In this issue:
- Communique Summarizes Coverage Of 2008 General Board
- New Minister Of Reconciliation To Start In July
- HELM Leadership Fellows Program Adds Class Of 2012
- Churches Uniting In Christ Looks To The Future
- Foreverfamily Partners With A Disciples Church In Kentucky
- Insurance Board To Explore More Direct Relationship With Disciples
- Jarvis Christian College President Announces Retirement
- International Church Action For Peace In Palestine And Israel Will Take Place In June
- Church Transformation Expert Speaks To Oklahoma Disciples
- Survey Allows Disciples To State Their Opinions On U.S. Health Care
- 2008-2009 Phillips University Legacy Scholarships Announced
- Iowa Church Provides Community Food Ministry
 COMMUNIQUE SUMMARIZES COVERAGE OF 2008 GENERAL BOARD
To read about the decisions and actions that took place at this year's board meeting, check out the latest online edition of Communique. The ’08 General Board met in Indianapolis from April 12-15. Among other things, the board approved a proposal from General Minister and President Sharon Watkins that provides a framework for a Plan of Mission Alignment and creates a council to design that plan. The board also heard updates about Disciples Mission Fund, 2009 General Assembly planning and affirmed a new Disciples’ Identity statement. To read about those items and other information from this year’s General Board, go to the on-line version of Communique by visiting: www.disciples.org/generalboard
NEW MINISTER OF RECONCILIATION TO START IN JULY
April G. Johnson has accepted the call to be the new Minister of Reconciliation for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Johnson most recently served as Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Diversity Services for Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill. While at Augustana, she led students on several international cross-cultural learning opportunities and instituted diversity and inclusion training for the college’s staff and administration.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with our general units, regions and congregations as we live into our vision,” said Johnson, an ordained Disciples minister. She added that she feels encouraged that “this Church/Communion is uniquely poised to lead the charge for unity in the family of God.” To learn more, visit: www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2008/08040.html
HELM LEADERSHIP FELLOWS PROGRAM ADDS CLASS OF 2012
 The HELM Leadership Fellows Program welcomes its largest class in six years with the addition of seven students to the program. HELM Leadership Fellows are selected based on their leadership potential, church participation, and academic promise. The new Leadership Fellows are Tom Calvert-Rosenberger of Bloomington, Ind.; Arrington Foster of Clinton, Md.; Melissa Hall of Goldsboro, N.C.; Kiersten Hawes of Horn Lake, Miss.; Charisse Knorr of Maryville, Mo.; Allie Lundblad, of Asheville, N.C.; and Alan Moore of Spring Hope, N.C. For more information, visit:
www.helmdisciples.org/helm/08/HELM-Fellows.htm
CHURCHES UNITING IN CHRIST LOOKS TO THE FUTURE
 Churches Uniting in Christ (CUIC), a relationship of Christian communions that have pledged to live more closely together, has named a high level group that will examine CUIC’s current governance and programming for mission, as well as ways racism impacts CUIC’s work in pursuing Christian unity.
The recommendations follow three recent meetings this year where CUIC members grappled with difficult issues reflecting a current crisis in the relationship among the member churches. “In the midst of these tough days of transition, in struggling with our future and reshaping our life as Churches Uniting in Christ, I believe we are beginning to see new hope for a more faithful witness by the CUIC communions as we re-commit ourselves to the tasks of combating racism as an expression of seeking the full visible unity of the church,” said Suzanne Webb, CUIC president and pastor of Union Ave. Christian Church in St. Louis, Mo. To read more, visit: www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2008/08041.pdf (PDF)
FOREVERFAMILY PARTNERS WITH A DISCIPLES CHURCH IN KENTUCKY
 Foreverfamily – formerly Aid to Children of Imprisoned Mothers (AIM) - is expanding its services to include Beargrass Christian Church in Louisville Ky. The organization, which works to help children with an incarcerated parent become successful adults, feels the partnership with Beargrass Christian is a natural outgrowth of its work.
“Part of the mission of Foreverfamily is to share our experience with communities worldwide who want to do the same type of work,” said Sandra Barnhill, a Disciple and the executive director of Foreverfamily. “Working with Beargrass is moving that mission forward.”
In mid-2007, AIM officially changed its name to Foreverfamily. Until then the main emphasis had been on mothers and their children, primarily in the Atlanta, Ga. area. The new name, logo and motto reflect the revised mission and goals that includes children of incarcerated fathers and the work of caregivers. To read more, go to: www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2008/08042.pdf (PDF)
INSURANCE BOARD TO EXPLORE MORE DIRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH DISCIPLES
 Insurance Board directors are actively exploring with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) a more direct “recognized organization” relationship similar to what now exists within the United Church of Christ.
“The Conference Ministers and IB board members have asked executive staff and officers to engage in active conversation with regional ministers and denominational leaders on how we might be more directly connected in a shared ministry to our churches,” reported Rick Reisinger, Treasurer of the Insurance Board. Reisinger, an active member of Southport Christian Church, Indianapolis, Ind., is Vice President and Treasurer of the Disciples’ Church Extension.
The UCCIB, a not-for-profit corporation, administers property and liability insurance programs for churches and related organizations of the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). To read the full news release, go to: www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2008/08043.pdf (PDF)
JARVIS CHRISTIAN COLLEGE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
 Sebetha Jenkins, the 10th president of Jarvis Christian College, has announced plans to retire from the college effective Dec. 31. She has been president since January 1991.
Her accomplishments at the college include new construction and major renovations, increased alumni involvement and giving, enhancement of academics, a strategic increase in student enrollment, and service on national boards. Prior to joining Jarvis, Jenkins had served as a teacher and administrator in higher education in Mississippi and Ohio.
Jarvis is a private four-year liberal arts college located on 450 acres in Hawkins, Texas. It is one of the historically black colleges and universities in the United States and is related by covenant to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). To read more, visit: www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2008/08044.pdf (PDF)
INTERNATIONAL CHURCH ACTION FOR PEACE IN PALESTINE AND ISRAEL WILL TAKE PLACE IN JUNE
A growing circle of churches and organizations around the globe will join in next month’s observance of the International Church Action for Peace in Palestine and Israel. Convened by the World Council of Churches, the action will take place June 4-10. Participants are encouraged to pray with churches living under occupation, using a special prayer from Jerusalem on Sunday June 8; provide education about actions that make for peace and about facts that do not; advocate with political leaders using ecumenical policies that promote peace with justice; and involvement in public action to stress the depth of church concern. All activities are designed to seek justice for Palestinians so that both Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace. To read more, go to: www.oikoumene.org/?id=3627
CHURCH TRANSFORMATION EXPERT SPEAKS TO OKLAHOMA DISCIPLES
 Alan Roxburgh, vice-president of Allelon Canada, was the keynote speaker at the April 24-26 Oklahoma Regional Assembly in Tulsa, Okla. Roxburgh told attendees that “Transformation is not about making the church better or bigger. It’s not about inviting people into our friendly gatherings. Transformation occurs in those places where the people look within themselves (listening for the voice of God) in order to join God in ministry in the place where they are.”
A pastor, teacher, author and consultant, Roxburgh leads conferences and seminars across North America, Australia and the United Kingdom. Roxburgh also spoke during a morning plenary session at the 2007 General Assembly. To read more of his comments to the Oklahoma Regional Assembly, go to: www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2008/08045.html
SURVEY ALLOWS DISCIPLES TO STATE THEIR OPINIONS ON U.S. HEALTH CARE
Health care is a critical issue in this presidential election cycle, and the voice of the faith community will be integral in keeping the issue in the forefront of legislative priorities. Proclaiming the religious community’s vision will be key to shaping a health care future that works for all of us. One step in promoting that vision is participating in a survey called the PULSE, which will document opinions on the issue.
Originally developed by CodeBlueNow, the survey was adapted by Faithful Reform in Health Care to identify what people of faith are thinking about the country’s health care future. Once completed, the survey results will be used to guide faith-inspired advocates as they chart a path in their support for reform and work to hold our elected leaders accountable on this issue.
Linda Walling, a Disciples minister who is serving as a Disciples Center for Public Witness Senior Advisor for Health Care Reform, encourages Disciples to participate in the survey. Walling is also the founder and executive director of Faithful Reform in Healthcare. The deadline to take the survey is Friday, May 23. To participate go to: www.faithfulreform.org
2008-2009 PHILLIPS UNIVERSITY LEGACY SCHOLARSHIPS ANNOUNCED
Forty-nine undergraduate college students will receive Phillips University Legacy Foundation scholarships during the 2008-2009 academic year. The students have been awarded $143,000 in scholarships. Forty-three of those receiving the awards are members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ.)
Since its inception in 2002, the Legacy Scholar program has provided over $688,000 in academic financial support to young Christian leaders. Full-time undergraduate students attending any of the 17 Disciples-affiliated colleges or universities are eligible to apply for the annual scholarships of up to $5,000 each. The Foundation was established to perpetuate the legacy of Phillips University, which for 91 years was located in Enid, Okla., but which closed in 1998. For more information visit: www.pulf.org
IOWA CHURCH PROVIDES COMMUNITY FOOD MINISTRY
First Christian Church in Spencer, Iowa has found a ministry that not only positively impacts the community but that also impacts the church's outreach and evangelism. First Christian has partnered with the non-denominational organization Angel Food Ministries, based in Monroe, Ga., to provide food to the needy.
“This is an outreach into evangelism,” commented Pastor Dan Mayes. “We provide food to people in our community at low cost and share the good news of God’s love with them.”
Mayes first participated in Angel Food Ministries while working as an associate pastor at a Disciples church in Oklahoma. At his present church, people have the opportunity to buy a box of groceries each month for $30, groceries that would ordinarily cost them twice that amount at the store. In its first month, First Christian provided groceries to 146 different households. Mayes estimates that about three dozen Disciples churches around the country are involved with Angel Food Ministries program. To read more, go to: www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2008/08046.html
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Editor: Wanda Bryant Wills
E-mail: news@cm.disciples.org
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