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Stone-Campbell Dialogue explores new church development
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Participants in the Stone-Campbell Dialogue meet at First Christian in Abilene, TX.
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An estimated 250-300 members of Churches of Christ, Disciples of Christ, and Christian Churches and Churches of Christ came together for an evening worship service and observance of the Lord's Supper on Oct. 5 for the 19th meeting of the Stone-Campbell Dialogue. The service included presentations on the history and nature of the Stone-Campbell Dialogue by Newell Williams, president of Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University, and Doug Foster, professor of church history and director of the Center for Restoration Studies at Abilene Christian University. Reports were also offered from representatives of the three "streams" of the Stone-Campbell movement reflecting on the progress and challenges experienced today by their churches: Robert K. Welsh, president with the Disciples' Council on Christian Unity; Mark A. Taylor, editor and publisher of Christian Standard; and Gary Holloway, executive director with World Convention.
The theme of this year's event was "It Doesn't Look Like Church To Me," which focused on the development of new churches in the changing context of North American society. Foster hosted the Monday session at Abilene Christian University. About 50 students, professors, and Christian leaders heard Kent Smith, professor of missional formation and director of Abilene Christian University's Missional Residency for North America, set the stage for the discussion by describing how and why "new church" experiences are happening across America. Four speakers with roots in the Stone-Campbell heritage described their experience with alternative expressions of Christian fellowship and worship: Laura Callarman, Abilene, TX; Jared Looney, NYC; Joel Brown, Chicago,; and Blake Ryan, Corona, CA.
Members of the Dialogue national planning team met Monday afternoon and evening to discuss and discern unity progress among the three groups and to decide future directions. Their plan is to continue meeting for at least five years. They made preliminary plans for next year's event, to focus on racial reconciliation and to meet in St. Louis in October, 2015.
Those attending from the national team were:
- Ron Degges, Andy Mangum, Bob Riester, Welsh and Williams from the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ);
- Albert Acosta, Foster, Claire Frederick, Holloway, D'Esta Love, Kavian McMillon, and Jerry Taylor, from the Churches of Christ; and,
- Bill Baker, Alicia Crumpton, Karen Diefendorf, Mark Taylor, and Guthrie Veech from the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ
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Wondering how to explain Disciples Mission Fund as you enter the budget season?
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How Your Offerings to DMF Support Mission in the Church
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Find this video, graphs and other options at disciplesmissionfund.org
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| News in the Church Other News |
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Week of Compassion announces staff change, addition
 | | Mary Jacobs |
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 | | Dawn Barnes |
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Week of Compassion has called the Rev. Mary Jacobs as interim resource development director. Jacobs comes to continue the important work begun by Johnny Wray in building the Circle of Compassion and the Week of Compassion Endowment Program with Disciples congregations. She is a third generation Disciple and ordained clergywoman. She has served congregations in California and Arizona, including one new church start that she shared with her husband, Bill. Jacobs has visited Church World Service's sustainable development program in Africa as well as living in Bossey, Switzerland at the Graduate Institute program of the World Council of Churches. She has served in various capacities within the General Church and the Regions where she has been pastor, which included being First Vice-Moderator of the General Assembly and Moderator in Arizona. She recently completed her ministry as the transitional interim regional minister in Northern California/Nevada and as the president of the International Disciples Women's Ministry. Jacobs will begin her new role on Nov. 1.
The Rev. Dawn Barnes will move to a new position as transitional program associate. Barnes has been with Week of Compassion for nearly two years. In her new role she will focus on strengthening relationships with many of our partners and congregations, as well as the day to day operations for Week of Compassion. She served 10 years with Global Ministries as a missionary to South Africa and Mozambique, engaged in pastoral and development work with a focus on HIV and AIDS. Prior to working in Africa, she was a clinician in Richmond, VA working with the seriously mentally ill. She is ordained with the Disciples of Christ and has standing in the United Church of Christ. She is mom to Khaya and Alyson and, along with her husband Jon, lives in Indianapolis.
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 | | Thanksgiving offering received in most congregations Nov. 9 & 16 |
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Young Adult Commission applications due Nov. 1st
Disciple minister's work with homeless gets national attention
Dan Bryant, Senior Minister of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Eugene, Oregon, is featured in an upcoming episode of the Religion and Ethics Newsweekly on PBS. The show looks at Opportunity Village Eugene, a transitional shelter for the homeless using micro housing. Bryant is President of the non-profit which build the village. Thirty-five residents live in the village built with volunteer labor and in-kind donations for under $100,000. A trailer for the program can be found here: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/next-time-onreligion-ethics-newsweekly/
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Search for Regional Minister begins
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Capital Area Region is seeking to call an ordained minister and Transformational Leader in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to the position of Regional Minister. A Regional Profile and Position Description are posted on their website.
All applicants are required to provide updated Search and Call paperwork in order to be considered. Furthermore, all applicants are required to submit a Letter of Interest to the Christian Church Capital Area Regional Office addressed to:
Search Committee Chairperson
The Christian Church Capital Area
8814 Kensington Parkway
Suite 208
Chevy Chase, MD 20815-6743
The application deadline is 24 October 2014.
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Peace planning
It's easy to think Peace Sunday in Advent is the only time to commemorate the work of peace, but there are actually a number of dates that lend themselves to the practice. As you plan your calendar for the remainder of 2014 and head into 2015, here are some international dates to consider.
- Nov. 11 - Veterans Day and Feast of St. Martin of Tours and Martin Luther
- Second Sunday of Advent - Peace Sunday
- Dec. 10 - United Nations Human Rights Day
- Jan. 1 - World Day of Peace
- Jan. 17 - Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Feb. 4 - Birthday of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
- Sept. 19 - UN Day of Peace
- Oct. 2 - Birthday of Mahatma Ghandi and International Day of Non-Violence
- Oct. 4 - Feast of St. Francis Assisi
The Disciples Peace Fellowship is providing a new resource that includes some portions in Spanish. You can find it on their website along with other suggested readings.
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If you are interested in advertising in future issues of the Disciples News Service, please contact Fred Jones |
 The Disciples News Service, also known as The DiscipleŽ, is distributed weekly or as needed by Communication Ministries. For changes to your subscription options or to subscribe to this newsletter, please visit: www.disciples.org/Default.aspx?tabid=76 If you are interested in submitting news for distribution in the Disciples News Service, please review our "Guidelines for Submitting News and Information to Disciples News Service": www.disciples.org/Default.aspx?tabid=79 The next deadline to submit news for consideration
in the Disciples News Service: Friday, October 17, 2014 |
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