MISSION ALIGNMENT COORDINATING COUNCIL SEEKS CHURCH-WIDE INPUT
The Mission Alignment Coordinating Council (MACC) recently spent three days in prayer and discussion as it looked at ways to more faithfully organize our Church for mission in the 21st century. The group was created following the 2008 General Board, which approved the creation of the MACC in April, and asked General Minister and President Sharon E. Watkins and Moderator Newell Williams to name a 12-member group that would develop a plan of mission alignment which addressed several key principles and outcomes.
At its June 3-5 meeting, the MACC offered several examples of how Disciples today can best be organized to accomplish our priorities of 1,000 new congregations, 1000 transformed congregations, new leadership and furthering our pro-reconciliation/anti-racism initiative. To review the Principles of Mission Alignment, the work of the Mission Alignment Coordinating Council and to send on any comments or suggestions, please go to: www.disciples.org/macc
DISCIPLES ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION PROTECTING CONGO’S RESOURCES
The Congo is one of the poorest countries in the world plagued by violence that has lead to a battle for many of the country’s natural resources, including coltan, diamonds, cassiterite and gold. Coltan is a little known but very valuable mineral-ore used in consumer products around the world such as cell phones, computers and DVD players. Export of coltan, which is also known as columbite-tantalite, has been blamed for fueling the war in that country.
The humanitarian crisis in the Congo has been a preoccupation of Global Ministries, many in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and our Congolese global partners. U.S. Senators Sam Brownback and Richard Durbin have submitted a bill to Congress entitled, “Conflict, Coltan and Cassiterite Act of 2008” that will require the President to compile a list of armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo committing human rights violations and prohibit the importation into the U.S. of any products if the group on the list would financially benefit. To find out more about Global Ministries support of the bill, visit: www.disciples.org/dns/
For additional questions, contact LaMarco Cable with Global Ministries at lcable@dom.disciples.org
TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAMS FOR ADOLESCENTS AT ECHO AND OLIVE BRANCH SUSPENDED
Disciples Benevolent Services has announced the suspension of its transitional living programs for adolescents at ECHO and the Olive Branch in St. Louis, Mo. Increasing cuts from state and local funding sources combined with a national trend toward more foster care placement for children forced the difficult decision last month.
Four of the last 15 children recently were placed in foster homes. Several ECHO employees have gone through foster parent training and are now in the process of taking several of the children into their own homes. One student is in college and one will attend this fall. The rest of the youth are in other custodial programs. To read more, go to: www.disciples.org/dns/
DISCIPLES SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR REFUGEES IN DARFUR THROUGH TENTS OF HOPE
Disciples churches across the country have joined other faith communities in the national “Tents of Hope” campaign to raise awareness and resources for the suffering people in Darfur, Sudan.
Two Ohio churches, Heights Christian Church in Cleveland, and First Christian Church in Medina have not only painted their tent, but plan to take them to a national rally, that will be held in Washington D.C. this November.
In Oklahoma City, Okla., about 30 people at Crown Heights Christian Church took turns drawing on and painting a Tent of Hope that was erected in front of the church.
“The Sudan, generally, has been one of our advocacy issues for a few years but Tents of Hope has been a campaign that we’ve been promoting,” said Derek Duncan, associate for global advocacy and education with Global Ministries. To read more, go to: www.disciples.org/dns/
NATIONAL HISPANIC BI-LINGUAL ASSEMBLY TAKES PLACE JULY 10-13
The National Hispanic and Bilingual Fellowship asks for your prayers as it opens its 14th Assembly on Thursday, July 10 in Hasbrouck Heights, N.J. Hundreds of Disciples from across the United States and Canada will gather for the event, where the theme “Growth and Discipleship: Challenges of the 21st Century” will be explored. The Biblical text for the theme comes from Acts 16:5.
Assembly events will include worship, business, workshops and youth activities. The 2008-2010 Hispanic Caucus Board also will be installed at the Assembly, which runs through Sunday, July 13. To learn more about the Central Pastoral Office for Hispanic Ministries and its work, please visit: www.obrahispana.org
APPLICATIONS SOLICITED FOR THE 2008 DISCIPLES LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
Applications for the Disciples Leadership Institute, a program that aims to help the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) transcend barriers of race, culture, and language, are being accepted for the 2008 conference, which will be held in August in St. Louis, Mo.
The Disciples Leadership Institute (DLI) creates personal and professional linkages among younger congregational leaders from both new and established congregations and across the divides of race, culture and language.
Centered around a week-long event, DLI is intentionally diverse: half of the participants are from new congregations, half from established congregations. Half are non-Anglo. A one-page application, a short essay, and a reference's name and contact information must be received by Higher Education and Leadership Ministries (HELM) no later than Friday, July 11. For more information, visit: www.helmdisciples.org
NATIONAL CONVOCATION EXTENDS REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR 20th BIENNIAL SESSION
The 20th Biennial Session of the National Convocation will take place in Memphis, Tenn. July 25-28. This year’s theme is “God, Our Weapon In Spiritual Warfare”, based on II Corinthians 10:3-5. Pre-Convocation Workshops begin Friday morning, July 25th. The session officially opens on Friday evening with a gospel concert featuring Kurt Carr and the Kurt Carr Singers. The deadline for hotel reservations is July 15th although participants also may register for the event on-site. Convocation planners are excited about the preaching, teaching, singing, fellowship and food that will be shared at the event. Those unable to attend the session are encouraged to pray for the event and its many participants. To learn more about the upcoming Biennial Session, visit: www.disciples.org/convo/
ATTENTION ON MIDWAY COLLEGE AND HISTORIC KENTUCKY CHURCHES IS FOCUS OF CANE RIDGE DAY
The annual Cane Ridge Day celebration focused on Midway College when it was held June 28 at the Cane Ridge Shrine in Paris, Ky. The histories of Midway Christian Church and Second Christian Church, both located in Midway, Ky., were told by church members during the celebration. Both churches have historic ties to Midway College. The college was established in 1847 as the Kentucky Female Orphan School by Midway Christian’s first pastor, Lewis L. Pinkerton.
Second Christian Church, believed to be the oldest black church in the nation, was organized out of Midway Christian so that black slaves could have a worship house. Second Christian was established in 1852, 11 years before the Emancipation Proclamation was given by President Lincoln. For more, go to: www.disciples.org/dns/
DISCIPLES AND CATHOLICS DIALOGUE ABOUT PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST IN CHURCH AND MINISTRY
The International Commission for Dialogue between the Disciples of Christ and the Roman Catholic Church held its final meeting of the fourth phase of its dialogue at the Abbey of Klosterneuburg, outside of Vienna, on June 23-27. The topic of this session was “The Priesthood of Christ in Church and Ministry.”
From its dialogue, the Commission prepared a document that brought together the wide-ranging issues discussed into the three areas of general agreements, disagreements, and issues for further consideration. The dialogue anticipates producing an agreed statement in the coming year that will bring together the work of the five sessions of this phase of its dialogue on the overall theme, “The Presence of Christ in the Church, with special reference to the Eucharist.” The Commission sees its work as a contribution toward realizing the dialogue’s long-range goal of full visible unity in one faith, one eucharistic fellowship, and common life in Christ. To read more, go to:
www.disciples.org/ccu/news/
NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN COLLEGE BECOMES UNIVERSITY
Northwest Christian College has changed its name to Northwest Christian University. The name change was made to reflect the Eugene, Ore., school’s expanding course offerings and the aggressive course it has taken to better compete and retain faculty and students. NCC officially became NCU during a July 1 ceremony that was attended by the mayors of Eugene and Springfield. The university offers 16 undergraduate programs, four master’s degree disciplines and professional studies for working adults.
“We want students to have an experience that is rich academically with a robust campus life that is positive, fun and interesting,” said Northwest Christian University President David Wilson. NCU also launched a new School of Christian Ministry on July 1. The establishment of the new school was marked with a special worship service in the campus chapel. For more, go to: www.disciples.org/dns/
DISCIPLES BENEVOLENT SERVICES SEEKS CHAPLAIN TO SERVE IN IOWA
Disciples Benevolent Services Chaplaincy Care is searching for a chaplain to provide services at Ramsey Village, a retirement facility in Des Moines, Iowa, formerly owned by National Benevolent Association (NBA). Ramsey Village has been without chaplaincy services since 2005, when it changed ownership. The DBS chaplain will be available to provide pastoral care for village residents and the surrounding community. Services are provided at no cost to Ramsey Village, its residents or members of the community. The service is available to all persons, regardless of religious preference.
Chaplaincy Care is a program of DBS Senior Care Ministries and was first introduced earlier this year at Barton W. Stone Home in Jacksonville, Ill., which also was also formerly owned by NBA. DBS anticipates that a second chaplain will be added to the Jacksonville area later this year. To read more about the chaplaincy program, go to: www.disciples.org/dns/
Persons interested in applying for the chaplaincy position in Iowa should go to the employment link on the DBS website at: www.nbacares.org
DISCIPLES WORK GROUP ASSISTANCE FOR GULF REGION ENTERS PHASE II
Having surpassed its goal in Phase I of sending 750 Disciples work groups to the storm-ravaged Gulf Coast region by this coming August, Disciples Home Missions has set a new goal to send dozens more work groups to the region between Sept. 1, 2008 and Dec. 31, 2009. The goal in Phase II will be to sign up 150 – 200 Disciples work groups to travel to the region, where they will repair and/or rebuild homes and other structures that were damaged or destroyed by the hurricanes that pounded the region in 2005.
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Editor: Wanda Bryant Wills
E-mail: news@cm.disciples.org
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