils and 21 local church branches have been burnt down completely. In addition over 2,287 houses belonging to our members have been burnt down included their properties such as food stuff. Also, we have on record: over 3,038 of our members who have so far been killed and 8 pastors that were also killed. In addition, 180 of our members have been kidnapped.”
As a result, Dali reported, 280 EYN pastors and evangelists are now displaced without work or any source of income to feed their families. They are among the 96, 000 Nigerian Brethren who have been displaced “from their ancestral native lands.” The displaced church members are now homeless, living as refugees in Cameroon or displaced in other parts of Nigerian including the states of Taraba, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Plateau, Nasarawa, and Abuja.
The full report to the Christian Association of Nigeria:
Damages done to the EYN-Church of the Brethren by the Boko Haram in the Northeastern Nigeria: Presented to CAN by THE PRESIDENT OF THE EKKLESIYA YAN’UWA A NIGERIA, REV. DR. SAMUEL DANTE DALI, on the 29th September 2014
Distinguished members of CAN, it is with a deep pain and great sadness that I am presenting to this brief report on the damages done by Boko Haram on EYN-Church of the Brethren.
The EYN-Church of the Brethren was first established as a rural church at Garkida on the 17th of March, 1923, through the work of the Church of the Brethren missionaries from the United States of America [USA]. However, today, EYN is one of the predominant churches not only in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe States, but has also spread to major cities in Nigeria like Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja, Kano, Jos, Kaduna, and Zaria. EYN is also an international church with branches in the Cameroon, Niger, and Togo.
In line with the tradition of her founding fathers, EYN-Church of the Brethren in Nigeria is also a member of a global historical peace churches whose main objective had been how to ensure justice and peaceful co-existence between Christians and Muslims in Northern Nigeria.
In spite of our peace loving nature, EYN church is the greatest single denomination that the Islamic fundamentalists, the so called Boko Haram group, has almost successfully wiped out of existence in many Local Government Areas of Borno, part of Yobe and Adamawa States. Today as I am speaking, 26 out of the 50 EYN District Church Councils, together with its 156 local church council or parishes, have been closed down. 70 out of the 156 local church councils and 21 local church branches have been burnt down completely. In addition over 2,287 houses belonging to our members have been burnt down included their properties such as food stuff.
Also, we have on record: over 3,038 of our members who have so far been killed and 8 pastors that were also killed. In addition, 180 of our members have been kidnapped including a pastor and pregnant wife of another pastor with three of her children were kidnapped. It may also interest you to know that 178 out of the total Chibok school girls that were kidnapped are children of EYN members.
As a result of this mayhem, 280 of our pastors and evangelists are now displaced without work and any sources of income to feed their families. Also, 96, 000 of our members including women and children have been displaced from their ancestral native lands. The displaced members are now homeless, living as refugees in Cameroon and other parts of some States like Taraba, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Plateau, Nasarawa and Abuja.
The destruction of properties and the kidnapping of children, women, church leaders, and school girls have increased to potentially leading to genocide of Christians in Northern Nigeria in general and in particular, the members of EYN community in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States.
The terrorist attacks on some villages such as Gwoza area, Madagali, Gulak, Chibok, Damatru, Dambowa, Garkida, Biu, Kwajafa District, Shaffa, Shedufu, Kwayakusar, Gombi, Zurin in Hong Mubi, Delle, Lassa, Michika, and Shaffa are becoming weekly and endless, with no or little resistance from the available security agents. The people living in these areas are living in fear and under constant threat of fresh attack.
To make things worse, these people cannot go to their farms, as those who attempt were killed or chased away. Thousands of their children cannot go to school and that means the future of these children may be lost.
The records of the recent attack on Madagali, Gulak, Delle, Lassa, Michika, Bazza, Husara, Shaffa Shedufu, and Tarku are not yet part of this sad story. Some of these areas are still under the control of the terrorists and their dead bodies are yet to be buried.
My dear brothers and sister, what amounts of compensation or relief can anyone provide to comfort these communities? Maybe the most important questions should be when will this madness stop? What is Nigeria’s government doing to protect and save the lives of the remnant? And what are we doing as national and global members of Christ’s body? May God have mercy on us, the victims and the victors.
-- To contribute to the relief effort in Nigeria, give to the Emergency Disaster Fund online at www.brethren.org/edf or by mail to Emergency Disaster Fund, Church of the Brethren, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120. To contribute to the Church of the Brethren mission in Nigeria give online at www.brethren.org/nigeria .