Disciples News

From Disciples News Service - September 12, 2008

In this issue:

• Volunteers Needed For Spring And Summer Mission Trips
• Tennessee Disciple And TV Personality Completes Seminary
• Reconciliation Offering Enables Church To Live Out Call Of 2020 Vision
• First President Of Christian Church Foundation Dies In Indianapolis
• Church Extension Calls Minister To Help Launch New Beginnings Program
• General Assembly Registration Gearing Up For Indianapolis
• Young Adult Commission Seeking New Members
• Week Of Compassion Responding To Gustav; Preparing For Ike
• Seminarians Urged To Check Out Online List Serv
• Jarvis Christian College To Dedicate New Student Living Center
• Missouri School Of Religion To Host Meeting To Focus On The Role Of Clergy And Laity In Facing Mental Illness
• Hunger Walks Begin In 2,000 Communities Across The U.S.
• CTS Lectures To Focus On Gender Violence, AIDS, African Injustices
• Campus Ministries Can Be Found At Many Colleges
• DBS Appoints Chaplain To Serve Des Moines Senior Living Center
• Culver-Stockton Givers Dig Deep; Contribute 2.8 Million

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR SPRING AND SUMMER MISSION TRIPS

The Office of Disciples Volunteering is encouraging Disciples to consider some of the church's historic mission centers as they plan mission trips for the spring and summer. Those mission centers include Yakama Christian Mission Center, Southwest Good Samaritan Ministries, Kentucky Appalachian Ministry, Urban Spirit, Kansas Christian Home, Inman Christian Mission Center, and All Peoples Christian Center.

In addition, volunteers are needed for the Phase II Hurricane Recovery Initiative, as well as for disaster response to recent severe flooding in Iowa and Indiana. To find out more, contact Anne Marie Moyars in the Office of Disciples Volunteering at 888-346-2631 or online at www.discipleshomemissions.org/Volunteer

TENNESSEE DISCIPLE AND TV PERSONALITY COMPLETES SEMINARY

At a time when most are thinking of retirement, a Disciple from Memphis, Tenn., has shown that one should continue to listen to God's call for the future. Former Memphis TV personality Sonia Walker graduated cum laude from Memphis Theological Seminary in May after more than 30 years in broadcasting. Walker, who previously worked at WHBQ TV in Memphis for 16 years, attended seminary for six years. During that time, she also helped care for her husband, who has multiple sclerosis, and her 95-year-old mother.

A member of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, Walker did her practicum at First Congregational Church, a United Church of Christ, during her final year at seminary. She will accept a full-time position on the pastoral staff of the UCC church beginning this fall. For more, see: www.disciples.org/default.aspx?tabid=58&itemid=53

RECONCILIATION OFFERING ENABLES CHURCH TO LIVE OUT CALL OF 2020 VISION

On Sept.28 and Oct. 5, Disciples will receive the Reconciliation Offering as we share the cup of salvation and bread of life utilizing the theme "Come to the Table." Reconciliation Ministry leads the pro-reconciliation/anti-racism work of Disciples by dismantling systems that promote racism and oppression. The funds provided through the annual offering are used to empower each expression of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to critically and creatively engage in ways we take seriously our call from God to be one body, many members and many gifts. The funds are shared between the Regions and Reconciliation Ministry.

Please give generously to this offering that facilitates camps and conferences and education and training that opens each member of the church to assume an anti-racist and pro-reconciling identity. For more information and promotional materials, go to: www.reconciliationmission.org/offerings

FIRST PRESIDENT OF CHRISTIAN CHURCH FOUNDATION DIES IN INDIANAPOLIS

James R. Reed, president emeritus of the Christian Church Foundation, has died. Reed, 80, died Sept. 1 at a hospital in Indianapolis. Reed had inspired the establishment of the Christian Church Foundation, a general ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). After retiring from 26 years of service to the foundation in 1991, Reed served as pastor to churches in Indiana and Washington D.C. A memorial service was held for him Sept. 5 at Downey Avenue Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Indianapolis.

"Jim was the first president of the foundation, and served as the dynamic force behind this ministry from 1964 until retiring in 1991. He was a visionary leader and passionate about the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in all of its manifestations. He was more than a fund-raiser: Jim was committed to excellence and integrity," said current CCF President Gary Kidwell." To read more, go to www.disciplesworld.com/newsArticle.html?wsnID=14021

CHURCH EXTENSION CALLS MINISTER TO HELP LAUNCH NEW BEGINNINGS PROGRAM

Church Extension has called Matthew Rosine to the position of congregational services consultant. Rosine will help launch New Beginnings, a program that asks congregations: "What is God calling your congregation to do and to be in this time and place?" "How can you mobilize your resources for this mission?" For the past year, Rosine has served as a special consultant for the New Beginnings pilot program. In that position he has worked directly with regional partners.

Rosine previously served as senior minister of First Colony Christian Church in Sugar Land, Texas, 2004-2007, and as senior minister of First Christian Church in Grand Prairie, Texas, from 2002 to 2003. He is an ordained Disciples minister and holds a bachelor's degree from Texas Christian University and a master of divinity degree from Brite Divinity School. To learn more, go to: www.disciples.org/Portals/0/PDF/DNS/2008/20080910-MatthewRosine.pdf

GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGISTRATION GEARING UP FOR INDIANAPOLIS

Now is the time to register for the 2009 General Assembly, which is less than one year away. Those who sign up now can take advantage of early registration discounts and select from a number of quality, affordable hotel options, all within easy walking distance of assembly activities at the Indiana Convention Center.

The theme for the July 29 - Aug. 2 biennial assembly is "...For the healing of the nations," drawn from Revelation 22:2. Organizers chose this verse as the centerpiece and guiding scriptural reference to compliment the new Disciples Identity Statement: "We are Disciples of Christ, a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world."

General Minister and President Sharon Watkins invites all Disciples to "pray now and without ceasing" for God's leading in this momentous gathering.

Information about registration and housing can be found at: www.disciples.org/ga

YOUNG ADULT COMMISSION SEEKING NEW MEMBERS

The Young Adult Commission is currently looking to fill two positions beginning Jan. 1. Commission members work with other young adults, plan young adult gatherings for general assemblies, and work for young adult causes on the local, regional, and national levels. The application and requirements can be found at www.discipleshomemissions.org.

The deadline to submit applications is Oct. 1. Questions should be directed to Tod Iseminger at 888-346-2631 or tiseming@dhm.disciples.org.

WEEK OF COMPASSION RESPONDING TO GUSTAV; PREPARING FOR IKE

As people in the U.S. and Caribbean keep a close watch on the path of Hurricane Ike, Disciples are responding to the disruptions left by Hurricane Gustav. Category 1 Gustav struck southwest Louisiana Sept. 1 and caused billions of dollars in property damage in Miss. and La. Week of Compassion, the relief, refugee, and development ministry fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), has contacted Disciples pastors across the region, from Miss. to Texas, to determine Gustav's impact on those churches' communities. It also is responding to urgent requests from partners in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

WOC is preparing to respond to Hurricane Ike, which left a path of death and destruction in the Caribbean. Blamed for dozens of deaths in storm-battered Haiti, Ike pummeled Cuba as a Category 2 hurricane. Week of Compassion is seeking designated funds for hurricane recovery. To get more, visit: www.weekofcompassion.org/pages/updates/sept0811.html

SEMINARIANS URGED TO CHECK OUT ONLINE LIST SERV

Higher Education and Leadership Ministries is encouraging seminarians to sign up for the Seminarians list serv at www.helmdisciples.org/listserv. With the Seminarians Conference in March and a new grant program in the works, the list serv can be a quick way to make sure that seminarians are informed about opportunities designed with them in mind.

HELM is also urging seminarians to pass the word along about the list serv to other seminarians they know. The list serv is maintained by Higher Education and Leadership Ministries. For more information, or to submit news for seminarians, e-mail helm@helmdisciples.org or call 314-991-3000.

JARVIS CHRISTIAN COLLEGE TO DEDICATE NEW STUDENT LIVING CENTER

Jarvis Christian College will dedicate a new student living and learning center on the school's campus in Hawkins, Texas, Sept. 12. Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, the college will honor retiring Jarvis President Sebetha Jenkins. The new 65,430 square-foot living and learning center will house 300 students and include computer centers, study lounges and fitness facilities, among other amenities. College officials will also make an announcement about the naming of the new building during the dedication ceremony.

Jenkins announced earlier this year that she would be stepping down after serving 17 years at the college. She was the 10th president of Jarvis Christian College, which is affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). For more see:
www.disciples.org/Portals/0/PDF/DNS/2008/20080910-JarvisRibbonCutting.pdf

MISSOURI SCHOOL OF RELIGION TO HOST MEETING TO FOCUS ON THE ROLE OF CLERGY AND LAITY IN FACING MENTAL ILLNESS

The Missouri School of Religion is sponsoring a meeting that will examine the call of clergy and laity, care providers, chaplains and counselors to minister among people who are coping with mental illness. The title of the gathering is: "A Call to Care: Ministry among Persons with Mental Illness," and will take place Oct. 23 at Rock Bridge Christian Church in Columbia, Mo.

Craig Rennebohm, founder of the Mental Health Chaplaincy in Seattle, Wash., is scheduled to be the featured speaker. The morning session is entitled "The Beloved Stranger: Mental Illness, Spiritual Care and Recovery." The afternoon session is called "The Way of Companionship: Growing the Congregation as a Healing Community." For more information, visit: www.disciples.org/Portals/0/PDF/DNS/2008/20080910-ACallToCare.pdf

HUNGER WALKS BEGIN IN 2,000 COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE U.S.

Church World Service has opened its CROP Hunger Walk season for 2008-2009. The program raises money for CWS's domestic and global anti-hunger programs. Church World Service estimates that volunteers in 2,000 communities across the United States will start walking this month in the fight against poverty and hunger. There are more than 862 million people in the world who go hungry. This includes one in ten households in the U.S. that do not have enough food for regular meals.

"The hungry people left in the wake of rising food prices, unemployment, and poverty, desperately need people like the hunger activists who participate in Church World Service CROP Hunger Walks," said John McCullough, executive director of Church World Service. For more, see: www.churchworldservice.org/news/archives/2008/09/935.html

CTS LECTURES TO FOCUS ON GENDER VIOLENCE, AIDS, AFRICAN INJUSTICES

Theological reflections from Southern Africa will be discussed at the Saltsburg Distinguished Lecture Series, which will be held at Christian Theological Seminary Sept. 15-18. The main speaker will be Isabel Apawo Phiri, professor of African theology at the University of Natal and director of the Centre for Constructive Theology in Durban, South Africa.

The lectures will include discussion of African women theologians' desire for a theological education that reflects the community of women and men, the struggle against gender violence and HIV/AIDS, and social and economic injustices resulting from the legacy of apartheid. To find out more, contact the Office of Lifelong Theological Education at 317-931-4224, e-mail LifeEd@cts.edu or view events online at www.cts.edu/events.

CAMPUS MINISTRIES CAN BE FOUND AT MANY COLLEGES

Students heading off to college are encouraged by Higher Education and Leadership Ministries to sustain a relationship with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) by locating a campus ministry near their school. The website for the Higher Education Ministries Arena, www.higheredmin.org, has links to more than 140 Disciples campus ministers in 35 states and more than 600 other ecumenical ministries.

The Web resource offers contact information, addresses, and names of campus ministers. To learn more, visit www.higheredmin.org/directory, where a list of campus ministries across the country can be found.

DBS APPOINTS CHAPLAIN TO SERVE DES MOINES SENIOR LIVING CENTER

Disciples Benevolent Services has begun offering chaplain services to the Ramsey Village senior living community in Des Moines, Iowa. Linda M. Lighthall, an ordained Disciples minister has been appointed to serve the chaplaincy needs of the Ramsey Village residents and those of senior residents in the Des Moines area. The Disciples Benevolent Services Chaplaincy Care program was established to aid senior adults who live in centers that do not provide chaplaincy services.

Lighthall's "previous experience in this position and her genuine love and compassion for people, especially older adults, makes her well-suited to meet the needs of those persons she will be serving. She will truly be a blessing to all of us," said Donald B. Hiscox, associate regional minister of the Christian Church in the Upper Midwest. DBS chaplaincy services are provided at no cost to those who benefit from them. For more, see:
www.disciples.org/default.aspx?tabid=58&itemid=52

CULVER-STOCKTON GIVERS DIG DEEP; CONTRIBUTE 2.8 MILLION

Culver-Stockton College received $2.8 million in gifts for the just completed fiscal year, a sum which almost equaled the previous year's record-setting gifts to the college. Culver-Stockton's Education Fund benefited from a 49 percent increase in the number of contributors, including a 13 percent increase in alumni making financial contributions to the college, which is located in Canton, Mo., and is affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

"These many friends and alumni, led by our board of trustees, enable us to make significant commitments to the future of this college," said C-SC President William L. Fox. To learn more, go to: www.culver.edu/publicrelations/article.asp?id=3277