NEWSLINE - July 6, 1996 NEWSLINE is the weekly online newsletter of the Church of the Brethren posted each Thursday by the Communications Dept. through cobnews@aol.com. Interested persons can "hear" Newsline by calling 410 635-8738 or receive a "fax" of Newsline by calling 800 323-8039, ext. 257. Newsline by "e-mail" is available by sending an online request to cobnews@aol.com. To print this listing (Netscape), Press ALT, F, P To save this listing (Netscape), Press ALT, F, S To search this listing (Netscape) Hold CTRL + Tap F %%%%%%%%% = (heading of a new week) --------- = (heading of a new item) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% NEWSLINE 07-06-96 "Let your light shine so that others can see your good works," Millard Fuller, founder and president of Habitat for Humanity, charged attendees at the luncheon Friday celebrating completion of the Church of the Brethren-sponsored and constructed Habitat house in Cincinnati. Fuller shared his belief in the importance of Habitat not only as a service to those in need, but also as a powerful tool to spread the word of God's love. The Brethren-sponsored house was part of a "blitz-build," in which hundreds of volunteers worked together to construct three houses in 10 days. The three-house project was called the "Celebration Build," in honor of the Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity’s 10th anniversary this year. "We do this not only for the family who will receive the home, but also for the dramatic effect and media attention," Fuller explained. "It puts [the church] out there so that people can see what you’re all about." The family of the late Ivan Fry was recognized at the luncheon. Fry coordinated the Habitat project until his unexpected death in April. Jan Thompson has directed the project since then, and Bruce Barwick served as the on-site supervisor. Following the luncheon, Brethren joined a crowd of approximately 250 for the dedication of the three Habitat houses, including 825 Blair Ave., the house built last week by Brethren senior high workcampers and this week by Annual Conferencegoers. Fuller also spoke at the dedication and commended the Church of the Brethren for its long involvement with Habitat for Humanity. Vivian Hudson and her two sons were presented with the keys to their new home during the dedication. "I want to thank the Church of the Brethren for their help, especially the youth who came from all over the country to help us. I had a lot of fun working with them," Hudson said. General Board chair Katherine Hess accepted a plaque recognizing the Church of the Brethren for its contributions to Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity. The General Board donated $40,000 to underwrite the construction of the house. "It has been a real joy and privilege to participate in this project," said Hess. "Habitat stands for what the Church of the Brethren believes in: pouring Christ’s love out into the world. This has my support to become a traditional Annual Conference event." In Conference business Friday, delegates passed, with one amendment, a statement on ministerial leadership that concerns calling and forming quality leadership within the denomination, after long discussion on the conference floor. The amendment struck several lines from a portion of the statement outlining search, call, and placement procedures for personnel. Overall consensus by delegates was that the Nominating Committee should not bring to Standing Committee a prepared slate of candidates for calling people to denominational leadership. Rather, conference delegates should be more active in the process. While the statement encompasses all aspects of ministerial leadership, delegates likewise felt that this particular recommendation was not in keeping with the overall charge for the paper, which was to focus on strengthening pastoral leadership within the denomination. The statement is the result of 1990 Annual Conference action to form a five-year Committee on Ministerial Leadership to "develop a strategy for continued initiatives on calling and forming quality ministerial leadership in all contexts of Church of the Brethren life, particularly in congregations and districts" and to review denominational practices and procedures to that end. Each year since then, the committee has made reports to the Standing Committee. In 1995, representatives of the committee's sponsoring partners--Annual Conference, the General Board, and Bethany Theological Seminary--agreed to a one-year extension for the finalized report to give agencies and institutions directly impacted by the report to review and respond before Annual Conference action. In addition, the 1995 committee report recommended that a five-year emphasis on denominational ministry and leadership development be established to set the context for the statement’s recommendations and because of the regularity with which ministry-related concerns have appeared on Annual Conference agendas. The amended statement passed by conference delegates yesterday contained 37 recommendations involving ordination polity and practices, maintaining current ministerial leadership, financial constraints for training ministers, practices and procedures for calling and placing leaders, and nurturing the spiritual renewal of the denomination as it relates to theology and ministerial practices. Conference delegates approved a Standing Committee recommendation to accept a statement on end-of-life decision-making. The paper, which seeks to recognize the complexity, pain, and difficulty of end-of-life decisions, provides guiding principles and suggestions for resources to assist families and congregations in making decisions. The paper upholds a reverance for life and states, "The active and intentional taking of life, including assisted suicide, is unacceptable." In light of the acceptance of this report, conference delegates voted favorably that the statement answered the query on assisted suicide brought to the 1995 Annual Conference body that originated with the Liberty Mills Church of the Brethren, Liberty Mills, Ind. The query petitioned Annual Conference "to study the question of assisted suicide and its implications for our time." Conference delegates adopted the "Ethics in Congregations" statement for the Church of the Brethren, a statement that is "unique within the family of Protestant denominations," wrote the five-person committee. The statement originated with a mandate from the 1992 "Ethics in Ministry Relations" statement, which called for the accountability of congregations. While the statement was passed, the "Inventory of Ethics for Congregations" section of the statement--which allows congregations to take a self-assessment tests on their ethics--was accepted as a study document. Four organizations gave reports during Friday's business session: Brethren Benefit Trust, the General Board and its auditors’ report, Association of Brethren Caregivers, Bethany Theological Seminary, and Brethren Encyclopedia Board. Brenda Reish of Highland Ave. Church of the Brethren, Elgin, Ill., and Marlene Halbritter of Carson Valley Church of the Brethren, Duncansville, Pa., were approved by Annual Conference delegates to serve five-year terms on the board of trustees for Bethany Theological Seminary. This vote came as part of the seminary’s report to Conference delegates, which was approved in its entirety. The report of the General Board, which included the auditors’ report, received a number of questions and concerns over proposed financial and personnel cuts within the denomination. Some delegates suggested that alternatives to options presented by the Redesign Steering Committee be explored, but ultimately delegates accepted the General Board report. Motions to accept reports from the Brethren Benefit Trust and the Association of Brethren Caregivers also passed. In a related announcement, the Brethren Encyclopedia Board of Directors announced plans Friday to publish a fourth volume. Donald Durnbaugh, former professor of Church History at Bethany Theological Seminary and noted Brethren historian, and Carl Bowman, professor of Sociology at Bridgewater College, will co-edit the piece. Also forthcoming is another Brethren Heritage Europe Tour in 1997 and the second Brethren World Assembly to be held at Bridgewater College in 1998. John Harvey, currently finishing his third year of Brethren Volunteer Service as workcamp co-coordinator for the denomination’s office of Youth and Young Adults, has been named interim director of the Church of the Brethren Washington Office. His term, which begins on or before August 12, will last for at least one year and possibly until the end of 1997. Harvey will temporarily fill the position vacated by Tim McElwee, who has accepted a position with Manchester College, North Manchester, Ind. In 1994, Harvey served as BVSer with the Washington Office through BVS. He then served as BVS orientation assistant. In other Washington Office news, office secretary Barbara Sayler has resigned effective July 25 to attend Bethany Theological Seminary. Within the next few weeks, the Washington Office will relocate to the Washington City Church of the Brethren to realize a substantial cost savings in rent. The office’s telephone number will remain unchanged. Katherine Hess will remain as General Board chair for a second year. During the General Board’s reorganization meeting Thursday evening, Hess was re-elected to that position, with Steven Petcher assuming the role of vice chairman. Parish Ministries Commission is now chaired by Roger Forry. Other PMC members are Krista Carter, Phyllis Crain, Mary Jo Flory Steury, Stafford Frederick, Dorothy Gall, Gilbert Romero, and Craig Smith. Beth Middleton was named chairwoman of General Services Commission. Serving with Middleton on GSC are Ruth Davidson Clark, Phyllis Davis, David Miller, Tracy Wenger Sadd, Terry Shumaker, Paul Wampler, and Marie Willoughby. Bonnie Kline Smeltzer continues as chairwoman of World Ministries Commission. Also serving on WMC are Ernest Bolz, Christopher Bowman, William Eberly, Wayne Judd, Edith Mae Kiester, Lori Sollenberger Knepp, and Steven Petcher. Many General Board members and others were named to various committees during the meeting. The Transition Team, which will lead the General Board through the Board’s redesign process, is composed of Board members Katherine Hess, Dorothy Gall, and Beth Middleton Parish Ministries executive Glenn Timmons serving as staff liaison. Stafford Frederick and Craig Smith have joined the Executive Committee as at-large members. Other committee assignments--Audit Committee: Terry Shumaker, Phyllis Davis, and Craig Smith. The Investment Committee: Paul Wampler, William Eberly, Ernest Bolz, Lori Sollenberger Knepp, and Katherine Hess. Personnel Relations Committee: Judy Keyser, Dale Minnich, and Tracy Wenger Sadd. Interchurch Relations: Cheryl Cayford, LuAnne Harley, and Marianne Rhoades Pittman (representing the General Board). Representing the Annual Conference are Allen Deeter, James Beckwith, and Jane Wood. The General Board’s next meeting is scheduled for October 19-22 at the General Offices in Elgin, Ill. About 500 pounds of food and $400 worth of diapers were delivered Friday to the YWCA in Batavia, Ohio, as a result of the canned goods and diapers collection taking place this week at Annual Conference. Sponsored by the denomination's Association for the Arts and young adults, the food and diapers were collected to help area people in need. "As we come to Conference and participate for a brief time in the life of the city of Cincinnati, we want to give back gifts of the heart, and food and diapers do that," said Tara Hornbacker, member of the Pleasant Hill (Ohio) Church of the Brethren and organizer of the food and diaper drive. This shipment was the second sent out this week. On Monday 1,500 pounds of food donated by Brethren in the North Manchester, Ind., area, was delivered to the Emergency Food Center on the city's near-north side. Richard Schreckhise, pastor of Annville (Pa.) Church of Brethren, will preach on the topic, "Someone’s knockin’ at the door," during Saturday’s evening’s worship service. Elizabeth Kee, interim pastor of the Covington (Ohio) congregation, will lead worship. According to Friday evening figures, 4,815 are in attendance at Annual Conference. This is the Church of the Brethren Newsline for July 6 in Cincinnati.