OF PRAYER FOR PEACE

On Sunday, September 21, 2008, churches worldwide will be praying for peace.

On the International Day of Prayer for Peace, you can offer your community a sense of what's possible in the face of violence, poverty, and racism - God's peace. The day can be a powerful time to engage these problems where you live.

Is your congregation willing to share a vision of peace with your community? On Earth Peace is calling congregations to join us in planning public prayer events on September 21, 2008.

In 2007, over 100 congregations, colleges, and communities associated with the Church of the Brethren planned vigils and other events as part of the International Day of Prayer for Peace. How about 300 in 2008?

To connect to the growing movement, and for organizing ideas and support, call 503-775-1636 or click on IDOPP at On Earth www.onearthpeace.org. 0" 111"✓-1 The International Day of :!~ Prayer for Pea ce is an ini- Peace o tiative of the World Council of Churches.

For more information about other On Earth Peace programs, please see our ad on page 30. JULY/AUGUST 2008 VOL.157 NO.7 WWW.BRETHREN.ORG

(( . publish with the voice ef thanksgiving) and tell ef all thy wondrous work/) (Psa. 26:7 b KJV).

Editor: Walt Wiltschek Publisher: Wendy McFadden Associate Editor/News: Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford Subscriptions: Diane Stroyeck Design: The Concept Mill

Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford Amity Foundation/ACT International

8 We're 300 years old! Now what? 16 Big and Brethren (2008 and beyond) Brethren don't have "megachurches." Some congrega­ The 300th anniversary series wraps up with a look toward tions, though, have a sizeable number of worshipers each the future. MESSENGER asked an assortment of Brethren week. Life at the large end of the scale does bring more leaders to share their thoughts on the road ahead for the resources, but it can also bring added challenges. Church of the Brethren. A sidebar provides a listing of resources for observing the anniversary this summer. 18 Hope for the hungry McPherson Church of the Brethren's outreach team were 15 Seeking 'Separated No More' asked to come up with a project to "enflame the pas­ The annual Cross-Cultural Consultation and Celebration sions" of the congregation. They found it by creatively has become of one of the most energetic events in the addressing hunger issues. denomination. Amid the joy, though, remains a heartfelt call for greater inclusion. 20 Romans: The gospel according to Paul Paul had a large vision for spreading the message of Christ, and he wanted others to catch it and support it. In the carefully crafted book of Romans, he makes his com­ pelling case.

DEPARTMENTS 2 From the Publisher 25 Youth Life 3 In Touch 26 Media Review 6 Reflections 28 Letters 7 The Buzz 31 Turning Points 22 News 32 Editorial

Messenger July/August 2008 HOW TO REACH US

MESSENGER 1451 Dundee Avenue ased on the number of groups that sent in their reflections, it's Elgin, IL 60120 estimated that 20,000 Brethren engaged in a discussion of ecclesiology Subscriptions: B [email protected] over the past two years. That's a lot of people. And the guesstimate doesn't even Phone: 847-742-5100 include those who participated in groups that didn't report in. Fax: 847-742-6103 "Together: Conversations on Being the Church" (a long way of saying "ecclesiolo­ Advertising: gy") was an unprecedented endeavor. The idea was simple: All of us were encour­ [email protected] aged to spend time in small groups talking about what it means to be the church. Phone: 800-323-8039 Together we would seek to discern who God is calling us to be today. We could write Fax: 847-742-1407 a paragraph at the end of the conversation and send it in, or not. The point was sim­ Editorial: ply to have the conversation. [email protected] Phone: 800-323-8039 ext. 263 What did we say? What did we hear? And (one might ask) what does it matter? In Fax: 847-742-6103 a slender book whose title asks these very questions, Steve Clapp summarizes the Subscription rates: river of words that flowed from us. $17.50 individual rate Among his various observations he notes, "The Together - $32 for 2 years process revealed, perhaps above all else, how much emphasis $14.50 gift rate $14.50 church club rate we place in our tradition on relationships-on our relation­ - $27 for 2 years ships with Jesus Christ and with each other." $ 1.25 student (per month) That's a revelation worth celebrating. Sometimes we find If you move, clip address label ourselves overly fixated on how we disagree, or what we don't and send with new address to have, or why our particular convictions are more Christian MESSENGER Subscriptions, at the than someone else's. But when we get together, apparently above address. Allow at least five weeks for address change. relationships still matter. Connect electronically: For a free "One of our challenges ... is to deepen our ability to tell oth­ subscription to Newsline, the ers about our fa ith and about the kind of caring communities that our congregations Church of the Brethren e-mail news offer," observes Clapp. "The good news that we have received in the Church of the report, write [email protected]. Brethren should not be kept a secret!" To view the official Church of the As we take a big breath and prepare to blow out the 300 candles on our birthday Brethren website, go to www.brethren.org. cake, we can't help but wonder whether our future looks dim. Some might like to linger a little longer in the afterglow. Some are ready to sweep up the confetti and get A free study guide for each issue of MESSENGER is available on the back to work. Some wish we would stop talking and begin doing. site; go to keyword "MESSENGER" Let's not stop talking, but let's also get going. If we do both, we can model a and click on the study guide link. togetherness thoughtful and sturdy enough to make the world take notice. We can carry the Light that is not ever extinguished. That would be a birthday present well worth giving-to our neighbors, but also to ourselves. MESSENGER is the official publication of the Church of the Brethren. Member of the Associated Church Press. Biblical quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are from the New Revised Standard Version. Copyright© July 2008, Church of the Brethren General Board .

MESSENGER (ISSN 0026-0355) is published 11 times a year by Brethren Press, Church of the Brethren General Board. Periodicals postage paid at Elgin , Ill., and additional mailing offices.

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■ Messenger July/August 2008 CONGREGATIONCONNECTIONS

• Northeast Six Maryland congregations are partnering in a Foods Resource Bank growing project in Grossnickle, Md., this year. A kickoff event was held April 13 .. .. Mid-Atlantic District's annual disaster response auction took place May 3 in Westminster, Md .... Western Pennsylvania held a 300th anniversary celebration service May 18 in Somerset, featuring speaker Jonathan Shively.... More than 1,000 volunteers served at The Brethren Home Community (New Oxford, Pa.) in 2007.

Southeast A peace witness, "Stand on the Lawn for Peace," took place at Brian Sell, far right, celebrates with other members of his team at the Chicago Marathon. Germantown Brick Church of the Brethren (Rocky Mount, Va .) on Mother's Brethren runner among 2008 Olympians Day, May 11. Participants stood in Woodbury congregation is cheering him along the way silence for an hour.... A portion of Good Shepherd Church of the Brethren's Most Brethren don't take the verse "Run in such a way as to get the prize" (1 Cor. (Blacksburg, Va.) facility has been leased 9:24b) quite as literally as Woodbury (Pa.) Church of the Brethren member Brian Sell. to the Virginia Interfaith Child Care Brian qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, with a third-place Center... . Mount Airy (N.C.) won the finish in the US marathon trials last November, and he will represent the United banner for highest attendance by a con­ States at the Games in August. He had led the 2004 qualifying race before fading the gregation at Southeastern District's adult last few miles, so going this time fulfills a dream. fellowship rally. "After that I realized I could do it," says Brian, who turned 30 in April. "I really Midwest Northern Indiana held a dis­ made it a goal to make it in 2008." trict celebration for the 300th anniversary He started running as a way to stay in shape for football, but soon running became the April 20 at West Goshen. About 375 peo­ focus. His college career began at Messiah College in Grantham, Pa., before he transferred ple attended .... The Pinecrest to Saint Francis University in Loretto, where he received a partial scholarship. Now, Sell Community retirement home in Mount appears on the cover of Saint Francis' magazine, part of his newfound celebrity status. Morris, Ill., held a "Church of the "We're getting a lot of attention we never got before," says Brian's mother, Lois Brethren Day" June 12 to celebrate the Sell, who lives in Woodbury. "A lot of people come up and congratulate us. We're denomination's 300th anniversary, along really happy for Brian." with a dedication and open house for She said the Woodbury congregation-which includes many other Sell family mem­ Pinecrest's new community center.... bers, and where Brian's great-grandfather preached-has been praying regularly for Chicago First Church of the Brethren Brian. And about 100 church members and friends traveled to New York for the held an event May 18 to recognize the November race. "They announced that (Brian) had the biggest cheering section 40th anniversary of the assassination of there," she says. "We were most appreciative of that." Martin Luther King Jr. Brian currently lives with his wife, Sarah (from Lititz (Pa.) Church of the Brethren), and baby daughter in the Detroit area, where he runs with the Hansons-Brooks Distance Ozarks/Plains Western Plains will con­ Project. When he's finished running, though, likely in the next year or two, he plans to sider a proposed new district vision state­ move back to Woodbury and the church that has cheered him on in his latest endeavors. ment, "The Western Plains District-root­ "My Sunday school teachers and everyone have written me letters," Brian says. ed together in Love to be Christ's trans­ "It's a big source of support." forming hope and power!" at its district His parents and wife and daughter will all make the trip to Beijing in August to do conference this summer.. . . Two families some more cheering. The marathon takes place on Aug. 24, the last day of the from Quinter (Kan.) Church of the Brethren were affected by tornadoes.that Games.-Walt Wiltschek hit near the town in May. One couple lost their home, barns, and equipment. In all, BVTHENUMBERS about 15 farms were affected. West La Verne (Calif.) Church of the Brethren sponsored a Celebration of the Arts festival for the community May 17- 18. It included more than 300 amateur and professional visual performing 1,554 artists, according to a report in The Sun Number of volunteers who served of San Bernardino .... Nampa (Idaho) at five Brethren Disaster Ministries Church of the Brethren held a "Western project sites in 2007 Dinner" and auction on June 7. Messenger July/August 2008 Bedford churches celebrate tercentennial with love feast

"Do this in remembrance of me." Robert ~ Sell used these words to remind a group of Brethren celebrating the ter­ centennial of the denomination that their love feast "is one of the most important acts identified with the Church of the Brethren." Sell, this year's Middle Pennsylvania District moderator, was welcoming members of congregations in and around Bedford County, Pa., to an event Speakers at the Bedford area's 300th anniversary celebration included, left to right: Jerome held April 20 at the Barn at Friendship Bollman, Cherry Lane Church of the Brethren; Brady Plummer, Bedford; Morgan Knepp, Everett; Village in Bedford. Leah Pepple led and Staci Manges, Snake Spring Valley. singing, which was a cape/la after the manner of the Old Brethren. Women and men sat on different sides of the Bittersweet Gospel Band "the connectedness of the Brethren" in aisle, and a pounding rain only seemed hits the Sunshine State the district. to enhance the service. Other band members for the trip were After the manner of the Old Brethren, The Bittersweet Gospel Band took its Gilbert Romero, pastor of Bella Vista four Brethren were seated at the front to show to Florida this spring, beginning Church of the Brethren in East Los share their understanding of scripture. with a Sunday morning worship serv­ Angeles; his wife, Barbara; Larry Instead of choosing four elders, the ice at Miami First Church of the Brumfield, a licensed minister from planners chose four of the younger lead­ Brethren and traveling the state via Westminster; Dan Shaffer, program ers of the churches. van for a week. director at Camp Harmony in Western The service opened with Morgan Other stops included the Miami Pennsylvania District; and Gary Mauck, Knepp's explanation of the preparation for Haitian congregation (Eglise de Freres a Methodist who frequently serves as the love feast, noting things that have Haitiens), for a Sunday evening per­ bassist for the group. changed over the years. Brady Plummer formance; Christ the Servant in Cape from the Bedford congregation introduced Coral; Lorida; Jacksonville; St. West Green Tree adds a the feetwashing by reading a portion of Petersburg First; Orlando; and Camp centerpiece for new garden John 13, observing, "It is as important lthiel in Gotha for the district's Venture today as it was two thousand years ago." Fund Day. The Venture Fund, which sup­ West Green Tree Church of the Brethren Staci Manges of Snake Spring Valley ports new church development and revi­ (Elizabethtown, Pa.) began its Maundy Church of the Brethren introduced the talization, sponsored the trip. Thursday love feast service in a unique fellowship meal with the reminder that "There was a moment in every service way this year: with the dedication of a the purpose of food was both to nur­ when a spiritual connection was made," special statue. ture and nourish. And Jerome Bollman, reported Scott Duffey, pastor of The 6-foot-tall, bronze "Jesus of from the Cherry Lane congregation, Westminster (Md.) Church of the Gethsemane" statue, which shows closed the service by speaking about Brethren and a member of the band. He Jesus kneeling in prayer with folded the bread and cup as "the high also expressed appreciation for the hos­ hands, sits behind the church at the point." -Frank Ramirez pitality the band found in Florida, and edge of its cemetery. The statue was created by artist Sam Philipe of Jerusalem, according to an article in the Larry Brumfield, a mem­ Lancaster (Pa.) New Era, and commis­ ber of Westminster (Md.) sioned by a family in the congregation. Church of the Brethren, Philipe is creating a twin of the statue to sings with the Bittersweet sit in the actual Garden of Gethsemane. Gospel Band in Florida. "There's something pretty profound that goes on when you look at it," David Hawthorne, a member of the family that donated the artwork, told the New Era. "It's a pretty amazing piece." The congregation is creating a small meditative garden with benches and shrubs to complement the statue, according to the article. ■ Messenger July/August 2008 LANDMARKS & LAURELS

• Neighborhood Church of the Brethren (Montgomery, Ill.) will hold a 50th anniversary C

Messenger July/August 2008 From the moderator: Discipleship and surrender

e was barely 29 years old; she was 27. They worship service included confessions by members undergoing Hhad two young sons to care for-when their discipline (being discipled). Confessed sins included fornication, earnest commitment to live out the teachings of the New leaving the church to become Muslim for a time, and being part Testament got them into serious trouble. They had already of a household with multiple wives. I asked my friend Bitrus fled their home two years earlier and now, in 1708, they Balami, currently district secretary there, whether this discipline risked the wrath of civil and religious authorities by being re­ was imposed by the church or self-chosen. These people, he baptized in the Eder River at Schwarzenau, Germany. They said, have become convinced by scriptural teaching that were determined to do what the scriptures required. changes must take place in their lives. They therefore decide to Three hundred years later, we enter into discipline, counsel with the pastor, make public con­ marvel at the rich heritage and glob­ fession, and ask the congregation to forgive and reinstate them. al ministries of the several denomi­ I suspect some of us would risk the wrath of governmental nations that have emerged from the authorities through a witness to our convictions long before sincere commitment of those who we would risk counting the cost of personal confession in gathered into a fellowship of disci­ front of our congregations. Our spiritual ancestors did both. pleship with Alexander and Anna Perhaps the sense of vulnerability in 18th-century Margaret Mack-young adult par­ Germany and currently in Nigeria-the awareness that life ents seeking to follow Jesus faithful­ could end abruptly at almost any time-makes people more ly in a turbulent world. ready to be held accountable. It is serious business. Young adults courageously follow­ A man who made a confession at Garkida caused chuck­ ing Jesus! Serious discipleship. ling among the congregation as he declared that if he could In my recent visit among the have afforded a refrigerator, he could have hidden his alco­ Brethren in Nigeria (Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria-EVN), I was hol use at home instead of getting caught imbibing at the impressed by their renewed focus on discipleship. Over the local tavern. His point about secret sin was well taken, but past several years the church has struggled with rivalries since he made light of his sin, his pastor said he needs more among the various tribes that make up the Nigerian church, discipling before being reinstated. and the church has not been developing new preaching points What discipling do we need? Our 300th anniversary theme, as rapidly as in the past. To regain loyalty to one another, spir­ based on John 12:24-26, reminds us that unless we surren­ itual fervor, and a renewed commitment to evangelize, a pro- der to God like a seed giving up its current shape, the won- derful life-giving transformations promised in scripture cannot take PERHAPS THE SENSE OF VULNERABILITY IN 18TH­ place. We struggle with that surrender CENTURY GERMANY AND CURRENTLY IN NIGERIA-THE business-especially if it feels like AWARENESS THAT LIFE COULD END ABRUPTLY AT someone is forcing us to surrender to ALMOST ANY TIME-MAKES PEOPLE MORE READY TO their ideas about what life in Christ should be like. Can we learn to surren­ BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. IT IS SERIOUS BUSINESS. der to the Lord together? At age 29 and 27 Alexander and Anna Margaret Mack deliberately gram of pastoral development now links pastors together in chose to be fully immersed together with fellow believers pastoral growth experiences and in daily devotional practices. into the Way oNesus. They made themselves accountable The initial thrust for this spiritual renewal came through to each other to search the scriptures, pray, and discern "Jesus Jubilee" weekends in selected EYN congregations. together how to live out the teachings of the New Testament. Seminars helped church members recognize how the sur­ In my second go-around with age 29 (29 x 2 = 58), I invite rounding culture thwarts spiritual blessings, and how believ­ all of you, my brothers and sisters in Christ (including those ers can move through stages of spiritual growth to enter more moving past 29 for the third time at age 87 and those reach­ fully into life with the Lord. Concluding concerts of prayer pro­ ing 29 for the first time), to join me in earnestly seeking to vided powerful opportunities to confess individual sins and follow Jesus through deliberate discipleship. It is time to the sins of the church and then to pray earnestly for each launch the fourth century of the Brethren. ll! other and for the church to follow Jesus in every aspect of life.

Such serious discipleship was visible at Garkida EYN #1 Jim Beckwith is the 2008 Annual Conference moderator for the Church of the Church, where I preached to a large congregation. The 3 1/2-hour Brethren. He is pastor of Annville (Pa.) Church of the Brethren.

■ Messenger Ju ly/August 2008 OUOTEWORTHY CULTUREVIEW

•Anew study, "Poverty and of the world's bestselling book." ,,ee ready_ to Racism: Overlapping Threats to Illustrated by British-born the Common Good," is part of Nigerian illustrator Ajibayo embrace God Catholic Charities' campaign to Akinsiku (otherwise known as cut the US poverty rate in half by Siku) and written by Akin today!'' 2020. The study cites evidence Akinsiku, the books aims to capi­ that the poverty rate for African talize on Manga mania. (RNS) -Bella Vista Church of the Brethren (East Los Angeles) pastor Gilbert Romero, speaking at the denomination's Americans in the US is 24 per­ • A court battle over church Cross-Cultural Consultation and Celebration cent-three times the rate for assets between the Episcopal whites; Latinos and Native Diocese of Virginia and 11 Americans also suffer from pover­ breakaway congregations has "Being 'bothered' with denominational ty rates above 20 percent. (RNS) already cost both sides concerns is a constant reminder that we are one • The recently released more than $2 m illion, body and thus also members one of another." "Manga Bible" claims to be according to representa­ -Jackie Smallbones, professor of religion and Christian education the "first ever Manga adaptation tives. (RNS) at Northwestern College (Orange City, Iowa). She was writing in The Church Herald of the Reformed Church in America about pastors' participation in the larger church. JUST FOR FUN: WORD FIND

"More theology is conveyed in, and probably 300 AND COUNTING Happy 300th birthday! Over the past six months, retained from, one hour of popular television you have read about a variety of our Brethren ancestors. Now, find their than from all the sermons that are also names (last names only) in the puzzle below. Words can be hidden hori­ delivered on any given weekend in America's zontally, vertically, diagonally, and backwards. synagogues, churches, and mosques."

-Former long-time Publishers Weekly religion editor Phyllis Tickle, in her book God Talk in America (RNS) H M w A p p z y A N N

V H E E R s z T A R B y "We speak with a single and unified voice declaring that our vision and call to engage C A H u s R C R H E 0 in God's purposes in the world is not F E T H G T s E B u C w adequately supported by our present relationships, behaviors, and organization." Q B N L R L E A T H K 0

-excerpt from a statement by the executive board of Mennonite Church USA, made at its February 2008 meeting; the board said the process ahead will like­ u R E 0 E N H u A E M ly include "streamlining and consolidation of our churchwide organization" R H 0 L s N G E R V "A good sermon should have a good N E w F u K C A M N R C beginning and a good ending, and they should be as close together as possible." T E L E B R A A T R N

-actor George Burns, quoted in The Joyful Noiseletter (RNS) E G N R J s C H M

"When our faith generates genuine passion, R 0 N D Q 0 A N E D B E then look out. Because if we all lived with such y 0 N u R D K w 0 L F E passion and integrity, I think people would be naturally drawn to the church, and the church would have boundless transformational power (Alexander) MACK (Henry) KURTZ in both the lives of individuals and the world." (John) NAAS (James) QUINTER -Church of the Brethren minister Rhonda Pittman Gingrich, writing in the New Community Project newsletter (Peter) BECKER (Henry) HOLSINGER (Christopher) SAUER (INH) BEAHM "You never forget who met you at the airport. (John) KLINE (Dan) WEST ... You arrive 'blind'; this person guides you." (Sarah Righter) MAJOR (Anna Beahm) MOW -Abdulkadir "Lee" Abdi, a former refugee from Somalia now working (George) WOLFE (M.R.) ZIGLER with Refugee Services of Texas. He was quoted in the Church World 11 Service Immigration and Refugee Program Welcome" newsletter. (Samuel) WEIR

Messenger July/August 2008 0 a

In this anniversary year, many features in MESSENGER have remind us to stoop and wash each others' feet. Love will looked back at our heritage. While those stories hopefully empower us to lose our lives (personal and institutional) for have lessons for today's church, we also wanted to look the sake of the other, for the sake of God's world. specifically at the future. So this month, to wrap up our 300th Another century of being "brethren" will be meaningful only anniversary series, we invited a variety of church leaders to if it means following the way of love, Jesus the Christ." share brief reflections on their view for the path ahead: What are the trends? What should the priorities be? What might the Jonathan Shively began July 1, 2008 as executive director of Cong regational Life next century hold? Thirteen responded. Some insights from Ministries for the Church of the Brethren. He and his family are currently living some­ w here between Richmond, Ind., and Elg in, Ill. the recent Cross-Cultural Consultation follow on page 15.

Jonathan Shively Jo Young Switzer ''vital and alive ''in the early years of the c hurch, Brethren in the next leaders were wary of higher education. Many believed that Century will be less concerned education and faith were incompatible because formal with the state of the denomination and learning would lead students to accept sources of authority more concerned with the state of the beyond the Bible. For those who believed that the Bible was mission. Rather than focusing on the the sole authority for all religious questions, the thought of numbers in our pews, we'll celebrate academic study of the Bible was frightening. the multitudes at work in the world. As the Church of the Brethren began to Instead of trying to narrow the limits of establish its own colleges in the late God's love, we'll generously share the 1880s, an important realization came to radical love of Jesus with all we encounter. In the new the denomination: Education opens century our focus will be less on what we have and need minds. Education opens learners' minds and more on our capacity to give and to share. Where in the to new epistemologies and new perspec­ past we built structures and created organizations, we will tives on common practices. It creates instead resource disciples and cultivate networks. understandings about what it means to The primary ethic that will guide this outward-focused living be the "outsider." By the 20th century, is love. Because God first loved us, we have no choice but to Dan West, Gladdys Muir, M.R. Zigler, join God in the work of love in the world. Love will motivate Norman Baugher, Anna Mow, Andrew us to refute violence and foster reconciliation. Love will com­ Cordier, Harold Row, A. Blair Helman, pel us to serve our neighbor, friend, and enemy. Love will Dale Aukerman, Paul Robinson, Kermit Eby, Bob Neff, Don inspire us to sing and to pray. Love will teach us to live lightly Durnbaugh, and scores of others demonstrated with their lives on the earth. Love will evoke creativity and artistry. Love will the powerful combination of faith and learning.

Messenger July/August 2008 These institutions share a common heritage with the Church of the Brethren. Diverse in location, size, and offerings within their academic and extra-curricular programs, each offers a world of educational value and opportunity to its students.

To find out more about the exciting direction in which these institutions can lead, visit the websites listed below.

Bridgewater College University of La Verne Bethany Theological Bridgewater, Virginia La Verne, California Seminary www.bridgewater.edu www.ulv.edu Richmond, Indiana www.bethanyseminary.edu Elizabethtown College Manchester College Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania North Manchester, Indiana Brethren Colleges Abroad www.etown.edu www.manchester.edu Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania www.bcaabroad.org Juniata College McPherson College Huntingdon, Pennsylvania McPherson, Kansas www.juniata.edu www.mcpherson.edu Mutual Aid Association Brethren Mutual Aid Agency MAA Share Fund, Inc.

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Faculty members at the Church of the Brethren colleges in What percentage of Brethren people think about playing to t he past and present know that with open minds often come their strengths? Or do we succumb to the negatives of what open hearts. In the next century, continued investment in our we wish we would do but can't? We will grow the most where colleges by the church and its families will lead to persons of we are already strong. We need to build on our strengths. ability and conviction who are problem solvers in a world that What unique people is God calling us to be, and what min­ desperately needs their faith-based insights and motivations. istries is God calling us to do? Can we, on the national level, As we move into a century where global communication the district level, and in our local congregations, be more redefines what it means to be "neighbors," open minds and visionary and permission-giving without too much concern open hearts are increasingly essential. Education rooted in the about bureaucracy? Our biggest challenge is to be open to values of simplicity, faith, and community empowers learners God's Spirit, who will lead us into uncharted waters and into to understand that both the knowledge they gain and their the wilderness of potential." faith commitment to work for "the glory of God and our neighbor's good" makes all the difference in the world." Ea rl Zi egler is a retired pastor an d former Annual Conference moderator. He lives in Lancaster, Pa. This excerpt was ta ken from a message delivered at the 300th annive r­ sa ry launch event in Germantow n. Jo Young Switze r is preside nt of Manchester Co llege, North Manchester, Ind.

Earl Ziegler Shawn Flory Replogle ''As we f ace the ''"rhe Church of the future as a Brethren has a unique denomination, we need to and historical combination of pietism shift our mindsets from being a small (personal, Spirit-filled faith-life) and church with limited influence to a Ana baptism (importance of the people of God with potential to change community of faith). This combination the world. When we think small and has been manifest in the way the church negative, we fulfill our own self­ has maintained a mix of grassroots declared destinies. organizational structure and a strong cultural identity. We should be a people of God who We inhabit a culture that is amazingly diverse and seeks com­ build around our strengths. What if David, the shepherd boy, munities of faith that can embrace that diversity. How does a would have said, "I can't." Instead, he confidently said to the once "peculiar people," who were known by the manner of their giant, "You come to me with a sword and a spear and a living and commonness of their clothing, maintain an identity in javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of Hosts." the midst of cultural diversity? An easy answer is to say we David thought the giant he faced was so big that with God's ought to embrace our core values, but even that is cause for help he couldn't miss. debate. What does nonresistance look like today? What is simple living? Are we really together? What could possibly unify the

Messenger July/August 2008 ■ Church of the Brethren for the next hundred years? governmental authorities. The drive for faithfulness prompt­ Jesus. In reality our core values are not "peace, simplicity, ed succeeding generations to forgo public favor as they and togetherness." Those are ways we have tried to live out reached out to the stranger, to the enemy, to groups fenced our real core value: taking Jesus seriously. To be sure, even as in or walled out. Their action was grounded in the Ephesians we have sought to follow in Jesus' way, from time to time that passage that says of Christ, "He is our peace" and that "he has led us in different directions. But I see a future for a group has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility of believers who invites the world to join them in the journey between us" (2:14). of taking Jesus seriously, recognizing that there are a multi­ My prayer is that coming generations of Brethren will be a tude of faithful responses to that effort. It is the effort of fol­ reconciled and reconciling community that hungers and lowing where Jesus leads that brings us closest to being the thirsts for justice. I pray that at the heart of that mission, that body of Christ. And it just so happens that it offers an authen­ alternative cultural vision, will be the Christ who is called "our ticity of faith for which this culture seems to desperately crave. peace." And that two boys and a kite may serve to remind us The Church of the Brethren is made for this time and place." of callings yet to come."

Shawn Flory Replogle is pastor of McPherson (Kan .) Church of the Brethren Howard Royer is manager of the Church of the Brethren Global Food Crisis Fund. He lives in Elgin, Ill.

Howard Royer Susan Boyer ''The image is ''• love the Church of the Winsome: Two little boys Brethren. At her knee I was taught that God wants scaling three strands of barbed-wire me to live peaceably with all. I have watched her example fence to fly their kite. The boys and the over and over again as she has volunteered to feed the artist, Estelle lshigo, were Japanese hungry, dig wells for the thirsty, visit Americans interned in a relocation those in prison, take care of the children camp by the US government during in a crisis, and stand in solidarity with World War II. lshigo's painting signifies the underdog. She is the one who put the human spirit striving to break free her arm around my shoulder and said, whatever the odds. "You are called to preach the good news The scene touches closer to home when we recall that of God's love." Brethren were directly engaged with Japanese American I see this Church of the Brethren less internees, assisting them in their encampment and helping and less. She seems to have been resettle them after the war. Just as in Armenia, where replaced by a group of factions all strug­ Brethren mounted aid for the survivors of genocide during gling to inherit the Church of the and after World War I; in Spain, during the civil war of Brethren. But soon there will be nothing 1937-1938, where the nutrition needs of refugee children to inherit. It is time we get back to doing prompted the formation of Heifer International; in what Jesus did instead of struggling to survive and win. I Germany, when refugees from World War II were destitute, want us to focus on saying no to hate; sitting down to eat and the sale of SERRV handcrafts was launched to provide with the marginalized; opening our churches to house the income; in Brethren churches and homes in the 1960s that homeless; buying less and giving away more; and address­ hosted Russian Orthodox Church delegations whose lead­ ing the issue of why our prisons are overflowing-just to ers were being vilified by politicians and religious critics mention a few. here at home; and today, in North Korea, where Brethren It is time to quit talking about Jesus and start following support bolsters agricultural production in a hungry but Jesus." enemy nation.

The community of founding Brethren was marked by a Susan Boyer is a pastor of La Verne (Calif.) Church of the Brethren. She lives in radical faithfulness that put it in tension with religious and Claremont, Calif.

■ Messenger July/August 2008 Seth Keller Historically we've used it and abused it. Old Annual Conference answers to queries sometimes urged the practice ''1 have been of forbearance. But forgetting about forbearance, we have Brethren my entire sometimes championed specific interpretations of the Word life. When I was little, I always as "The Word", and have pressed for punitive discipline or thought everyone on earth was disenfranchisement for those who disagree. In so doing, Brethren. Now a youth, and very active covenant conversation is too often in the church, I realize this is not true. reduced to name-calling, accusations There are so many different sects of of sinfulness, threatened lack of sup­ Christianity alone, and then the denomi­ port, and even hints of covenant sepa­ nations! The list goes on and on. There ration. Such times are not a proud part are other religions. There are also non­ of our history. religions, better known as "atheists." When I walk the halls of Forbearance is not tolerance. my high school, I am not exposed to very much diversity­ Tolerance has the feel of superiority nearly none at all. But when I take a leap outside my familiar accepting inferiority. Forbearance is hometown, I see people who need touched, people who need more open to possible understanding. witnessing, and people who need Jesus. Indeed, it represents a "standing with" The Church of the Brethren has always made service a main response in the spirit of hope and aspect of our ministry. But there is also the aspect of spread­ openness toward common ground. ing the Word of God, which I believe is necessary in order to Forbearance is a form of community acceptance that continue the work of Jesus. The Great Commission (Matt. embraces the validity of different perspectives while being 28:19-20) says, "Therefore, go and make disciples of all willing to continue dialogue in the hope of more widespread nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the agreement. Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey every­ Most of all, forbearance recognizes that service to Jesus thing I have commanded you. And surely I am with you Christ can be corporately uplifting and personally gratifying always, to the very end of the age." when experienced by those who do not agree 100 percent on Every day, we believers are exposed to people who do not the specifics of interpreting the One who blesses us and calls know the love of our Lord and Savior. They are drowning, and us into service in His name. We can faithfully roll up our we aren't saving them. As we celebrate an incredible 300 sleeves and together practice love of God and love of neigh­ years as a large church family, I believe we as a church need bor without agreeing on jots and tittles. to reach out to others and invite them to celebrate the incredi­ ble Jesus Christ who is eternal. Not everyone on earth is Ea rle W. Fike Jr. is a retire d pastor. seminary teacher, and Genera l Board executive. and Christian." a former Annual Conference moderator. He lives in Bridgewater Va.

Seth Keller is a member of the Ch urch of the Brethren Nationa l Youth Cabinet. He lives in Dover, Pa. Christy Waltersdorff ''Paul's letter to the Galatians Earle W. Fike Jr. makes it quite clear that when you love God and follow Christ you will begin acting, thinking, and ''Beyond this tercentennial year, feeling in a new way. This new way will be evident by how I look and pray for the continuance of covenant you treat other people. Those who live their lives drenched conversations that exhibit the strong biblical concept of in the love of God cannot help but allow that love to splash forbearance. The New Testament Greek words translated as on others as well. "forbearance" carry meanings akin to patience, self control, When we live in the power of the Spirit we don't love others restraint, mercy, longsuffering, and refusal to threaten because we have to; we love others because we can't help (Eph. 4:2; Col. 3:13; Eph. 6:9: 2 Cor. 12:6, etc.). ourselves. It is who we are, it is what we do. It is as natural as

Messenger July/August 2008 ■ ."" "} ·~ :¼: i~'!F'· ' ·-~~~8:r:. ~;~:.:,, ~. '.

breathing. thing. With an infusion of new spiritual power, some of our When we commit our lives to a God traditions would be retained and infused with new life, while of love, grace, and generosity, then we others might just fa ll away. too will become people of love, grace, What we need is to recover that spiritual power that was and generosity. The Holy Spirit won't characteristic of the early New Testament church, and of the make us perfect. But it w ill make us early Brethren. During this anniversary celebration, we need more and more into t he people God to remember the spiritual power and practice of the early created us to be. Brethren. We can also celebrate the good we see in the cur­ When people ask me if I think the rent Church of the Brethren. Keep in mind that the greatest Church of the Brethren will survive for resemblance to the spirit of the early Brethren may be found anot her 300 years I am reminded of among the Dominican Brethren, Nigerian Brethren, other the words of the late Rev. William "third-world" Brethren, and our "ethnic Brethren" here in the Sloan Coffin. When asked if he was optimistic about the U.S. They may be pointing the way back for us. future of the world he replied, "No, I am not optimistic. But The early Brethren were passionate in their quest for spiritu­ I am hopeful." Coffin writes, "Hope has nothing to do with al renewal. Are we?'' optimism. Its opposite is not pessimism but despair. And if Jesus never allowed his soul to be cornered into despair, Bob Vroon is pastor of Wilmington (Del.) Church of the Brethren. clearly we Christians shouldn't either." Coffin believed, "It's hope that helps us keep the faith, despite the evidence, knowing that only in so doing has the James F. Myer evidence any chance of changing." So am I optimistic about the future of the Church of the ''Now that our Brethren? No I am not. But am I hopeful? Absolutely!" 300th Brethren Birthday Party is Ch ri sty Waltersdorff is pastor of York Center Chu rch of the Brethre n, Lombard, Ill. almost over: • Have we caught something of the spiritual fervency of our Brethren for­ Bob Vroon bears? The Reformation, along with the Anabaptist and Pietist movements, ''it's been said that the river is were wonderful foundations for spiri­ purest at its source, and that seems to be true of the tual revival, which affected the early church. That is what the early Brethren wanted to recover. Brethren as they made deep commit­ And accounts of their life together suggest that it did ments to live for Christ and to abide by the clear teachings of indeed resemble the life of the early the New Testament. We need more of their spiritual fervency. church. That's why people were so • Do we blow out the 300 candles, cut the cake, walk away, attracted to them, while others hated and say, "It was a good party, but don't ask me to make any them. changes?" Birthday parties are not events where much seri­ This passionate quest for spiritual ous thinking usually takes place. It is an OK fun time, but not renewal is the most beautiful part of many revivals start at a birthday party. the Brethren heritage. This is what we • Do we think our "world" is any safer than the one from need to recover from our heritage. We which the early Brethren sought to separate? Likely all of us do not necessarily need to recover all have snickered a bit at some of their strange and unique the forms and traditions of the past. ways. Will our accommodation to so much of present-day We do not need to sing a capella all society leave anything for which future generations will the time, or go back to plain dress. There is a sense in which remember us? we can never "go back," because God is always doing a new • Are we clear in our understanding that salvation is not

■ Messenger July/August 2008 found in our Brethren heritage? Salvation is found in Christ David Radcliff alone. Early Brethren leaders may be good examples for Christian discipleship, but they are not our saviors. They ''As noted by founded a Christ-centered church that happens to be called historian Don Brethren. Durnbaugh, a critical part of • Will we use the Brethren "birthday party" occasion to what spurred the emergence of the invite more people into our spiritual family? We usually start early Brethren movement was having birthday parties for children at age 1. It is proof that a attention to their immediate new person has joined our family. May we go out with context- the currents roiling through greater zeal to win many for Christ and the church." church and society. Our historical context is not unlike that of our James F. Myer is one of the non-salaried ministers in White Oak Church of the founders: war; environmental Brethren (Manheim, Pa.) in Atlantic Northeast Distri ct. destruction; resource extraction at the expense of the poor or the indigenous; displacement of people due to conflict, ethnic tension, environmental demise, and simple greed. Galen Miller Through our history, our awareness of the realities of our world has led to remarkable contributions to service and ''As Jesus peacemaking. In today's world, the stakes are so high, the articulated the chasms between us so large, the disintegration of creation so Kingdom, it was marked by imminent, that more is needed. the character of God and God's If we pay attention to our historical context, we may well be passion for the world. Namely, in compelled to look beyond traditional ministries of charity and keeping with God's character and service and even development as we commit ourselves to the passion, the kingdom of God is a work of justice and maintaining a global eco-culture that can realm defined by love, compassion, sustain life. And finally we may find ourselves feeling com­ and a deep concern for social justice. pelled toward solidarity-standing with our global neighbor­ We are participants in God's kingdom hood as partners and co-creators of a more promising future. when we live lives of love, The early 1700's was an opportune moment-it is such a compassion, and justice. moment now. People now as then are looking for something In the emerging paradigm, therefore, it is the manner of our deeper, truer, enlivening, and people are acting. A number of living and commitment to the kingdom that relates us to God recent books (Blessed Unrest, The Great Turning, Deep and transforms our lives. It is not buying into a particular set Economy, The Bridge at the End of the World) point to a of beliefs or doctrines or creedal statements that brings us groundswell of people who have seen that something isn't new life. It is following Jesus in proclaiming the kingdom. right with the way we're approaching life, and are rising to do This was Jesus' challenge to the religious and political domi­ something about it. nation systems of first-century Palestine. And it got him killed. These stirring masses may just welcome a spiritual ground­ So does the Church of the Brethren want to reverse its ing for their awakening; they may just be waiting for someone downward membership trend? Do we want to appeal to those to show them the way." millions of folks who want to be followers of Jesus, but for J, whom the earlier paradigm of traditional Christianity does not David Radcl iff 1s director of New Community Pro1ect He lives in Elgin, II//; work? Then as a denomination we need to focus on and declare with vigor the kingdom of God as revealed by Jesus ti.CH OF / of Nazareth-a kingdom not of "beliefs," but a kingdom of love, compassion, and justice." • uCII

Ga le n L. Miller is an orda ined minister and retired Oregon/Washington District execu­ ______1% tive. He li ves in Wenatchee , Wash. 00~~~ ~2~

Messenger July/August 2008 ■ Looking for some materials to mark the denomination's produced earlier 300th anniversary, especially around Annual Conference this decade, gives a (July 12-16) and the official unique insight into 300th Anniversary the origins of the Celebration Sunday on Aug. Brethren in Europe and 3? Consider the following: their move to America. • Adult and youth study • Books published by Brethren guides on the theme are Press as part of the anniver­ available at www.churchofthe­ sary series include Portrait of a brethrenanniversary.org/guide.html. People: The Church of the • A variety of free anniversary-related worship and Brethren at 300, by Carl drama resources can be downloaded at www.churchofthe­ Desportes Bowman (summariz­ brethrenanniversary.org/worship.html and www.churchofthe­ ing the Brethren Member brethrenanniversary.org/drama.html, respectively. In addi­ Profile survey, $15.95); the tion, a specially designed commemorative bulletin is avail­ Fresh from the Word devotion­ able for the anniversary Sunday; contact Brethren Press. al book, featuring writers from • A tour guide to Brethren historical sites in the Mid­ all six major Brethren groups; the revamped second edition Atlantic region is available for free at www.churchofthe­ of The Old Brethren, by James H. Lehman ($18.95); and brethrenanniversary.org/miscresources.html. It lists sites to Brethren Brush with visit, background information, photos, hours, contact infor­ Greatness, written by mation, and directions. The sites stretch from New Jersey to Brethren Brush with Tennessee. The project was inspired by late Brethren histori­ GREATNESS Frank Ramirez and illus­ n .,,,-..c< l;T~nl< bmu~~ • i(h,,u,i,..J t,y tv.,,n.,n Th,•r.,...... ,, trated by Kerman an Donald F. Durnbaugh and completed by another 300th anniversary committee member, Dean Garrett. Thomasson ($15.95). All prices are plus shipping and handling. MUSIC, MAESTRO The 300th anniversary committee has Numerous other books commissioned an anthem and a praise song in honor of the anniversary. "Speak, Lord" is the anthem (text and tune by related to Brethren his­ 0 Keith Getty and Stuart Townend, arranged by John tory and heritage, Ferguson); "Lord, Empower Us to Love" is the praise song including the five-book series of Brethren history source (by Ron and Linda Sprunger of the Brethren Chu rch). books, are also available. To order any title, call 800-441-3712 The anthem has been published by Morningstar Music. or visit www.brethrenpress.com. Copies can be ordered by using the form located on the wor­ • A new children's book on Alexander Mack has been ship page of the anniversary website. Copies are 90 cents written by Myrna Grove and illustrated by Mary Jewell. each, plus shipping and handling. Go to www.churchofthe­ Titled Alexander Mack: A Man Who Rippled the Waters, it brethrenanniversary.org, and click on "worship resources," begins with Mack as a child and follows his growth as he or contact committee member Rhonda Pittman Gingrich, pulls together the early Brethren and eventually comes to 4820 Upton Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55410. America. The 64-page hardback costs $22 plus shipping and In addition to the version of the praise song to be sung by handling and is available from Brethren Press. congregations (free of charge on the website), the Sprungers • Piecing Together the Brethren Way is a curriculum also have offered a choral arrangement with full sco·re. resource for children, kindergarten through grade 5, writ­ Published copies of the choral version can be ordered by ten by Jean Moyer of Elizabethtown (Pa.) Church of the using the form on the website, for 40 cents each plus ship­ Brethren and Stone Church of the Brethren (Huntingdon, ping and handling, or contact committee member Leslie Pa.). It is available through Brethren Press for $49.95 plus Lake, PO Box 73, Orville, OH 44667. shipping and handling. The website also offers four more anniversary hymns: "O • DVDs: Faith Alive! Surrendered, Transformed, God, We Come Before You" (text and music by Barry Deardorff); Empowered was produced by the 300th anniversary commit­ "Surrender to God" (text by Jean Lersch, music by Charles tee in cooperation with David Sollenberger. It profiles a vari­ Bame); "Prayer Hymn" (text and music by Carolyn Egolf); and ety of members who live out their Brethren beliefs. It is "To Serve Our Neighbor's Good" (also available as a choral available through Brethren Press for $20 plus shipping and anthem; text by Earle Fike Jr., music and arrangement by handling. The interactive DVD Without Fear or Hesitation, John Barr).

■ Messenger July/August 2008 Seeking 1 Separated No More' Cross-cultural event lifts up diversity of God's kingdom

by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford

"Separated No More," drawn from Revelation 7:9, pro­ on cross-cultural ministries as Congregational Life Teams vided the theme for the 2008 Church of the Brethren Cross­ staff. The consultation gave him a standing ovation "for Cultural Consultation and Celebration, held in the Chicago keeping this work going for so many years." Grady respond­ area April 24-26. More than 130 Brethren from across the ed, "All I can say is, look what God can do." United States and Puerto Rico attended. The consultation also featured a presentation on the history of Three congregations each hosted an evening of vibrant the cross-cultural work in the church, an open discussion about worship and fellowship-Highland Avenue in Elgin, Chicago cross-cultura l ministry with opportunity for participants to make First, and Naperville-and meetings were held at the comments and suggestions, and small-group Bible studies led denomination's offices in Elgin. by facilitators trained in a process of mutual invitation. "Why are we here?" asked Ruben Deoleo, in the opening Participants toured the denominational offices and heard about statement of the consultation. "First of all we want to give the ministries carried out there, and later learned about the his­ glory to God .... Second, we want to make each of us tory of Chicago First. Evenings at each congregation featured a aware that everybody is important for God, no matter who meal provided by the church and fellowship around the tables. you are! You are important for the Church of the Brethren. The event was planned and led by the Cross-Cultural We are here to be a witness so you can tell others about the Ministries Steering Committee: Founa Augustin, Barbara Cross-Cultural Consultation." Date, Thomas Dowdy, Carla Gillespie, Sonja Griffith, Robert Deoleo welcomed the group in his new role as Jackson, Marisel Olivencia, Victor Olvera, Gilbert Romero, and Congregational Life Teams staff with special responsibility Dennis Webb. Next year's Cross-Cultural Consultation and for cross-cultural ministries. He emphasized that participants Celebration will be held April 23-26, 2009, in Miami, Fla.~ would not leave empty-handed. The "homework" he gave included a charge to share learnings in cross-cultural min­ Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford is director of News Services for the Church of the Brethren. istry with churches and communities. Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford Sermons by Chicago First pastor Orlando Redekopp and pastor Thomas Dowdy of Imperial Heights Church of the Brethren in Los Angeles spoke about "the need to embrace the cross-cultural project," in Redekopp's words. Dowdy, who was a member of the recent Annual Conference lntercultural Study Committee, outlined several steps for the church to move into the vision of Revelation 7:9: first to understand oneself, second to "loosen up," third to keep a sense of humor, and fourth to not worry about making mistakes. Some are hesitant in cross-cultural efforts because they are afraid of saying or doing something wrong. "But you may say something right," he encouraged. "Don't be afraid to step out. .. . You will not experience the Revelation 7:9 experience unless your mind and hearts will be transformed ... . Revelation 7:9 can start today!" Redekopp received the first award for cross-cultural ministry in the Church of the Brethren. "This is the first one, but it is not the last one," Deoleo said as he presented the award along with Duane Grady of the General Board's Congregational Life Team, and Sonja Griffith, pastor of First Central Church of the Brethren in Kansas City. The award honored Redekopp for a ground­ breaking role in the first years of the consultation, when he asked forgiveness for the pain and exclusion minority groups had experienced in the church and started a process of healing. A second award was given to Grady, recognizing his work

Annual Conference moderator Jim Beckwith received a laying on of hands during the Cross-Cultural Celebration. Frederick Church of the Brethren, located northwest of Washington, D.C., is by far the largest in the denomination, with more than 1, 700 members attending five services.

Big and Brethren Shepherding a large flock brings joys and concerns by Karen Doss Bowman

w h;le ;t's t,ue that the majo,ity of cong,ega­ tions in the Church of the Brethren are relatively small, a handful draw crowds of hundreds each Sunday. An economist by profession, Rick Ludwick views church atten­ dance from a consumer standpoint. A member of Frederick (Md.) Church of the Brethren-by far the denomination's largest congregation with about 1,100 active members-Ludwick says people expect choices these days, and a large church is equipped to meet a variety of needs and interests. While most churches of all sizes offer their share of Bible studies, support percent of US congregations-the largest ones-contain half of groups, and special interest ministries (like a quilting group or a the nation's churchgoers." In other words, these larger congre­ financial stewardship ministry), the larger churches often are gations draw the majority of worshipers each week in the US. able to provide multiple options within each category. The survey results also showed that large churches often "Church membership is a competitive endeavor," says were perceived as more socially conscious and spiritually Ludwick, former chair of Frederick's board and a member of nurturing, with clearly defined missions, well-organized pro­ the long-range strategic planning team. "The consumer of grams and uplifting worship services. Additionally, they were church services shops different church services like they do found to be highly denominational, meaning they adhere for other things. Why shouldn't the Brethren churches offer closely to their heritage. something that meets the spiritual needs just as well as Perhaps the most obvious benefit of attending a larger churches [of other denominations)?" church is having more options for worship, small groups, and involvement. Many larger congregations provide multiple wor­ Attracting crowds for Christ ship services so members may choose the schedule and wor­ Large churches may not be for everyone, but they're a signif­ ship style that best meets their needs. Frederick, for example, icant part of the American religious landscape. offers five worship services, including a Saturday evening con­ An article in the Winter 2005 issue of The Alban lnstitute's temporary service and a deaf worship on Sunday morning, Congregations magazine summarized the results of three con­ conducted in American Sign Language and voice interpreted. gregational studies on large churches-defined as those with Not every large church embraces the concept of multiple at least 350 regular attenders but not as high as the worship services, however. White Oak Church of the Brethren megachurch standard of 2,000. One study revealed that "10 (Manheim, Pa.), a "free ministry" congregation with an aver-

■ Messenger July/August 2008 age weekly attendance of 570, has only one Sunday morning worship service, says Jim Myer, former Annual Conference moderator and one of White Oak's nine ministers. "Our people are impressed with the importance of gather­ ing for worship [as one body]," says Myer, who adds that the physical design of White Oak's sanctuary, in a semi-circle, helps members to feel close and connected to one another. Maintaining a sense of community can be a challenge for any congregation, but especially in the larger congregations, where the sizeable crowd can create an anonymity that inhibits the growth of personal relationships. Additionally, multiple worship services may foster the feeling of separate congregations. Promoting unity requires deliberate effort, often achieved through small groups, Sunday school classes, coffee hours, or fellowship meals. With three morning worship services, Lititz (Pa.) Church of the Brethren has tried to create a sense of community through a continental breakfast offered every Sunday. Drawing more than 200 people each week, the meal gives members an opportunity to meet people they may not see in worship while preserving the Sunday school hour "where the small group ministry thrives," says senior pastor Bob Kettering. When a congregation expands to a large size, there tend to be more resources, both in terms of finances and people to Atlantic Northeast District executive Craig Smith, whose dis­ share the workload. The Lititz congregation, for example, trict includes five of the denomination's 10 largest churches. requires more than 500 volunteers to carry out its programs- "Sometimes it can be lonely because it's hard to talk about 90 of those are Sunday school teachers, according to Kettering. your successes when smaller churches are struggling, or The down side is that as a church grows larger, the need for they think that you're bragging. It does create a bit of a ten­ finances and volunteers increases-and large churches may sion in terms of how you talk about what you're doing." struggle in these areas as much as their smaller counterparts. All eyes on the kingdom It's not easy being big The concept of big Brethren churches is peculiar to many Shepherding a flock that numbers in the hundreds is a chal­ within the denomination. After all, the Brethren churches lenge, and one of the key differences between large and emerged in rural areas, and members were part of a small, small churches lies in the role of the pastor. The senior pas­ close-knit community. Frederick church member Ludwick tor of a large church must possess good administration skills says that many of his fellow Brethren seem to be distrustful to lead a staff that divides the responsibilities of preaching, of their larger counterparts, as if these congregations are visitation, Christian education, music, and programs. teaching a "watered down" Christianity. At the same time, these leadership abilities must be bal­ "What happens is (that) most Brethren churches equate anced with an openness to "congregational input," encour­ intimacy with smallness," Smith adds. "I think we have to aging members to take the initiative to lead new ministries get past that, where we can learn to grow the kingdom and within the congregation, says Pete Kontra, pastor of the still look for other ways to invite people into an intimate rela­ Oakland Church of the Brethren in Gettysburg, Ohio. tionship with God and with one another." "We try to keep things pretty open so people don't have to That's not to say every Brethren church needs to grow infi­ jump through hoops to get a ministry started," Kontra says. nitely. There's no "magical number to being a successful con­ The leaders of larger congregations also may feel a sense gregation," Myer says. Even though large congregations hqve of isolation within their own denomination, says Frederick's more resources available in terms of volunteers and finances­ senior pastor, Paul Mundey. According to a January 2005 as well as facilities to accommodate church and community article in Alban Weekly, "Large-congregation leaders need to activities-all churches, regardless of size, are called to spread find and develop their own networks, commonly across the good news of the Gospel and carry out the work of Jesus denominational boundaries." Christ, according to Mid-Atlantic District executive Don Booz. While most pastors grapple with issues such as staff man­ "The question is, what kind of church do you want to asso­ agement, fiscal management, and board relations, the senior ciate with?" Booz says. "The mistaken identity is that one pastor and other leaders of large churches face these on a size fits everybody, and that's not true ... Both small and grander scale. large churches are doing great things for the kingdom." liJ "It's almost more than some of our smaller churches can Karen Doss Bowman is a freelance writer based in Bridgewater, Va . She is a mem­ comprehend, so there does tend to be a disconnect," says ber of Sunrise Church of the Brethren in Harrisonburg.

Messeagec J"ly/A"O"" 2008 ■ Hop,an!sq!h !!!n!d it!!f ~ ngry widen its outreach by Jeanne Jacoby Smith

wenty-four thousand women and men, girls and religious issue. Moreover, Brethren had allied with Bread for the T.boys, succumb to extreme hunger every day somewhere World, Call to Renewal, and socially conscious churches to sup- on Planet Earth. They represent God's children, with human port the ONE Campaign to Make Poverty History. The goal of the faces and human hearts. On Day 2 the cycle starts again, ONE conference in Washington that summer focused on the first potential lost forever in a sea of despair. of the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals, which In January 2005 McPherson (Kan.) Church of the Brethren made called for cutting extreme poverty and hunger in half by 2015. hunger personal for its members. The leadership team challenged The cause was definitely compelling. the outreach team to generate a year-long focus that, in pastor Shawn Flory Replogle's words, would be "specific enough to ■ ■ enflame people's passions, but general enough that people can In the ensuing days, the McPherson team designed a strategy, go in directions that they feel most passionate about." and the Hope for the Hungry Project was born. · As the team struggled for its year-long directive, concern for the The project involved a two-pronged approach: education and hungry did not surface immediately. Finally, on a cold January fundraising. Education happened during Moments in Mission, night, a member of the team slipped out of bed to e-mail the oth­ Kids Team on Wednesday nights, a hunger simulation banquet, ers. "I read about this idea," she said. "Perhaps it has possibili­ a hunger panel, and commissioning services inviting all to ties." Her message focused on a church in California that distrib­ respond. "Numbers of the Week" in Sunday bulletins highlight­ uted $100 bills to its members, challenging them to generate proj­ ed significant numbers relevant to hunger throughout the year. ects based on the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. Though aspirations were noble, the team had no $100 bills Encouraged by this innovative approach, the team decided to to spare. Moreover, the congregation had launched an ambi­ focus on one of the world's most pressing problems: hunger. tious building project, resulting in the tightest budget in years. MESSENGER, Sojourners, Church World Service/CROP, and numer­ Finally, a donor stepped forward with $1,000. Elated, the ous religious bodies continually asserted that hunger is, indeed, a team transformed it into seed money for hunger project

■ Messeogec July/August2008 Clockwise from far left: McPherson member lrven Stern rejuvenated an dividing profits among several agencies, and a retired professor abandoned greenhouse, selling plants to alleviate hunger in Darfur. sold his beloved rock collection to help make poverty history. Members Ruth and Wendell Howell matched seed money to purchase Retirees provided Sunday dinners in lieu of restaurant meals rabbits for Heifer International programs. after church. One couple shared their creativity, hosting Music for Jana Goering shows one of her quilts. She allowed her customers to choose one of three hunger agencies as beneficiaries of her hunger project. Meals programs. An accountant quilted wall hangings for hunger, Jim Stevens shows some of his garden produce that he hauled to a and others held specialty sales. A grandmother pledged dona­ soup kitchen in nearby Hutchinson all summer. tions in lieu of birthday gifts for her family, and a retired mission­ McPherson College professor Wayne Conyers and Matt Ayres of Prairie ary rejuvenated an abandoned greenhouse on the McPherson City (Iowa) Church of the Brethren paint "Hunger '06," on 200 bowls for a College campus, earmarking profits from his plants for Darfur. banquet at McPherson Church of the Brethren. Another salvaged wood from his sons' construction business, fashioned toys reminiscent of his childhood days, and auctioned assignments. This assignment, divulged in worship over sever­ them at district conference. His labors benefited Trees for Life. al weeks, invited the congregation to accept $20 bills and con­ The Church of the Brethren Global Food Crisis Fund attracted secrate them to God's use throughout the following year. numerous projects, as well. A retired pastor in the church "This money is not your money; it is God's," recipients were baked and delivered bread to his neighbors, educating them told. Referencing Matthew 25, the team challenged participants about the program and requesting donations for the fund. to "seek your own assignments-what God is calling you to do." Others designed cards featuring the church's stained-glass win­ In April 2005, during morning worship, a majority of the con­ dows, also for Global Food Crisis. The list cou ld go on and on. gregat ion stepped forward to consecrate themselves to the project. While most accepted seed money, others developed ■ ■ meaningful projects using their own resources. Participants To maintain momentum, the team convened a hunger panel were instructed to seek out hunger at home and abroad, to with agriculture specialists and a representative from World wait upon God, and to consider how their talents might best Vision. Using the book Ending Hunger Now by George be used. The kickoff worship inspired an outpouring of creativ­ McGovern, Bob Dole, and Donald E. Messer, the message of ity, ingenuity, and caring over the course of the following year. the evening highlighted the politics of hunger and the urgency of churches to respond in appropriate ways. For example, pur­ ■ ■ chasing emergency food from developing regions near crisis The first educational project, a hunger banquet, found partici­ countries not only feeds the hungry in famished areas, but it pants in the church's social room. Using randomly assigned jump-starts local economies, providing a double bonus for all. seating, they created colonies representing villages of peasants An Alternative Christmas Market, the first in McPherson, sur­ on the floor, middle class communities at tables, and the prised everyone by netting $14,000 on a single Saturday morn­ wealthy served with china, linens, and stiff-collared, tuxedoed ing. Highlighting trusted hunger agencies plus a booth for waiters. Members' status in hierarchical economies determined members' projects, the market sent 100 percent of proceeds to menus for the evening: a spoonful of rice, a casserole, or a gour­ fund hunger programs of choice. met meal. David Radcliff of New Community Project debriefed Twice during the year members shared their hunger projects the dynamics of hunger, creating empathy for the oppressed. during Sunday morning reporting services. A youth advisor trans­ That spring, before school drew to a close, a member formed photos of projects into slide shows for use during offerto­ stepped forward to head the city CROP Walk as her hunger ries. The cumulative effect of so many helping the hungry in ven­ project. Her efforts highlighted CROP's 60th anniversary, ues that tapped into their God-given talents bred excitement increased numbers of participants, and rekindled passion for throughout the congregation, and hope for the hungry, as well. the hungry in our community. Summer ushered in the Bread for the World conference, ■ ■ "ONE Table, Many Voices" in Washington, D.C. One couple A year after the Hope for the Hungry Project was launched, joined the Kansas delegation to rally Congress to uphold the some projects were completed and others continued indefi­ Food Stamp Act, threatened by budget cuts. Another member, nitely. The harvest from the original seed money surpassed a Brethren Vo lunteer Service worker in the denomination's $31,000, not including commodities given in-kind. Washington Office, lobbied on behalf of the bill. Never did the outreach team envision what could happen when In July, world leaders met at a G-8 conference to discuss the the church was set afire with a vision. By enabling the hungry to United Nations' Millennium Development Goals. One member help themselves, by offering water to parched souls in small but fasted during the three-day summit, praying for its success important ways, hunger skipped a heartbeat here and there. each time she felt a hunger pang. Later, she matched her The hunger assignments did much for the church, as well. restaurant receipts and bought a smoke-free stove from Trees Enthusiasm bred enthusiasm, hearts were rekindled for mis­ for Life to improve a mother's health in Guatemala. sion, and members were empowered with the knowledge that Several members pooled seed money to hold A Greater Gift collectively and as individuals they could, indeed, make a dif­ sale (SERRV) to support fair trade for impoverished artisans ference. The church merely gave them its blessing and a venue around the world. Profits from the sale helped establish in which they could serve. li! McPherson's new soup kitchen. Another hosted a beans and rice Jeann e Jacoby Sm ith is a recent retiree from McPherson College. where she served as meal for Heifer International where she once volunteered her professor in the Cu rri cul um and Instruction and Eng lish departments. She is a member of McPherson Ch urch of the Brethren. She extends t ha nks to the 2005-2006 outreach time. Children made cookies and crafts, donating proceeds to tea m: Tandy Wine. Mary Ann Dutrow, Marla Ullom-M in nich, and co-pastor Ch ris help youngsters like themselves. One family planted vegetables, Whitacre . For more details, vi sit www.macbrethren. org.

Messenger July/August 2008 ■ Romans: The gospel according to Paul Apostle wrote letter as precursor to a new mission effort by Rick Gardner

We've got mail! to become partners in mission, and with God. This is not to diminish God's role in Of the 27 writings that make up the New good reason. Spain had no synagogues Israel's story. God's mercy in Christ is Testament, 21 are letters attributed to from which to launch a mission, and the indiscriminate, however, bestowed on all various authors. The most prolific corre­ language for proclaiming the gospel who trust God. spondent appears to have been Paul, a would no longer be Greek, but Latin and The next section of material, 5:1-8:39, former persecutor of the fledgling local dialects. To meet such challenges, describes how life has changed because Christian movement who became a cele­ Paul needed an extensive network of of God's rectifying action. Among other brated missionary or apostle of Jesus. contacts, which hopefully the Roman topics, Paul contrasts how Adam and The letters of Paul immediately follow Christians could help provide. Christ give rise to two very different the book of Acts, in which Paul plays a For such support to materialize, it was realms of human existence, discusses lead role in the expansion of the church. important for Paul to lay out the vision baptism into Christ's death as the gateway Romans comes first in this collection of driving his work, his theology of mission. to resurrection, reflects on what it means letters-not because it was the earliest Moreover, he needed to present the vision to live and walk by God's Spirit, and (much of Paul's work is behind him when in such a way as to connect with the world affirms that God's redemption will eventu­ he writes it), but because it is the longest. of his audience and issues that mattered to ally encompass the whole of creation. The length of Romans is puzzling at them. So it is that he decided to write to But what about Israel? Many of Paul's first. According to Paul's opening the Romans at length, crafting what might compatriots want nothing to do with his remarks, he is a relative stranger to most be called "the gospel according to Paul." Christ. Will Israel therefore miss out on believers in Rome. He has not yet had an God's program of rectification? By no occasion to visit their churches, much Paul's good news means, Paul argues in 9:1-11:36. The less preach there (cf. 1:10-13). Why would So, what is this gospel? First and fore­ God who chose Israel remains faithful to Paul write so long a letter to groups with most, it is "the gospel of God" ( 1: 1; Israel. And in some mysterious way, God whom he had so little history? 15:16). It is good news about God and will bring Israel to faith through the sal­ what God has done through Jesus Christ vation of the Gentiles. An appeal for assistance to rectify a world gone wrong. Such news The final question Paul considers is We get a clue to Paul's motives near the is more than just words, Paul tells us. It is how those whom God has rectified should respond to God's mercy. Put succinctly, they GOD IS IN FACT A REDEMPTIVE GOD. INSTEAD OF are to offer themselves as a "living sacrifice" (12:1), ALLOWING ALIENATION TO HAVE THE FINAL WORD, GOD open to ongoing transforma­ IS INTENT ON RESTORING EVERY BRANCH OF tion (12:2). Paul expands on this statement in 12:3-15:13, HUMANKIND TO A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. urging believers to live peaceably with one another (and with the empire), and end of the letter. There we learn that he "the power of God for salvation to every­ appealing to the "strong" and "weak" to plans to visit Christians in Rome and be one who has faith, to the Jew first and "welcome one another ... as Christ has "sent on" by them to launch a new mis­ also to the Greek" (1:16, cf. 1:16-17). welcomed you" (15:7). sion in Spain (cf. 15:22-29). In preparation Paul elaborates this thesis in 1:18-4:25, for this venture, he will be sending his highlighting how a "righteous" God is in Practicing Christ's acceptance patron Phoebe (with his letter, most likely), fact a redemptive God. Instead of allow­ Paul's words to the strong and weak (cf. and he urges his audience to help her "in ing alienation to have the final word, 14:1-15:13) raise an interesting question: Is whatever she may require of you" (16:1-2). God is intent on restoring every branch this generic counsel for believers every­ In short, Paul wants believers in Rome of humankind to a right relationship with where? Or is Paul addressing a particular

■ Messenger J uly/August 2008 problem facing believers in Rome, and one that bears on his mission agenda? Many scholars believe that the latter is the case. Christianity in Rome likely began as a movement within the city's many Jewish synagogues. Over time, friction between adherents and opponents led to public dis­ turbances, which in turn led the emperor Claudius to issue an edict expelling the Jews, Christians included (cf. Acts 18:2) . In their absence, the Christian presence in Rome became predominantly Gentile. When Claudius' edict expired, Jewish Christians were among the Jews who returned to Rome. Now, however, they comprised a minority among the church­ es, and their re-entry could well have occasioned the behavior Paul describes. Some Gentiles likely disparaged Jewish dietary and sabbath practices, and some Jews likely criticized Gentile laxity in this regard. To put it another way, harmony and hospitality were both in short supply. If this portrayal is correct, then Paul's appeal to the Romans to "welcome one another" is directly relevant to his purpos­ es. Pragmatically, he needs the support of groups sufficiently united to make his mis­ sion a common cause. Theologically, he needs partners in mission who embody the gospel, who embrace one another as recti­ fied by God and reconciled in Christ. Paul never reached Spain. His arrest and captivity intervened. But the vision behind his plans, a truly cross-cultural vision, still conveys good news to a hostile and divid­ ed world. E.!

Rick Gardner is emeritus professor of New Testament Studies at Bethany Theological Seminary, in Ri chmond, Ind., where he is serving agai n as interim academic dean in 2008-2009. He lives in Huntley, Ill.

MESSENGER's "Journey through the Word " series will pro­ vide a brief overview of a different book lor books) of the Bible each month through December 2009. Coming in September: 1 Cori nthians, by Harold S. Martin.

Messenger July/August 2008 ■ Church of the Brethren responds to disasters with numerous grants

The Church of the Brethren responded to recent disasters and the world hunger crisis with a series of grants in May. The grants, which focus on response to the China earthquake and the cyclone in Myanmar (Burma), were given from the denomi­ nation's Emergency Disaster Fund and Global Food Crisis Fund. The two funds each provided a grant of $30,000 to support Church World Service (CWS) and its partner agency Amity Foundation following the massive May 12 earthquake in south­ Church of the Brethren grants have helped Church World Service west China, which caused widespread damage and killed more and its partner Amity Foundation to provide relief supplies in than 60,000 people. The initial response by CWS and Amity China following the massive earthquake that hit in May. included immediate relief supplies of food, quilts, and shelter materials. A long-term response will include the rebuilding of efforts. CWS was among the earliest groups able to gain homes, schools, hospitals, and safe water supplies. access to the region and distribute aid. The Global Food Crisis Fund (GFCF) gave a grant of Elsewhere, a $5,000 GFCF allocation will assist with distribu­ $30,000 to support CWS hunger development work in tion of 250,000 packets of seeds in Liberia. The logistics for the Myanmar following devastation by Cyclone Nargis, which project are handled by Church Aid Inc. Liberia, a GFCF partner. made landfall May 2 and left more than 130,000 people dead And in the United States, a $7,000 Emergency Disaster or missing and displaced up to 2 million others, according to Fund grant responded to spring storms, answering a CWS United Nations estimates. The money will help purchase rice appeal following a severe outbreak of tornados and flood­ seed urgently needed for this planting season. Another GFCF ing. The money will help provide material aid, staff deploy­ allocation of $15,000 supports Heifer International-designat­ ment, training, and financial support for long-term recovery ed hunger development work in Myanmar, assisting 1,700 groups in parts of Georgia, Maine, Missouri, and Virginia. families toward achieving sustainable food sources and Staff were monitoring additional response needs. income over the next three years. The Emergency Disaster Fund earlier sent $40,000 to assist CWS' immediate relief

Mission Alive 2008 conference celebrates past and present

The Mission Alive conference held April 4-6 in Bridgewater, Va., was a celebra­ tion of past and present mission work in the Church of the Brethren. About 125 people attended. The conference was a mix of thought­ provoking plenary presentations and workshops, held together by times of worship. The conference moved through a series of themes: the biblical calls to mission, celebrating a fruitful past, look­ ing at leadership for transformation, cul­ Samuel Dali of Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria (the Church of the Brethren in tivating faithful congregations, the chal­ Nigeria), center, cvisits with area Bfethren attending Mission Alive. lenges facing the church in mission, and cultivating a faithful future. The five and moved directly into an exploration of Galen Hackman, former missionary times of worship were created and coor­ the biblical basis for mission. Stephen and pastor of Ephrata (Pa.) Church of dinated by Tara Hornbacker, associate Breck Reid, academic dean of Bethany the Brethren, then shared a "report professor of Ministry Formation at Seminary, moderated presentations by card" of how well Brethren have Bethany Theological Seminary, and Paul Eugene Roop, former seminary president responded to these calls to mission. Roth, pastor of Linville Creek Church of and Old Testament professor, and Dorothy The celebration of a fruitful past includ­ the Brethren in Broadway, Va. Jean Weaver, a New Testament scholar ed presentations by Ted & Trent; The conference opened with worship from Eastern Mennonite University. Rebecca Baile Crouse, former mission

■ Messenger July/August 2008 coordinator in the Dominican Republic and pastoral team member at Warrensburg (Mo.) Church of the Brethren; and a multi­ media review of mission work by David Sollenberger and "A. Mack" (played by Larry Glick). Representatives from the Brethren Church and Dunkard Brethren Church also shared. Paul Mundey, senior pastor at Frederick (Md.) Church of the Brethren, led a session about leadership for the missional church, and three reports came from people living out that vision in their local settings. A discussion of challenges facing the church was led by Annual Conference moderator Jim Beckwith and general secretary Stan Noffsinger. Along with the challenges amid significant transition and turnover, some encouraging news was shared, such as how current missions at home and abroad are mak­ ing and deepening disciples, and how Church of the Brethren outreach to North Korea has resulted in an invitation for Brethren to partici­ pate in a new university there. The conference concluded by looking to the future. A powerful presentation by Mano Rumalshah, bishop of the Diocese of Peshawar in the Church of Pakistan, explored the repressive situation of the Christian church in that primarily Muslim country. Rumalshah spoke of his deep appreciation of God, who suffers with the people. TRAVEL WITH TOURMAGINATION Samuel Dali, a guest from Ekklesiyar Van'uwa a Nigeria (EVN-the Church of the . TO EXPLORE THE WORLD Brethren in Nigeria) said he identified with MW( #2 - CHILE, URUGUAY, PARAGUAY (J uly 5-20) the Pakistani challenge of living with 2008 TOURS MWC #3 - IGUAZU FALLS ond PARAGUAY (July 9-20) extremist Muslims. He shared about the ENGLAND, SCOTLAND and WALES (June 25-July 7) MW( #4 -IGUAZU FALLS, PARAGUAY, PERU (July l 0-2 4) destruction of EVN churches in the north­ EXPLORING SWISS-GERMAN FAMILY ROOTS in EUROPE - EUROPEAN HERITAGE (August 25-September 7) MW( #5 - PARAGUAY and BO LI VIA (July 12-2 5) MW( #6 - IGUAZU FALLS, PARAGUAY, PERU (J uly 12-29) ern Nigeria city of Kano during Muslim­ BUS TOUR to PENNSYLVANIA - SIGHT & SOU ND Christian violence. The question for the (Septembe r 25-28) RUSSIA and UKRAI NE (August 1-15) conference was clear: What are we doing to CHINA and a YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE (O ctober 8-21 ) MEN NONITE STORY in POLAN D (September 15-23) ENCH ANTIN GDANUB ERIVER CRUI SE (Oct 24-Nov. 1) show our solidarity with Christians who TM ALUMNI MYSTERY TOUR (October 15-2 3) FOLLOWING the STEPS of MOSES (November 2-14) BEHIN D the VEIL - EX PERIEN CI NGE GYPT (Nov. 16-28) suffer? It was suggested that they need MW( GLOBAL CHURCH TOUR with LARRY & ELEANOR more than our sympathy: when one suffers, MILLER (November l 0-24) 2010TOURS we all suffer, and we must act together. CHECK WEB SITE FO RTOU RS INCLUDING 2009TOURS OBERAMM ER GAU PASSIO N PLAY Mission Alive concluded with worship led PANAMA CANAL ADVENTURE CRUISE TOUR (Jan. 3-13 ) by Robert Alley, pastor of the host CHURCHES AND SAFARIS in KENYA and TANZANIA Bridgewater congregation, who preached (February 9-20) on the theme "For All the World." VISIT MEXICO and its COPPER CANYON (Feb. 27-March 8) EXPLORE the WORLD of PAUL with TOM YODER NEUFELD The conference was sponsored by the (April 29-Moy l 5) Church of the Brethren General Board with ISRAEL and PALESTINE (Moy 24-J une 3) support from Brethren Revival Fellowship EUROPEAN HERITAGE TOUR (June 4-17) and Brethren World Mission. The planning ALASKA CRUISE TOUR (Ju ne 8- 19) ' Building bridges among Mennonites and other Christians and faith s around the world through custom-designed travel.• team included former executive director of MW( #1 - BRAZIL, IGUAZU FALLS, PARAGUAY (J uly 2-20) Global Mission Partnerships Mervin Keeney CALL 1-800-565-0451 and a steering committee of Linetta Ballew, FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO BOOK YOUR TOUR Carl Brubaker, Carol Spicher Waggy, and E-MAIL: [email protected] WEB : www.tourmagination.com Larry Dentler. (Enten and Mary Eller and Louie 9 Willow Street, Waterloo, ON N2J 1V6 Conodo Reg. #500 14322 2308 Wood Street, Lancaster, PA 17603 USA Rieman contributed to this report.)

Messenger July/August 2008 ■ Haiti advisory group meets, brings recommendations

Future planning is under way for the Church of the Brethren mission in Haiti, which has grown to three churches and six "The world is preaching points, with an estimated atten­ dance of 500-600 people. The Haiti Mission hungry for the kinds Advisory Committee met for six hours at of things taught l'Eglise des Freres (Church of the Brethren) in Miami on April 12 to develop broad­ in our Mennonite based, long-range recommendations for schools." ongoing ministry. In a follow-up teleconfer­ ence meeting April 21, committee mem­ bers worked with General Board staff to Daryl Byler begin implementing the new plans. '85 seminary grad Middle East reg ional coordinator for The context for the intense visioning was Mennonite Central Committee the Haiti mission reaching the five-year mark. Merle Crouse, chair of the meeting, said, "We are seeing amazing progress in reaching new people and developing leadership. We believe that the mission in Haiti has a great start. The next five-year phase is beginning, and will require a lot of wisdom, discipline and strategic resourcing to move the new Haitian church forward in a healthy way." The advisory committee includes Ludovic St. Fleur, pastor, and Mary Ridores of l'Eglise des Freres; Jeff Boshart, former Dominican Republic economic development staff; Jonathan Cadette and Wayne Sutton of Miami First Church of the Brethren; Crouse, former mission worker and retired General Board staff member; and R. Jan Thompson, the General Board's interim executive direc­ tor of Global Mission Partnerships. Recommendations addressed both the immediate food crisis in Haiti and the need Portrait of a People summarizes the findings for a long-range agriculture program. The of the Brethren Member Profile 2006, the committee continues to see the need to most comprehensive and representative purchase land, as ownership of property survey of Brethren members ever conducted. Sociologist Carl Desportes Bowman, who directed the study, reports on a wide range of new information-Brethren beliefs about God and the afterlife; attitudes about military service, abortion, and politics; pract ices in the areas of personal Bible study, worship, and love feast; and much more. Readers will find themselves and the establishment of social service pro­ surprised, pleased, and dismayed. All will grams are necessary for a denomination to find themselves better informed about the be granted full legal status by the Haitian people who call themselves Brethren. ~ /,~ government. Other agenda items involved "This is a story that every member of the Brethren Press recommending to the General Board the Church of the Brethren should read:' 145 1 Dun dee Aven ue licensing to ministry of nine congregational Elgin, Ill inois 60 120-1694 - Donald B. Kraybill phone 800-441-3 7 12 leaders. The group also requested and fax 800-66 7 -8 I 88 received financial assistance for an 2008 $15.95 pack of 5 for $60 e-ma il [email protected] Leadership Training Seminar in Haiti, after a successful event last year.

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" ... turning the world upside down .. . "-Acts 17:6 ONCAMPUS Bridgewater College (Bridgewater, Va.) The Hon. Frank J. Williams, chief justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court, spoke at this year's graduation. He urged the 389 graduates to "guide this great land back to the vision of its Founders," in a speech cen­ tered on the legacy of Abraham Lincoln. Former general secretary Judy Mills Reimer spoke at the baccalaureate service.

Elizabethtown College (Elizabethtown, Pa.) Elizabethtown dedicated its recently com­ pleted mineral gallery during a May 1 cere­ mony at the Masters Center for Science, Mathematics and Engineering .... Students for the second year honored the memory of classmate Katelyn John of Camp Hill, Pa., who died in October 2006, with a 5K run. The event, held May 4, supports organizations that minister to children.

Juniata College (Huntingdon, Pa.) Three Juniata faculty who retired at the end of the 2007-2008 academic year were hon­ ored at a faculty dinner. The retirees are: Klaus Jaeger, professor of German; Janet Lewis, associate professor of philosophy; and Andrew Murray, Elizabeth Evans Baker Songs and stories fill McPherson conference Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies and About 100 youth came to McPherson (Kan.) College April 4-6 for Regional director of the Elizabeth Evans Baker Institute Youth Conference, drawing from the three Plains districts and for Peace and Conflict Studies. All three were Missouri/Arkansas. granted emeritus status by the college. Singing and storytelling formed the heart of this year's event, with the University of La Verne (La Verne, Calif.) theme "Cherishing the Tradition" and a focus on the Church of the President Steve Morgan has signed an Brethren's 300th anniversary. Brethren singer/songwriters Mike Stern, Peg agreement to include the university in the Lehman, and Andy and Terry Murray all gave concerts during the weekend, American College & University Presidents while historian/writer Jim Lehman was on hand to share stories. Climate Commitment to reduce global A group of students and pastors from the district helped to lead worship warming emissions .... Bob Neher, a pro­ times, and various denominational agencies and programs gave "commer­ fessor of biology and faculty member at La cials" about available opportunities. Verne for 50 years, served as keynote speaker for the College of Arts & Sciences commencement ceremony in Ortmayer Bits and pieces Stadium, one of the five celebrations on • The youth group of Hanover (Pa.) Church of the Brethren received the 2008 spring commencement schedule. public thanks from the Hanover Borough Council this spring for cleaning up a main avenue that runs by the church. The group collected 48 bags of trash Manchester College (North Manchester, Ind.) in its first effort and planned to do additional cleanup days. Andrew Haff, a member of Westminster (Md.) Church of the Brethren, was named as one of this year's recipients of a prestigious Fulbright scholarship. Haff will teach English A drive for 300: The sen­ as a Second Language in Vietnam. ior high youth of Kokomo Manchester student Tim Polakowski of (Ind.) Church of the Brethren Rockton, Ill., also received a Fulbright, bring­ challenged all of t~e adult ing Manchester's total number of Fulbright Sunday school classes to a recipients to 25-the highest per capita of canned food drive. To cele­ any university or college in Indiana. brate 300 years of the Church of the Brethren, the McPherson College (McPherson, Kan.) youth wanted to collect 300 US Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) visited cans for the Kokomo Rescue McPherson May 5 as part of his 105-county Mission. The church went tour of Kansas. After a short introduction above and beyond by collect­ by president Ron Hovis, Brownback talked ing 980 cans. Pictured are briefly about issues affecting Kansans and Lindsay Floyd, Alex Fruth, Americans before taking questions from Courtney Cunningham, the audience. Lauren Soblotne, and Gretchen Catron.

Messenger July/August 2008 ■ GodTube: How well does it reach out?

hri~ Wyatt and the Internet have something promote their individual faiths and surrounding cultures. Cgomg. Though GodTube has dominated the press in recent months, In the late '90s, the young television producer helped start the folks at JewTube and lslamicTube seem to have a positive Communities.com, the world's first social networking website. outlook on the Internet giant. "It's nice to have various reli­ The site exploded into the Web's largest pre-MySpace network. gious sites so that people can go and learn about God, under­ Now, less than a decade later, Wyatt runs GodTube.com, stand the differences in religion, and appreciate one another's which was rated the fastest-growing belief," lslamicTube.net spokesman Abu Ayman said. HEATIIEI/ DO N CKELS online site when it launched last In spite of its smashing success, not everyone has such a August. Wyatt says the site aims to rosy view of GodTube. "help the church get people back into the pews." Dan Smith, pastor of Momentum Christian Church in Valley Wyatt is now the CEO of the Christian video-sharing and View, Ohio, created the video "Baby Got Book," which social-networking site, which employs about 20 people and GodTube used to launch its site. Though the spoof on the rap has a distinctly Christian outlook. song "Baby Got Back" had been viewed more than 603,000 "We're a traditional Christian site," said Wyatt, a 38-year-old times on GodTube by the end of 2007, Smith wonders how Dallas Theological Seminary student. "Jesus Christ is our effective the site will be in reaching non-Christians. Lord and Savior, period." "Most Christians want to reach un-churched people," Smith According to comScore Inc., which tracks the growth of said, "but you have to be really smart about where you reach websites, GodTube grew nearly 1,000 percent in its first un-churched people at." month, and had 1.6 million unique visitors every month. As of Tim Ellsworth, the director of media relations at Union this spring, there were about 200,000 videos on GodTube. University in Jackson, Tenn., has his doubts, too. Though he Wyatt came up with the idea for GodTube after reading a thinks GodTube can have a positive impact on believers, he survey about falling church attendance. And while churches thinks it's yet another example of American Christians copy­ can upload video-sermons to the site, Wyatt insists that ing elements of pop culture-from Christian breath mints and energy drinks to a Christian version of American Idol. "It's comfortable and convenient for us to surround our­ selves with Christians still need to attend an actual church. Christian versions of everything rather than to interact with "GodTube is by no means a substitute or alternative for the broader culture," Ellsworth said. church," he said. "We're here to help the church." Ellsworth would love to see a larger Christian presence on And Christians aren't the only ones using the Internet to share the video megasite YouTube (www.youtube.com), because their faith. For Jews, there's JewTube.com, and for Muslims, there the videos would have a better chance of being viewed IslamicTube.net. Though the two sites are considerably smaller­ by non-Christians. He thinks Christians' tendency to withdraw JewTube gets about 175,000 visitors per month and lslamicTube from the world reflects badly on them. 23,000-the two sites are similar to GodTube in their mission to "It indicates to . .. non-believers that we don't care as much about them ... whenever we try to make Christian copies of

6 0 0 GodTube.com C) everything," he said. Q · ~ ~ 0hnp:11w.-.w.god1ubuom/ Nevertheless, Wyatt sees GodTube as his ministry, a way "to bring as many people to Christ ... as possible." He doesn't think he is the reason for the site's success. Rather,

~ A Pr11verW11II IJl vi,tualBible CJ uveevent: Off Ait it's the result of "God in GodTube." "I'm not really the CEO," Wyatt said. "I feel like I'm the Watch \lldCO$ make connoctlons Q messages chat blog CEO's man on the ground." ll! photos groups ministries ,, ' Prai:~!f~lble Belong Heather Donckels is a writer for Relig ion News Service.

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The Fellowship of Brethren Homes' ecumenical partnerships make it possible for you to take advantage of the Peace Church Long-Term Care Insurance available through its administrator, Senior Ministries Insurance Alliance. • Benefits paid for services in your home, assisted living facility, daycare facility or nursing home Send me information about the Peace Church Long-Term Care Insurance • Alzheimer's and dementia coverage available to anyone connected with the Church of the Brethren. • Guaranteed renewable • Tax quantified plans • Coverage available to spouses, brothers, sisters, parents, children age 18+, County State Zip grandparents, in-laws, aunts and uncles Church For more information or cost estimates for this Peace Church Long-Term Care Spouse's Date of Birth Insurance program, call (800) 382-1352 Send completed form to Senior Ministries Insurance Alliance 1023 Mumma Rd., Lemoyne, PA 17043 What is really 'pro-life'? r:.,ff!:__ Pontius' Puddle "Collateral damage" is a slick semantic invented by Caesar (the government) to 1-\oR~Y ul', l'otrnvs . "'1E &-oT P. Fll.\T\·\ MA.V t<\0\/£ l-'\.OUITTAIN$, replace "killed innocents" or "bombed SOMDA.'{ Stl-\OOL ?A.RT'/, A. \30T IT f\LSO t-1\0\/ES ( YOIJTI-\ &-ROUP S£RI/IC.E ?«0JR'T, A LOT OF t'\07..-Z..ARELLA · utility" in the Iraqi war. Caesar hoped AND A. 1/()()N

This commitment means that we will go above and beyond­ The value of hospitality whether it's when you have a claim or when someone else in your faith community is in need. Thank you to Duane Grady for his article "Practicing Biblical Hospitality" (May, MAX membership has its benefits-to you and others. 2008). For the past three years my wife and I have lived full-time in a recreation­ HOME• FARM • CHURCH • BUSINESS • AUTO al vehicle. As a result we are frequently _,--­ first-time visitors in churches of various denominations. Happy 300 Years Church of the Brethren!. We have frequently noted that the real Bowl with us at the 300th Anniversary to ~} indicator of the hospitality of a congre­ commemorate the history and celebrate the fu ture! ~ I:?' gation is not the performance of the Also enter for a chance to win a Nintendo®Wii ™! ~ V trained and assigned greeters and ush­

• ® ers before worship, but rather the 877~ 971~6300 • www.maxwholeness.com response of members of the congrega­ tion towards visitors during and after Creating and Sustaining W H O L E N E S S ™ MAX the time of worship. In some places we

■ Messenger July/August 2008 have been greeted warmly following Long live Frank James the conclusion of worship, while in oth­ Let's remember Frank James! I really ers we have been largely ignored. mean Frank AND James. These guys We have fond memories of an are quite different than the infamous Episcopal church in Kansas where a Frank James who was Jessie's brother. man greeted us after worship and not Thank goodness we have these two rid­ only invited us to go with him to the ing through our 300th year. We have coffee hour, but also to sit at a table had our heroes, and we still have our with him. He continued to introduce heroes- heroes not to be worshiped, others to us and to invite them to the but who will rise up and speak up and table. We enjoyed their hospitality for guide us. nearly an hour after worship was done. Their writings in MESSENGER and in Bruce Rosenberger Livingston, Texas Guide to Biblical Studies are outstand­ ing. If anyone missed them in the

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Messenger July/August 2008 ■ March MESSENGER, look them up. They the way we think is the Jesus way, exactly what he means. Later in the signed off as Frank Ramirez and James rather than seeing Jesus' teachings as same sermon he teaches in verse 31, Benedict. the guide to how we think and, more "And as ye would that men should do We Brethren are more important importantly, how we act and live. Jesus' to you, do ye also to them likewise." It than many others, but only as long as message is not conservative, or for that is a blueprint for how we are called to we continue to do the things Jesus matter liberal. His message is radical. treat every human being. asked us to do. If we read scripture as the infallible In Matthew 6:19-21 we hear him Richard Radcliff word of God, that means there is no teach: "Lay not up for yourselves treas­ Bl ue Ridge, Va. mistake about Jesus' teachings. When ures upon earth, where moth and rust he says: "But I say unto you, Love your doth corrupt, and where thieves break Can we bear Jesus' way? enemies, do good to them which hate through and steal: But lay up for your­ you; bless them that curse you, and selves treasures in heaven, where nei­ I am amazed, but more, deeply troubled pray for them which spitefully use ther moth nor rust doth corrupt, and by the way we convince ourselves that you" (Luke 6:27-28 KJV), I think that is where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart will be also." How many of us are willing to give up com­ fortable homes, new cars, much less ES PRACllCli. our saving accounts or retirements funds? We need to read carefully Matthew 10:17-23 and listen to our Fall 2008 On Earth Peace Event Schedule Lord tell the wealthy young man: "You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, August 22-26 Young Adult Peace Camp and give the money to the poor, and Camp Brethren Heights, Rodney Michigan you will have treasure in heaven; then Explore nonviolent living in the real world, come, follow me" (NRSV). How many along with organizing in your community. of the teachings of Jesus are we will­ Weekend-only option available. ing to follow? Can we interpret them September 21 for our day and time? International Day of Prayer for Peace Good Church of the Brethren pastors Join the international Christian and interfaith community are out there. We don't want to hear in praying for peace across the world. Lift your vision what they have to say. In many places for God's peace in your community. (See our full color they have been silenced or have found ad on th e front inside cover for more information) their voice outside of our congrega­ October 4 tions. If, when a pastoral candidate is Exploring Consensus Decision-making Workshop Richmond Church of the Brethren, Richmond, IN CLASSIFIEDADS An introduction to the consensus process for leaders Pilgrimage to the Holy Lands, Israel, Greece, and congregational members and Rome- in the footsteps of Jesus Christ and St. October 25 Paul. April 20-May 4, 2009. For information please Keeping a Cool Head in a Hot Meeting Session email kreiderk@etown .edu or write to J. Kenneth Western Plains District Gathering IV, Salina, KS Kreider, 1300 Sheaffer Road, Elizabethtown PA 17022. Facilitation of difficult meetings for all church leaders Mediterranean Cruise/Tour 14 days beginning Nov. November 13-14 14, 2008, Paul's Fourth Missionary Journey. Visit: Athens, Keeping a Cool Head in a Hot Meeting Workshop Rome, Naples, Pompeii, Malta, Sicily, and Corinth plus Delphi/Metcora Post Tour! Hosted by CoB Rev. John and Camp Mack, Milford, IN Rev. Linda Stoner with over twenty years experience as Facilitation of difficult meetings for all church leaders professional travel agents. Prices start at under $3,800 November 15 including airfare, airport transportation, all port charges, on-board tips, taxes, and shore excursions. Call 877 -456- How to Keep a Christian Attitude- 8769 or www.smallgrouptours.com and link to e-mail. Skills for Holding Difficult Conversations Workshop Mid-Atlantic District PASTORS NEEDED. Congregations in many of the Learn to discuss divisive topics by focusing on denomination's 23 districts are in need of strong, trained understanding and relationship-building rather Christian leaders who are dedicated to Church of the than changing beli efs. Brethren beliefs and practices to serve as pastor. The ava il­ able placements are both full-time and part-time and For more information, click on include some associate/second staff positions . The congre­ Qn Earth " Upcoming Events" at www.onearthpeace.org gations vary widely in size and program. A full listing of or call 410-635-8704. openings can be found at www.brethren.org/genbd/min­ l?eace istry/placement.htm. Contact the appropriate district exec­ utive or call the Ministry office at 800-323-8039 .

■ Messenger July/August 2008 being interviewed, he or she should ask them to care for us. Church of Jesus Christ, much less the how important the peace stand of the Jesus' call is to radical discipleship. It Church of the Brethren? church is, or the importance of tithing, is very difficult. There is nothing easy Rachel W. N. Brown or questions the low percentage of giv­ about walking and working in this Mt. Sidney, VA ing to outreach, or why there is an world as he teaches us through scrip­ American flag in the sanctuary- there ture. The church people of his day will probably not be a second inter­ didn't get the importance of his mes­ CORRECTION view. And when we hire a pastor, we sage either. They were so afraid and • Due to incomplete information given expect him/her to preach what we want threatened by what he taught that they to MESSENGER, the list of project direc­ to hear. We want him or her to come killed him. Today I think he weeps over tors for the Butler Chapel AME 10 years for a bargain salary with few benefits. the "Christian Church" as he wept over ago was incomplete (April 2008, News). We have not yet learned to care for our Jerusalem (Luke 19:41). Who are we­ Jiggs and Violet Miller of Lake Odessa, pastors in the same way we expect and what have we done with the Mich., also served at Butler Chapel.

Please send information to be Mohican, West Salem, Ohio: Meyersdale, Pa ., 50 Clearwater, Fla., May 2 Ohio, March 26 included in Turning Points to Shaun Beegle, Portia Beegle, Miller, Melvin and Hilda, Harris, David, 24, Chicago, Ill., Shoemaker, Vera, 84, Jean Clements, 1451 Dundee Zachery Beegle, Ethan Harrisonburg, Va., 70 March 16 Martinsburg, Pa., March 29 Ave, Elgin, IL 60120; 800-323- Beegle, Sarah Burgett, Alli Rothrock, Dayton and Rebecca, Harris, Susan Regina, 97, Snider, Mabel I. , 98, Goshen, 8039 ext. 206; Turney, Dennis Obermiller, McPherson, Kan., 60 Harrisonburg, Va., Dec. 27 Ind., April 4 jclements_gb @brethren.org. Jeanie Obermiller Royer, Howard and Gene, Hildebrand, Grace, 80, Spence, David, 47, Fort Wayne, Information must be complete North Webster, Ind.: Terry Elgin, Ill., 50 Arcadia, Ind., July 17, 2007 Ind., May 7 in order to be published. Thompson, Marti Thompson Stein, Bob and Betty, Honsaker, Raymond, 85, Stovall, Carol H., 41, Information older than one year Pleasant View, Fayetteville, Uniontown, Pa., 60 Martinsburg, Pa., April 12 Midlothian, Va., March 31 cannot be published. W.Va.: Tom Boardwine, Turnbull, Robert and Ruth, Hostetter, J. Earl, 90, Goshen, Yoder, Lillian Virginia, 89, Sandy Boardwine Rochester Mills, Pa., 50 Ind., April 17 Harrisonburg, Va., April 24 New Members Reading, Homeworth, Ohio: Wilson, Warren and Patricia, Jehnsen, Kathryn E., 85, Brenda Reed, Reba Reed, Brookville, Ohio, 60 Syracuse, Ind., Dec. 8 Arcadia, Ind.: Troy Milam, Licensings Roger Sharp, Brenda Sharp, Kagarise, Helen, 89, Michelle Milam, Don Conner Sharp, Logan Sharp, Martinsburg, Pa., March 16 Combs, Matthew, W. Marva Shields, Jessica Shields, Deaths Ian Sharp Kilmer, Marian Rosetta, 84, Dist. (Oak Grove, McHenry, Bailey Hildebrand, Chris Arendt, Charles Edward, 82, Ridge, Shippensburg, Pa.: Portland, Ore., Sept. 7 Md.), March 9 Baker, Amy Baker, Kelley Gettysburg, Pa. , May 3 Richard Kazimer Kindell, Nellie, IO 1, Live Oak, Hylton, Gerald L. , Virlina Dist. Baker, Taylor Baker Bailey, John W., 95, Scalp Level, Windber, Pa.: Calif., March 6 (Christiansburg, Va.) , April Beachdale, Berlin, Pa.: Dru Martinsburg, Pa., March I Steve Adamczyk, Chrissy Krommes, Mabel, 94, 13 Ell en Woy Baker, Connie, 63, Claysburg, Adamczyk, Marissa Jeromesville, Ohio, March 26 Brothersvalley, Berlin, Pa.: Pa., March 25 Adamczyk, Monica Lemon, Esther M., 96, Pomona, Ordinations Dustin Coughenour, Derek Brant, Dale, 75, Garrett, Pa., Deyarmin, Rhonda Hoffman, Calif., Feb. 14 Coughenour, Nathaniel April 20 Paul Downs, Tracy, S. Ohio Sheldon Thomas, Jean Martin, Raymond, 81 , East Custer, Mandy Freas Brumbaugh, Clarence, 76, Dist. (Prince of Peace, Thomas, Duwayne Orris, Petersburg, Pa., April 30 East Chippewa, Orrville, Ohio: Dayton, Ohio), April 13 Vanessa Orris, Owen Custer, Hollidaysburg, Pa., April 8 Maust, Dean, 83, Largo, Fla., John Kelbly, Ashley Steiner, Wanda Custer, Virgil Weaver, Burket, Kenneth R., 92, April 20 Schrag, Rick R., W. Plains Dist. Isaiah Ajian, Jennifer Imhoff, Martinsburg, Pa., Feb. 21 Merl Wissinger McMillen, Carroll R., 90, (McPherson, Kan.), April 27 Cassandra Imhoff, Bobby Claypool, Paul W., 93, Saint Westernport, Md.: Alex Williamstown, Ohio, April 9 Staton, William H., Jr., Shen. Hash, Orrville Suttles Kalanish, Jr., Leisa Kalanish, Petersburg, Fla., April 19 Meckley, Kenneth E., 81, Dist. (Bethel, Keezletown, Eversole, New Lebanon, Ohio: Breanna Kalanish, Margaret Conley, Lois Margaret, 91, Hanover, Pa., April 24 Va .) , April 27 Jessica Barnhart, Robin Cerro Gordo, IU., April 12 Dennison Miles, Helen, 76, Waterloo, Yoder, Vernon E., W. Plains Bright Woodbury, Pa.: Craig Bowman, Cooke, Benjamin Wesley, 24, Iowa, April 30 Dist. (Mont Ida, Garnett, Ivester, Grundy Center, Iowa: Adrianne Bowman, Jennifer Warrenton, Va., April 10 Mitchell, George, 82, Berlin, Kan.), April 20 Quinton Butler, Jonathan Clouse, Kay Guyer, Joy Crater, lrene Sides, 87, Pa., Oct. 22 Frantz-Overton, Katelyn Kennedy, Ezra Minter Winston-Salem, N.C., May 5 Morris, Madeline S., 74, Placements Hogle, Rusty Kruse, Kristin Denlinger, James, 78, Earlysville, Va., April 15 Bauer, James R., from pastor, Neher, Lara Neher Anniversaries Kettering, Ohio, May 8 Murray, Margaret, 87, Koontz, New Enterprise, Pa.: Durham, Charles E., 69, Noblesville, Ind., April 22 Richland, Pa., to pastor, Mohrsville, Pa., May 1 Roger Conley, Diana Bahr, Charles and Jessie, Peyton, Colo., April 11 Nicholson, Gary, 67, Johnson, Matthew Traverso Copemish, Mich., 55 Eiler, Ruby, 94, Noblesville, Marshalltown, Iowa, Feb. 2 Schrag, Rick R., minister of vis­ Maple Grove, Lexington, N.C.: Benner, Sam and Evelyn, Ind., Sept. 1 Olson, Arnold, 83, itation, McPherson, Kan., Mike Phillips, Georgia Mifflintown, Pa ., 60 English, Arline Kimmel Marshalltown, Iowa, April 4 Aprill Phillips, Betty Talbert Berkey, Harry and Phyllis, Rolston, 94, Spirit Lake, Pence, Clifford, 79, Forest Shankster, Donald 0 ., from Maple Grove, New Paris, Ind.: Marion Center, Pa., 50 Iowa, March 15 Grove, Ore., Sept. 25 pastor, Cedar Lake, Auburn, Michael Dunlap, Cassandra Blocher, Sherman and Shirley, Fast, Irene, 93 , Greenville, Peverly, Robert, 79, Edgerton, Ind., to pastor, Papago Dunlap, Ryan Kirkdorffer, Lincoln, Neb., 55 Ohio, April 20 Ohio, April I Buttes, Scottsdale, Ariz., Danielle Kirkdorffer, Paul Evans, Clarence and Rhelma, Feight, Florence, 90, Pontius, Joan, 74, Fairfield May l Lau, Tiffany Lau, Brook Sheldon, Iowa, 65 Martinsburg, Pa., April 7 Glade, Tenn ., April 25 Van Houten, Steven, from Mikel Guengerich, Charles and Fritz, Anthony M., 62, Reeves, Marvin Glen, 82, Crab workcamp coordinator, Memorial, Martinsburg, Pa.: Pauline, Ontario, Calif., 65 Windber, Pa., April 13 Orchard, W.Va., April 18 General Board, Elgin, IU. , to Brody Greenleaf, Samantha Hollinger, Paul and Doris, Glessner, Zella, 96, Windber, Reighard, George, 84, pastor, Pine Creek, North Newlin, Brian Querry Stuarts Draft, Va., 65 Pa., Feb. 23 Martinsburg, Pa., March 15 Liberty, Ind., May 11 Miami, First, Miami, Fla.: Lacy, Bob and Wanda, La Grandle, Sherry L., 54, Ritchey, James, 85, Yoder, Vernon E., co-pastor, Dialencia Cadette, Tanya­ Puente, Calif., 50 Harrisonburg, Va., April 8 Martinsburg, Pa., Feb. 15 Mont Ida, Garnett, Kan., Marie McPherson Mankamyer, Donald and Joan, Harman, Thomas C., 83, Root, Henry, 72, Wooster, April 20

Messenger July/August 2008 ■ Making a statement

t i_s~'t every day you get to chat with a prime Christian grounding to them, but in many others that feels l m1n1ster. minimal or absent. Some have scripture references included Granted, my pastor is probably in her prime, but that's not that feel rather perfunctory. Some feel like the generic social quite the same. This was an actual, elected former prime min­ justice statements that Bondevik described. ister of an entire country-of Norway, to be precise. Since And often I ask myself, why do we make so many state­ ending his second term in 2005, though, the Rev. Kjell Magne ments anyway? It is important for the church to have a Bondevik is working for the church. voice, but is anyone really listening at this volume? If our We crossed paths at the World creed is the New Testament, why do we feel a need to add Council of Churches (WCC) central so much to it? For people who are to be known "by the committee meeting in Geneva, manner of their living," we sure do yap a lot. Switzerland, in February. He is a mem­ Carl Bowman's recent survey of the Brethren indicated ber of the central committee, and I was that Annual Conference statements mean little in the day-to­ there as "co-opted" (borrowed) staff to day life of most congregations and members. They certainly report on the event for the WCC. don't get many headlines in newspapers and magazines During one of the sessions he (beyond this one). made a remark that had me rapidly Perhaps the frequency of study papers and resolutions can scrawling on my notepad. He make any one of them feel less meaningful. Our torrent of expressed appreciation that several words seldom produces much meaningful action. When recent WCC statements on public your e-mail box is overflowing, it can feel easiest just to issues had been carefully rooted and delete them all. grounded in scripture. Or perhaps enough of our recent denominational state­ Later I caught him in a hallway and asked if we might talk ments and papers have been so divisive that congregations for a bit (I tried to imagine doing that so casually with for­ and districts are finding their source of authority more local­ mer presidents Carter or Bush!). He graciously agreed, ly. One of the more-remembered Annual Conference state­ although he only had about 10 minutes before he had to ments was the 1979 paper on Biblical Authority and leave to catch a flight. Inspiration, which concluded that Brethren were not of one Some of that conversation was reported in the June issue mind on the subject. It found "a rich tapestry of a wide range of Brethren IF OUR CREED IS THE NEW TESTAMENT, WHY DO WE FEEL A NEED TO views," and it did­ n't try to constrain ADD SO MUCH TO IT? FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE TO BE KNOWN "BY them. THE MANNER OF THEIR LIVING," WE SURE DO YAP A LOT. The wee has moved to a con­ sensus model in its of this magazine. Bondevik urged the church to have a dis­ decision-making, trying to make sure that all voices-espe­ tinct voice, not just fire off statements that could be made by cially minority voices- are heard. If the body cannot come to anyone. He recalled many times as prime minister when he consensus on a statement (some may still disagree, but they received statements from churches and wondered, "Why is are willing to stand aside), then that statement is put back the church saying this?" There was nothing particularly for further work and discernment. Christian about them. Brethren at Conferences past used to take a decade or Plenty of other people and groups are talking, he said, and more to reach a conclusive statement on a subject. Why the if the church doesn't have anything new to add to the con­ rush for us to vote and move on? If we took more time to versation, its voice will only be lost amid the din. listen to the Holy Spirit, perhaps we would feel less need to His words resonated as I thought of my own context. In speak. And when we do, we might let scripture speak first. covering meetings around the church, especially board Bondevik said he had numerous people express apprecia­ meetings and Annual Conference, I encounter a veritable tion and affirmation of his remarks. "That was what we conga line of statements and resolutions. Some have solid needed," they told him, "a reminder."-Ed. ~

COMING IN SEPTEMBER: Coverage of Annual Conference 2008 and the 300th anniversary; peace essay contest winners; the growing global food crisis; Bible study on 1 Corinthians; and more.

II Messenger July/August 2008

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