Global Finances 16 Titus/Philemon Study 18 Board Meeting Report 20
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GLOBAL FINANCES 16 TITUS/PHILEMON STUDY 18 BOARD MEETING REPORT 20 -- - - -~ - - - - - Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. , -Theodore Roosevelt How does an educational - institution become a community of compassion known around the world? Let Jan and Roma Jo Thompson take you on a behind-the-scenes historical journey of the Brethren Service Center and find out how this little campus dared to embrace the world. Beyond Our Means How the Brethren Service Center , Dared To Embrace the World -----@>----- /,~ RJan and RomaJo Thompson Brethren Press® This day. Order Now 800-441-3712 www.brethrenpress.com MAY 2009 VOL.158 NO.5 WWW.BRETHREN.ORG (( . publish with the voice of thanksgiving) and tell of all thy wondrous works)) (Psa. 26: 7b KJV). Editor: Walt Wiltschek Publisher: Wendy McFadden News: Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford Subscriptions: Diane Stroyeck Design: The Concept Mill 8 California, here we come: Annual Conference 2009 A collection of stories provides a preview of this year's Annual Conference in San Diego, including a feature on the journey of 2009 Conference moderator David Shumate. Other pieces give an overview of Conference business and the host city, a unique initiative occurring at a southern California seminary, and some fun highlights related to this year's big event. 15 Flashes of fundamentalism Many historical snapshots didn't fit in last year's heritage series during the denomination's 300th anniversary. This month, Tim Harvey tells the story of Harold Snider-a successful but controversial pastor who opposed the Brethren joining the Federal Council of Churches in the 1940s. 16 Real concern for the 'real' economy Everyone knows the world's economy has been in turmoil this past year. Church activists at this year's World Social Forum said this is a pivotal moment, when global finances can and must change. 18 Titus and Philemon: Instruction and counsel These two letters of Paul explain the need for good character and forgiveness. One is a "pastoral epistle" to an assistant in Crete, the other an appeal to a friend and slave-owner. · DEPARTMENTS 2 From the Publisher 3 In Touch 6 Reflections 7 The Buzz 20 News 25 Youth Life 26 Media Review 27 Letters 31 Turning Points 32 Editorial Messeege, May 2009 ■ n "Flatland," an imaginary world of two dimensions, the inhabitants are HOW TO REACH US flat geometrical figures oblivious to the notion of space. From their limited 1 MESSENGER vantage point they can see each other only as edges, so that everyone appears to be a 1451 Dundee Avenue straight line. Elgin, IL 60120 When a square visits the one-dimensional world of "Lineland" and has an encounter Subscriptions: with an actual line, he realizes how frustratingly limited this simple creature's frame of [email protected] reference is. The line's entire horizon consists of a point, since Phone: 847-742-5100 ext. 247 Fax: 847-742-6103 he can look only one direction or the other. The square's voice seems to come from his middle, which doesn't make sense to Advertising: [email protected] him. And when the square suggests he move off his line, the Phone: 800-323-8039 line is shocked by the idea that he could leave his world. Fax: 847-742-1407 Then the square travels the other direction: He is visited by a Editorial: sphere, who takes him on his own mind-altering experience [email protected] Phone: 800-323-8039 ext. 263 with another dimension. The encounter is both frightening and Fax: 847-742-6103 awe-inspiring. The square has now had a taste of the third Subscription rates: dimension, but he is still a citizen of Flatland. $17.50 individual rate In recent months our world has gone flat. This harsh reality - $32 for 2 years has demanded the attention of all of us. The economy seems like the most pressing $14.50 gift rate $14.50 church club rate issue, but there are others close behind. We face ecological peril. Our world is still at - $27 for 2 years war. Systems and institutions seem frail. $ 1.25 student (per month) We hear that society is postmodern, post-denominational, post-Christian; the very If you move, clip address label terminology leaves us unsettled and wondering what comes after after. and send with new address to But Edwin A. Abbott's novella Flatland, written 125 years ago, reminds us there's more MESSENGER Subscriptions, at the above address. Allow at least five to our life than what we can see. We can ponder it, try to imagine it, believe in it; but it is weeks for address change. impossible for us to completely understand it because it is beyond our dimension. Connect electronically: For a From the book of Job: "But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of free subscription to Newsline, understanding? Mortals do not know the way to it, and it is not found in the land of the the Church of the Brethren living" (28:12-13). That is, a point is incapable of comprehending life outside itself. The e-mail news report, write [email protected]. line cannot comprehend a square. The square cannot comprehend a cube. We may have trouble imagining what lies beyond our limited sight, but we know Visit MESSENGER online at that it's there. God's reality is far beyond the bounds of our anxieties. We're dwelling in www.brethren.org/messenger. Flatland, but God is not. A free study guide for each issue of MESSENGER is available at this site, along with other information. MESSENGER is the official publication of the Church of the Brethren. Member of the Associated Church Press. B'iblical quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are from the New Revised Standard Version. Copyright © May 2009, Church of the Brethren. MESSENGER (ISSN 0026-0355) is published 11 times a year by Brethren Press, Church of the Brethren . Periodicals postage paid at Elgin, 111., and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to MESSENGER, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120-1694. ~ Printed on recycled paper ~ (20% post consumer) n Messenger May 2009 CONGREGATIONCLOSE-UP A taste of Jesus' time planning a 50-year anniversary celebra Bridgewater love feast attempts to re-create typical meal tion and reunion Aug. 13-15, 2010, including the compilation of a devotion "What can we do to create a meaningful love feast experience for our members?" al book from submissions by former This question was raised at Bridgewater (Va.) Church of the Brethren during our staff, campers, and volunteers .. Karen annual organizational meeting of deacons serving on the communion committee. Duhai of Bedford (Pa.) Church of the One deacon made the suggestion, "Let's serve a meal of foods that Jesus may have Brethren has been called as the new eaten at the Last Supper." So began a period of research that resulted in a special youth ministry coordinator for Middle meal quite different from our traditional love feast of beef and sop. Pennsylvania Dist rict. Deacons researched information from a variety of sources. Dr. Don Colbert's books, What Would Jesus Eat? and The Ultimate Program for Eating, Feeling Great, and Southeast Annual Conference modera Living Longer were helpful. We also found information on the Web for articles about tor David Shumate headlined this year's typical diet in that part of the world 2,000 years ago. There was support for the theo Southeastern District Adult Fellowship ry that red meat was not abundant, and that there was easier access to olives, nuts, Rally, April 19 in Sparta, N.C .. Camp figs, dates, and milk products from goats or sheep. Bethel (Fincastle, Va. ) held its Sounds of There are relatively few written references to daily the Mountains Story and Music Festival foods in the Bible. It seems likely that a main source of OU'R. MEAL Apr. 24-25 . .. Virlina District held an evangelism-focused conference with the protein was fish, and other meats may have been Sourdough Bread reserved for special meals rather than daily food. While theme "Living Our Faith: Outside the Goat's Cheese Walls of our Church" March 28 at the references to eating goat, sheep, and lamb are fre Hummus Germantown Brick congregation (Rocky quently found in the Bible, they often are mentioned in Olives relation to feasts or special celebrations. Cattle were Unleave ned Crackers Mount, Va.). uncommon, and terms like fatted calf probably do not Artichoke Tapenade Dates Midwest Creekside Church of the refer to our type of cattle. Grapes Brethren (Elkhart, Ind.) on May 16 will Due to the absence of detailed records, we felt free to Almonds raise money for National Youth interpret our meal with products both affordable and Conference with a concert by the band available to us. The menu served was vegetarian, and "Sanctified," along with a "blessings of made use of foods such as goat's cheese, olives, sourdough herbal breads, arti the bikes" and escorted motorcycle ride. chokes, nuts, fruit, and bean products. While it is not known if these elements were .. Southern Ohio District is having a part of the Last Supper, all seem to have been typical of the period. "fiesta" May 16 at Cristo Nuestra Paz This serving of native foods encouraged us to identify in a more complete way (New Carlisle, Ohio) to celebrate with the experience of Christ at the table with his disciples. It was effective in lead Hispanic ministry .... Christian singer ing us into an attitude of worship in which the betrayal of Christ and his impending Mitch McVicker did a concert March 15 at trial and crucifixion seemed to be at hand and very real.