In this issue:
GENERAL BOARD MEETING IN INDIANAPOLIS CHARTS PROGRESS
The General Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) met in Indianapolis April 28-May 1 and conducted work aimed at strengthening and streamlining critical programs and ministries of the church. The new, smaller board reviewed and made recommendations on a number of substantive issues, including the future of benevolent care ministries and reconciliation. To read more, go to: www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2007/07060.html
STONE-CAMPBELL HISTORY PROJECT UNDERWAY, WEBSITE IS UP AND RUNNING
A new narrative history of the Stone-Campbell movement is being written by a team of 14 professional historians. Described as "history in the making," the new project will include the traditional voices of the movement as well as the voices of those whose stories have been neglected in previous histories. The shared past, common interests and the pursuit of Christian unity among those in the movement will be the main themes of the history project. Information about this important venture can be found on a new website at:
www.stone-campbellhistory.com
The project is a cooperative venture of the Disciples of Christ Historical Society (DCHS) and Chalice Press. DCHS also serves Churches of Christ and Christian Churches/Churches of Christ.
GIVE TO THE PENTECOST SPECIAL OFFERING ON MAY 20 AND MAY 27
Great things are happening in the area of new church starts among Disciples. More than 500 new churches have opened their doors since 2001, putting our Church on pace to exceed the goal of starting 1,000 new churches by 2020. Roughly 12 percent of all Disciples congregations have opened since 2001, making this the fastest rate of growth ever within one decade.
The Pentecost Offering directly supports the development of new churches such as these across North America and in every region. The Disciples New Church Ministry needs the support of everyone to be able to continue its work of assisting new Disciples congregations. As we approach the season of Pentecost, we ask that you give generously on May 20 and May 27. To download promotion materials for Pentecost, go to:
cfcdnn.onapps.net/DisciplesMissionFund/2007PentecostMaterials/tabid/562/Default.aspx
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA-NEVADA HONORS PASTOR FOR CIVIL RIGHTS WORK
Robert Lemon, a longtime civil rights leader in northern California, has been honored with the first annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Award from the Northern California-Nevada Region. Lemon, who has been a pastor in the region for 40 years, received the award at the region's annual meeting, which was held April 27-29 at Asilomar State Beach on the Monterey peninsula.
Lemon marched with Cesar Chavez in the struggle for migrant farmers' rights in the 1960s and directly supported the work of Martin Luther King, Jr. The award will be given out to noteworthy persons each January during the region's newly established Martin Luther King Sunday celebration beginning on January 13, 2008. Bill Lee, moderator of the Christian Church (DOC), is scheduled to be the celebration's keynote speaker in 2008. To read more about the award, see: www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2007/07061.html
GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGISTRATION FEES INCREASE AFTER JUNE 1; BIBLE STUDY BLOG TO HIGHLIGHT MACHADO
Excitement continues to build among Disciples for the 2007 General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), which will be in Fort Worth, Texas July 21-25. The gathering has been themed "Share the Feast," which was derived from Matthew 14:13-21, when Jesus miraculously fed the 5,000-plus with five loaves and two fishes. The discount for registration, however, ends on June 1.
After June 1, adult registration increases by $25, and registration for youth, college students, seminarians and Disciples who live in the host area of the Assembly goes up $5. Registering online is best. To view more information about General Assembly registration, visit: www.disciples.org/ga/registration
The Bible study blog for General Assembly continues next week with reflections from Daisy Machado, Vice-President and Dean of Lexington Theological Seminary and the Saturday evening, July 21, speaker at the Assembly. Her comments will be posted on the General Assembly website on Monday, May 7. You are encouraged to offer written insights and commentary on her reflections of Scripture. To offer your comments, visit: www.disciples.org/ga/biblestudy
BARNABAS MINISTRY DESIGNED TO SUPPORT NEW CHURCH PLANTERS
Pastors with the gift of encouragement are invited to assist with the Barnabas Ministry, which is designed to serve new church pastors in the first two years of the new planter's ministry. The new program replaces an earlier coaches program and is designed to offer spiritual support for the church planters. A Barnabas pastor will work with up to three new church planters for two years.
"We want to not only provide the coaching mechanism to the church planter, but we want the Barnabas to go along side and serve as a pastor to the new church planter," said Ketty Santos, minister of the Barnabas Ministry in New Church Ministry. To participate in this new ministry, contact Santos at 317-713-2511 or 1-800-274-1883. To read more about the ministry, see: www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2007/07062.pdf (PDF)
DISCIPLES MINISTER JOINS STAFF AT PHILLIPS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
Phillips Theological Seminary has called Belva Brown Jordan to the new position of associate dean for admissions and student services. Jordan, who is currently serving as assistant dean of student life at Harvard University Divinity School, will begin her new duties July 1. She is an ordained minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Phillips Theological Seminary is associated with the Christian Church (DOC) and located in Tulsa, Okla.
Phillips Theological Executive Vice President John M. Imbler called Jordan "a highly capable administrator, who can direct our program of reaching out to prospective students who wish to prepare for ministry." Jordan earned an undergraduate degree from Texas Christian University and a master of divinity degree from Brite Divinity School at TCU. Jordan also will be one of the Tuesday, July 24 evening speakers at the 2007 General Assembly in Fort Worth, Texas. To read more about her new appointment, see: www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2007/07063.pdf (PDF)
DISCIPLES PROFESSOR CONTRIBUTES TO BOOK ABOUT FAMOUS SERMON
A Disciples minister is a contributor to a new book from Chalice Press. Ron Allen, a professor at Christian Theological Seminary, is a contributor to Chalice's new title "Preaching the Sermon on the Mount: The World It Imagines." Allen, who has taught at Christian Theological since 1982, has written or coauthored 30 books on the relationship of biblical studies and preaching.
"Preaching the Sermon" is a collection of essays and sermons that challenges readers to consider the Sermon on the Mount as Jesus' serious proposal for an alternative society. The volume includes essays as well as sample sermons which delve deeply into Jesus' historic sermon. To learn more about this new book, go to: www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2007/07069.pdf (PDF)
LEXINGTON THEOLOGICAL DEAN TAKES NEW JOB AT HER ALMA MATER
Union Theological Seminary has announced that Daisy L. Machado, vice president for academic affairs and dean of Lexington Theological Seminary, will become professor of U.S. Church History at Union Theological Seminary, New York. She will leave Lexington Theological at the end of the academic year on July 31. LTS is affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and is located in Lexington, Ky.
Machado returns to familiar turf. She received her master of divinity degree at Union Theological and was reared in New York. To read more about her new appointment, see: www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2007/07064.html
BETHANY COLLEGE PROFESSOR, STUDENT RECEIVE FULBRIGHT AWARDS
A Bethany College professor and student have been selected for special recognition by the Fulbright Program. John T. Burns, a professor of biology at Bethany College, has been selected as a Fulbright Scholar grantee. Burns will teach a course in chronobiology and lecture in physiology at Novosibirsk State University in Russia in the spring of 2008 and conduct biological rhythms research there that summer. He is a graduate of Wabash College and Louisiana State University. Bethany College is affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and is located in Bethany, W.V.
Bethany College senior Vanessa Plumly of Barnesville, Ohio, will receive a Fulbright award for a teaching assistantship position in Germany. Plumly will teach English at a German high school and continue her research on the formation of multicultural identities, concentrating on immigrant populations in that country. To read more about Burns' selection, go to: www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2007/07066.pdf (PDF)
To learn more about Plumly's grant, see: www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2007/07065.pdf (PDF)
EUREKA COLLEGE PICKS VICE PRESIDENT FOR DEVELOPMENT
Eureka College has named Cal Lyons of Rock Falls as vice president for development. Lyons currently is chief development officer at Sauk Valley Community College in Dixon, Ill. He formerly was vice president for advancement at his alma mater, Judson College in Elgin, Ill., where he earned a bachelor's degree in human relations.
Lyons holds the certified fund raising executive certification and has completed graduate coursework at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary and Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. He formerly worked in financial planning, the ministry and college admissions. He replaces Bob Cleeland and assumed his new post May 1. Eureka College is associated with Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and is located in Eureka, Ill. To read more, visit: www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2007/07067.html
FORMER DISCIPLES MISSIONARY IN AFRICA DIES AT 94
The Division of Overseas Ministries/Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is mourning the death of a Disciples minister who was missionary to Africa. Walter D. Cardwell, 94, died May 2. Cardwell and his wife, Sue, were missionaries to the Belgian Congo (now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo) from 1945-1957. After returning to the United States he served as Director of Interpretation, responsible for keeping the U.S. churches informed of the mission field.
A native of Louisville, Ky., he graduated from Transylvania College and Lexington Theological Seminary. He also was awarded an honorary doctorate from Christian Theological Seminary in 1976. He is survived by his wife, Sue Webb Cardwell, and five children. For more information about Cardwell, see: www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2007/07068.html
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