In this issue:
OPPORTUNITY FOR CHURCHES IN TRANSFORMATION TO SHARE GOALS
The Christian Church (DOC) is comprised of many churches that are in transformation. That is, a spiritual, systemic, and strategic journey traveled by a congregation urgently striving to realize what God has called it to be and do. Spiritual because transformation is about listening to God; systemic because transformation is not about any particular ministry or program; strategic because transformation addresses challenge, change, and transitions through an intentional process; and journey because transformation isn't an event, but an endless process to manifest that unique future to which God is calling.
Congregations in transformation now can share their goals and experiences with the broader Church. The goal is 1,000 transforming congregations. Become one of those congregations and share your story at: https://secure.disciples.org/transformation/
To learn more about Congregational Transformation, visit the Disciples Home Missions web site at: www.discipleshomemissions.org/ChurchTools/CongregationalTransformation.asp
WEEK OF COMPASSION SPECIAL OFFERING IS THIS SUNDAY
Week of Compassion (WOC) helps Disciples respond quickly and compassionately to people around the world in crisis situations. WOC is the relief, refugee, and development ministry fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Please give generously this Sunday, Feb. 18, to the WOC special offering that helps support WOC's work in taking a message of hope and healing around the globe. To read more about Week of Compassion visit: www.weekofcompassion.org
DISCIPLES HOME MISSIONS STILL SEEKS VOLUNTEERS FOR GULF CLEANUP
The rebuilding in the Gulf South continues more than a year and a half after hurricanes Katrina and Rita caused significant devastation in the region. Hundreds of Christian volunteers, including scores of Disciples from dozens of congregations, have spent months of their time volunteering in work groups at mission stations in the region.
For example, 16 Disciples on a recent five-day mission trip put in new floors in two homes, installed kitchen cabinets, a new roof, decking on a back porch, drywall and a flower garden. So far, 250 groups have participated or are scheduled to serve the Gulf Coast Katrina/Rita project. The Disciples Home Missions staff is working now to schedule volunteers and work groups for the early fall months (September - October).
To learn more, visit: www.discipleshomemissions.org/DisasterResponse.htm
BETHANY COLLEGE BEGINS SEARCH FOR NEW PRESIDENT
The Board of Trustees at Bethany College in Bethany, W.Va., has formed a presidential search committee at the request of college President G.T. "Buck" Smith. The first step of the succession process is the development of a leadership profile to help Bethany College identify the best person to be its next president. Smith, a long-time educator and former president of Chapman University, recently announced his intentions to retire from the position once a new president is hired. To read more about the process go to: www.bethanywv.edu/welcome/presidential-succession-
Comments also can be sent by e-mail to: succession@bethanywv.edu
COALITION OF CHRISTIAN CHURCHES MEET FOR OFFICIAL FORMATION
Disciples leaders were among those who met in Pasadena, Calif., recently where Christian Churches Together (CCT) was officially formed. CCT is composed of 36 churches and national organizations from nearly all U.S. Christian groups who have been seeking to come together for fellowship, worship and opportunities to share in important ministries. At the Feb. 6-9 meeting, CCT reached a consensus on the importance of evangelism and the need to eliminate domestic poverty.
CCT has focused on praying together and building relationships over the past five years. During that time, CCT has become the broadest most inclusive fellowship of Christian churches and traditions in the country. Robert Welsh, president of the Council on Christian Unity and Peter Heltzel, a Disciples professor from New York City, were official representatives on behalf of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). To read more, go to: www.christianchurchestogether.org
NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN COLLEGE TO HOST SECOND STONE-CAMPBELL SYMPOSIUM
Northwest Christian College will host its second annual Stone-Campbell Symposium March 19-21. This year's event theme is, "Faith and Learning in the Stone-Campbell Movement." Keynote speakers for the symposium will be Eleanor A. Daniel, Debra B. Hull, Kathy Pulley, Paul Blowers, and D'Esta Love. Daniel is the Dorothy Keister Walker Professor of Christian Education and the director of institutional research at Emmanuel School of Religion in Johnson City, Tenn.
Hull is professor of psychology at Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling, W.Va. Pulley is professor of religious studies at Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo. Blowers is the Dean E. Walker Professor of Church History at Emmanuel School of Religion in Johnson City, Tenn., and Love is the chaplain at Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif. NCC, in Eugene, Ore., is affiliated with the Christian Church (DOC) and the Independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ. To find out more about the symposium, visit: www.nwcc.edu/news/2007_02_08symposium.htm
DISCIPLES MINISTER SPREADS WORD ABOUT SPIRITUAL THEMES IN TV SHOW
With the start of a new season of the Emmy Award-winning "Lost" on the ABC TV network, a Disciples music minister and Chalice Press author is spreading the word about the many spiritual themes buried throughout the show's plotlines. Christian Piatt, author of the Chalice Press book "Lost: A Search for Meaning," took part in a program entitled "Lost @ the Library" at the Pueblo City-County Library, in Pueblo, Co., the week of Feb. 4 to kick off the new season of "Lost."
Piatt, who writes a weekly religion column for the "Pueblo Chieftain" and will begin as columnist for "DisciplesWorld" this year, took part in a book discussion before a group viewing of the first new episode. The music minister at Milagro Christian Church (DOC) in Pueblo, where his wife Amy is the founding pastor, Piatt also took part in a podcast interview on Feb. 10, in which he discussed his book with other "Lost" fanatics. For other information on "Lost: A Search for Meaning," go to: www.christianpiatt.com
DISCIPLES PASTOR BECOMES VISITING FELLOW AT ADVOCACY CENTER
Disciples' pastor and registered nurse Amos Acree, Jr. has joined the Disciples Center for Public Witness in Washington, D.C., as a visiting fellow. Acree, pastor of East Aurora Christian Church in East Aurora, N.Y., who also directs Parish Nurse Ministries at the United Church Home in Buffalo, N.Y., will use his sabbatical to work on issues and concerns regarding connecting congregationally based health care ministries with national health care advocacy.
"The church seems to have forgotten that when Jesus sent his disciples out on missions, he told them not only to preach and teach, but also to heal," said Acree. "At the levels of both congregational ministry and national legislative advocacy, it is time for all Disciples of Christ to claim this indispensable part of our commission." For more information go to: home.comcast.net/~disciplescenter/releases/12feb07.html
NCC ANNOUNCES NEW ECO-JUSTICE SERMON WRITING CONTEST
The National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) announced a call for submissions to its first ever eco-justice sermon writing award. The award, which is a celebration of God's creation in the proclaimed Gospel, is open to clergy, lay leaders, and other religious leaders and entries can focus on a variety of environmental issues such as sustainability, global warming, wilderness, and water.
The award was announced six months after the release of "Opening the Letter: God's Earth is Sacred," a theological resource for congregations. An increasing number of congregations are preaching on the environment as evidenced by the rising popularity of the NCC's Earth Day Sunday worship resource. Sermon submissions should be no longer than 1,500 words. Deadline is March 1, and should be sent via email to info@nccecojustice.org. More information can be found at www.nccecojustice.org/sermoncontest.htm
LEXINGTON THEOLOGICAL WILL HOLD 2007 LECTURE SERIES
Lexington Theological Seminary (LTS), recently announced that Irving (Yitz) Greenberg, president of Jewish Life Network/Steinhardt Foundation in New York City, will be the guest lecturer for the 2007 Franklin B. Moosnick Lectures in Judaic Studies at LTS, which will be held March 29-30, and are free and open to the public.
The topics of Greenberg's lectures will be "Judaism as the Religion of the Triumph of Life" at 11 a.m. on March 29 in the seminary's Fellowship Hall; "Can the Jewish People Deal with Power? History, Theology, Politics" at 7:30 p.m. also on March 29 at Ohavay Zion Synagogue; and "Judaism and Christianity: From Contempt to Pluralism and Partnership" at 9:30 a.m. on March 30 in the LTS Fellowship Hall. Lexington Theological is related to the Christian Church (DOC) and is located in Lexington, Ky. To find out more, see: www.disciples.org/dns/releases2007/07014.html
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