In this issue:

• Deadline For Congregational Transformation Conference Extended
• Give Generously To The Christmas Special Offering On Sunday
• UCCIB Announces New Liability Insurance Carrier
• Regional Ministers Underscore Their Support Of GMP With Gift
• National Pastor For Hispanic Ministries Appointed
• Displaced Disciples Musicians Raise $2,000 For Pakistan Earthquake Relief
• Disciples Respond To Record Hurricane Season Through Week Of Compassion
• Online Registration For The Black Ministers Retreat Opens
• Disciples Leader To Speak At Major Advocacy Event
• Pension Fund Elects New Vice President And Chief Investment Officer
• Global Ministries Indianapolis Staff Adopts Anti-Racism/Pro Reconciling Covenant Statement
• Disciples And Catholics Meet To Discuss Christian Unity
  
  

DEADLINE FOR CONGREGATIONAL TRANSFORMATION CONFERENCE EXTENDED
The deadline for registering for the 2006 Conference on Congregational Transformation, "Journeying the Good News Road," has been extended to Jan. 12. This will be a unique opportunity for Disciples to come together to focus on the issues of change and how to bring about positive change across the church. Most people learn early transformation is not easy work, but much too often it has been lonely work. One of the reasons for this conference is to share information and resources. A second and equally important reason is to strengthen a network of leaders and congregations, pool information, share resources and encourage each other on the journey of which everyone is a part. To register go to: www.homelandministries.org/ChurchTools/CongregationalTransformation.htm

GIVE GENEROUSLY TO THE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL OFFERING ON SUNDAY
Many Disciples have a testimony. We can share how a summer camp experience helped us to hear God's call to ministry. We have wonderful memories of a Christian Women’s Fellowship (CWF) retreat that led to a life deeply rooted in the transforming love of God. We remember frightful thoughts of being asked to pray publicly or lead a worship experience. With the help of regional leader development activities we now share our spiritual gifts freely.
Regional ministry makes a difference in our lives in many important ways.

This Sunday, December 18, share a gift that makes a difference. Give generously to the Christmas Special offering in support of your regional ministries.

To learn more about the Christmas Special Offering and to get online promotional materials go to: www.churchfinancecouncil.org

UCCIB ANNOUNCES NEW LIABILITY INSURANCE CARRIER
The United Church of Christ Insurance Board (UCCIB) recently announced that Zurich Financial Services, a leading provider of commercial property and casualty insurance, will be their primary carrier for liability for our denominational Program. The decision brings to close a challenging time in the history of the UCCIB in that the Program renewal became complex after seven national disasters in 18 months.

The relationship with Zurich allows the UCCIB to continue its mission in serving its 4,600 participating UCC and Disciples churches. The church-based program will be able to continue to offer the same liability coverage without any changes in costs to participating congregations. Visit the Web site of DisciplesWorld magazine at:
www.disciplesworld.com/newsArticle.html?wsnID=8372 for additional information.

REGIONAL MINISTERS UNDERSCORE THEIR SUPPORT OF GMP WITH GIFT
The College of Regional Ministers (comprised of the Regional Ministers from the 33 Regions of the Christian Church) recently underscored its on-going support of General Minister and President Sharon E. Watkins by providing unrestricted dollars for her office. The College presented Watkins a $10,452 check in their three-day meeting following the Team Leadership Conference (TLC) held this year in early December in Norcross, Ga. [The annual TLC retreat brings together the College, general unit presidents, and most Disciples-related seminary presidents.]

The College made the decision in August to reallocate $10,000 from its funds for Watkins' use in the Office of General Minister and President, and also took up an offering in its summer meeting of an additional $452. The gift was delivered to Watkins by the College President prior to her major presentation to them in the December gathering.

"We really want to demonstrate our support of Sharon and help to ensure that the Office of General Minister and President is funded sufficiently," said Richard Guentert, President of the College. "We want to model the kind of prayerful support, as well as monetary support that we believe Sharon needs in her position," added Guentert, who also is regional minister for the Upper Midwest, which includes churches in Iowa, Minnesota, and North and South Dakota.

NATIONAL PASTOR FOR HISPANIC MINISTRIES APPOINTED
Huberto Pimentel has been appointed the new National Pastor for Hispanic Ministries. Presently, Pimentel is Vice President of the Disciples Seminary Foundation in Claremont, Calif. A native of Puerto Rico, he has over 25 years of pastoral experience. Pimentel holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, a master’s degree in divinity, and a doctorate in ministry with a specialty in marriage and family counseling. He will begin his tenure with the Central Pastoral Office, based in Indianapolis, Ind., in the spring of 2006. For additional information on his appointment, visit: www.obrahispana.org/noticias.htm

DISPLACED DISCIPLES MUSICIANS RAISE MONEY FOR PAKISTAN EARTHQUAKE RELIEF
Two Disciples musicians and several other displaced New Orleans, La., jazz musicians set aside their own cares recently, and used music to raise $2,000 for Pakistani earthquake relief. Disciples Paul David Longstreth and his sister Kim, were joined by other New Orleans musicians at the recent benefit concert, "Play it Forward," in Houston, Texas.

Nearly 100 people from Houston’s Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities gathered at First Evangelical Lutheran Church for the event. Money raised will be sent to relief efforts helping people affected by the massive earthquake that hit Pakistan in early October, killing thousands and leaving more than 3.3 million homeless. To read more go to www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2005/0596.html

DISCIPLES RESPOND TO RECORD HURRICANE SEASON THROUGH WEEK OF COMPASSION
Disciples, through Week of Compassion (WOC), have now channeled more than $1 million to hurricane relief and recovery efforts worldwide. More than $200 billion in economic losses from weather-related disasters occurred in 2005 - up from the previous record of $145 billion set just a year ago, according to Munich Re, one of the leading re-insurance companies in the world.

Most of the losses came from the unprecedented number and intensity of hurricanes, especially Wilma, Katrina and Rita. For a detailed list of the natural disasters that Week of Compassion has responded to, visit the WOC Web site at: www.weekofcompassion.org

ONLINE REGISTRATION FOR THE BLACK MINISTERS RETREAT OPENS
Online registration has opened for the 32nd annual Black Ministers Retreat. The retreat will be held in Los Angeles, Calif., on April 3-6 at Abundant Life Christian Church where John E. Tunstall IV is senior pastor. Interested persons can register online at www.discipleshomemissions.org/BlackMinistry/retreat or contact L. Wayne Stewart at 317-713-2669 or toll free 888-346-2631.

You also may contact Karen Jones at 317-713-2672 or toll free 888-346-2631. The retreat is designed for pastors and members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to come together to worship, renew old friendships, and be refreshed.

DISCIPLES LEADER TO SPEAK AT MAJOR ADVOCACY EVENT
Michael Kinnamon, a Disciples theologian and a strong supporter of ecumenism and justice advocacy, will be one of the main speakers at the 2006 Ecumenical Advocacy Days for Peace with Justice. The annual event will take place March 10-13 in Washington, D.C. Kinnamon is a professor of theology at Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Mo., and the chair of the Justice and Advocacy Commission of the National Council of Churches.

He also serves as the co-chair of Protestant Justice Action, a network of multi-issue justice advocacy groups within the mainline Protestant denominations. Read the full release by clicking on press releases at: www.disciplescenter.org

PENSION FUND ELECTS NEW VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER
David Stone has been elected as Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of the Pension Fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). For the past 12 years, Stone has served as Director of Investment Research, during which period returns on investment have enabled the declaration of special apportionments an average of 7.5 percent per year.

In his new role, Stone will provide greater oversight of the investment activities of the Pension Fund and assume additional administrative duties. Stone holds a master’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in finance from Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., and a bachelor’s degree from Albion College, Albion, Mich. For more information, go to: www.pensionfund.org/pdf/Stone%20News%20Release.pdf

GLOBAL MINISTRIES INDIANAPOLIS STAFF ADOPTS ANTI-RACISM/PRO RECONCILING COVENANT STATEMENT
In response to the church wide initiative and in partnership with the Disciples Reconciliation Mission office, the Division of Overseas Ministries (DOM)/Global Ministries adopted an Anti-racism/Pro Reconciling Covenant statement for the Indianapolis staff. On Nov. 16, a worship service was held at the Disciples Center in Indianapolis, Ind., to celebrate this covenant.
The covenant states, "As we define racism as 'racial prejudice plus systemic power,' we acknowledge that this commitment encompasses our personal attitudes and actions, as well as the visible and invisible systems under which DOM/Global Ministries corporately operates on a day-to-day basis." To view the entire statement, visit the Global Ministries Web site at: www.globalministries.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=819&Itemid=34

DISCIPLES AND CATHOLICS MEET TO DISCUSS CHRISTIAN UNITY
Members of the International Commission for Dialogue between the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the Roman Catholic Church met Dec. 4-9 at the Fatima Retreat House in Indianapolis, Ind., to discuss issues critical to engaging in true Christian unity. "The level of trust that we have with one another allows us to ask hard questions and solve difficult issues," said William Tabbernee, President, Phillips Theological Seminary, Tulsa, Okla., and co-chair of the dialogue.

This dialogue that began 28 years ago is now in its fourth phase and is currently focusing on the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. "As we better understand each other's beliefs and practices in regard to the Eucharist (Lord's Supper), we are taking an important step toward the day when we will be able to celebrate together this sacrament of God's love," stated Robert Welsh, President, Council on Christian Unity. Read the full release at: www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2005/0595.html

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Editor: Wanda Bryant Wills
DNS Writer: Kenethia Jackson
E-mail: news@cm.disciples.org

For more information and news about the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ),
please visit our web site at www.disciples.org.