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Field Report: On the Road with the National Benevolent Association
by Rev. Rebecca Hale, NBA Vice President for Mission and Ministry
Crossing the country talking to Disciples congregations in the final decision making stage about being NBA Xplor host sites is a rich and heartening way to spend time. NBA XPLOR is a congregationally-based initiative of the National Benevolent Association and is a 10-month intentional community residency for 21-to 30-year-olds who want to explore lives of care and service. Here is a taste of the depth and faithfulness of these conversations.
Hiram, Ohio - Four Disciples congregations who have begun to imagine themselves as four locations-one church and a Disciple-related college wonder if NBA Xplor can be another way of embodying their growing ministry partnership.
Becoming a just, peace-making church In response to an action of the 2009 General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to refer resolution #0919 "On War and Unity" to the Council on Christian Unity and to the Disciples Peace Fellowship, a process was designed (called "Faithful Conversations") in which issues of war and peace could be discussed in a non-confrontational atmosphere of trust and respect -- without moving to a vote, and without creating division and a sense of "winners and losers" within the family of the church. Building upon conversations that have taken place over the past four years in congregations and regional settings, the Council on Christian Unity has produced a statement that it hopes might serve as a resource for discussion of the ways in which God's justice and peace are understood in today's world. This statement, Becoming a Just Peace-Making Church, is now offered as a working draft to all Disciples congregations, regions, institutions of higher education, seminaries and general ministries for study, discussion and response; it can be found online Please send your any comments, suggestions, and response to Robert Welsh, president of the Council on Christian Unity, at rwelsh@ccu.disciples.org
Clergy Continuing Education Grants awarded through Disciples Home Missions
The period of application for clergy continuing education grants awarded by Disciples Home Missions for the 2014 calendar year will be between Oct. 1 and Nov. 30, 2013. This is a change from last year's application period, and is meant to facilitate application requests for events earlier in the calendar year.
If you would like to be considered for a DHM Clergy Continuing Education Grant next year (2014), you must apply during the application window. Instructions and application
Got a potential pastor in your congregation? The General Commission on Ministry wants to encourage you to identify people in your congregation who might have the gifts and graces for ministry. There are two paths to ministry now - ordained and commissioned - and ways to learn without moving to the physical campus of a seminary. For more information about the process, click on General Commission on Ministry under the quick links on Disciples.org. |
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