Congregational Transformation Event - November

Mark the date: Nov. 14-16, Disciples Home Missions will sponsor God's Positioning Spirit, a Congregational Transformation Conference in Philadelphia. Details will appear on our homepage soon, including a downloadable flyer.

Assembly Photos

Thanks to Bill Chambers of the Madison Avenue Church, we have some photos from the assembly ready for you to view on our Flickr page, which can be accessed from our homepage (bottom left panel), or by clicking here.

If you have more to share from your own collection, please email them to me (or loan them, if paper, and I will scan and return to you). We'd like to have a nice full collection!

Blessings!
David

Heartwarming Words from the Regional Minister

I am being warmed in the afterglow of our 120th regional assembly. I find myself being warmed by the grace of God. I am touched by the depth of love and faithfulness that I witness and know in our church. What gifts we have been given!

Our time together in Huntington has been wonderful, and I am struck by the unity and inherent diversity within our one body. At this assembly, there was something for everybody. Our minds were stretched, our hearts were encouraged, our comfortable places were confronted, and the music and preaching were top notch. There was something for everybody.

This reminds us clearly, that in our region, there is a place for everyone (for every body!) Our diversity adds greatly to the richness of our life. It adds to our unity. Be warmed in this.

Blessings and Christ’s Peace,

+ Thaddaeus

Assembly Joys

The 120th Regional Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in West Virginia has come to a close with the installation of our new Regional Board. So much has happened in the past 3 days, and so many good feelings were a part of the gathering, a play-by-play account would be impossible.

Needless to say, with the presence of so many good people from around the Region, the General Church, and our ecumenical brothers and sisters, Friday night was a mountain-top experience for the many gathered in the Ohio Valley. A new bishop, Thaddaeus Allen, was consecrated and installed as our Regional Minister; his Deputy Regional Minister, David Chafin, was also installed to office; the clergy of the Region renewed their commitment to faithful ministry, as did all of us called into Christ's ministry in their Baptisms.

Music was superb throughout the event. Spirits were high, and much learning and loving took place among people who do both so very well. Hospitality from the Huntington churches was as good or better than we have come to expect through the years, and those 3 great congregations look forward to yet another day together as they plan to celebrate the first joint Sunday communion known of in their common history tomorrow morning.

Our hosts at the Madison Avenue Church deserve a great commendation, and names will not be dropped at the moment, because no one deserves to be left out. Enough to say, "Many thanks from a grateful Regional Church."

Our guests, so numerous and loved, are travelling home with the good taste of a great time in Christ's presence fresh in their mouths. Now we look to gather again in 2 years at the church in Weirton with great anticipation. Mark the month of April, 2010 as "reserved" in your planning calendar. You won't be disappointed!

Calling the Church to Prayer and Assembly

The 120th Regional Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in West Virginia will begin Thursday, April 24th, and continue through Saturday. Many fine events and celebrations will bless Huntington this weekend. The Madison Avenue Christian Church will serve as headquarters for this holy event in the life of the church. I call us all to a time of prayer for our regional church. Please remeber those who will lead, those who are hosting, and all who are traveling. May this time of Assembly bless the church and the world.

God Bless you,
+ Thaddaeus
your Regional Minister

Last Minute Assembly Advice

The 120th Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in West Virginia is about to begin. This article ran in the Huntington Herald-Dispatch this morning, and things are looking right and ready at the Madison Avenue Church, where we will be hosted and treated wonderfully.

The big question we hear now is, "I didn't register on time. Can I still come?" The answer is a little complicated, but the long and short of it is yes! We expect to pack the house for worship, especially on Friday evening, but if you've been a Disciple for more than a week, you know you won't be turned away from the Lord's Table.

Certainly, we have serious limits at our Men's and Women's dinners, which are catered off-site, but there may still be a place for you there. Pancakes? When do the guys run out of pancakes? My guess is there will still be a couple of tickets left for that early Saturday event. And the banquet Friday night will have some extra seating for you, just in case...and the folks there at Central know hospitality. You'll be glad you made the effort.

So the good word for today is don't miss it. Details on our registration form. At this late date, please email us and let us know your plans to attend, so we can try to fit you in for meals. You can pay at the registration table in Fellowship Hall.

Unity Worth Working For - National Council

Looking forward to Pentecost, General Minister Sharon Watkins and Disciples Council on Christian Unity President Robert Welsh request the publication of this letter from the National Council of Churches. They not only note agreement with the content of the letter, but remind us of unity as a mark of the earliest church in Jerusalem, as described in Acts.

That same church, which was of one mind and spirit, at least for a time, moved outward to transform the world. How appropriate that our Pentecost offering for New Church should help empower God's people to do likewise in our time and place!

The National Council letter follows:

Pentecost Letter
National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! This letter comes with greetings from the 35 member communions of the National Council of Churches—and with an invitation.

The National Council of Churches is probably best known for its sponsorship of Bible translation (the RSVand NRSV) and for its work on behalf of justice and peace. The Council, however, is much more than such activities, important as they are. It is, in the words of its Constitution, “a community of communions,” a fellowship whose very existence offers a sign of hope in a world so often fragmented by competing interests and fearful of differences. In this community of communions, Orthodox and Quakers sit together. In this community of communions, churches with roots in Africa, Asia, and Europe talk and work together. In this community of communions, gifts of the Spirit are shared in order that the body of Christ might be built up in love.

There are still real theological differences among us, differences significant enough that some of our member churches cannot yet break bread together at the table of our Lord. But we do affirm that all of us, in some mysterious way, belong to Christ; and this allows us to pray with and for one another.

This letter is an invitation to engage in such prayer in your own setting. We urge you to contact congregations/parishes from other communions in your neighborhood (especially ones with which you may not have had much previous contact) in order to organize a time of fellowship and prayer together this spring. Many of these congregations are also part of the member communions in the National Council of Churches. The work of Christian unity requires leadership. Our fervent hope is that you will give such leadership in your local setting.

In this season following Easter and looking to Pentecost, we are writing to invite you and your congregation to celebrate our common commitment to Jesus Christ and to join in the universal Christian language—the language of prayer. Resources for this time of prayer together, including prayers for peace in our troubled world, will soon be available on the National Council of Churches website (www.ncccusa.org) where you can also inform us of your participation.

May God bless you and your community as we celebrate of the resurrection of our Lord. May the Holy Spirit move among us all with the reconciling power made manifest on that first Pentecost event of unity and reconciliation.


Michael Kinnamon Archbishop Vicken Aykazian
General Secretary President

Scott Lectures Well Attended

A large crowd of 75 participants, including Ministers from West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia gathered at the Mountainside Conference Center in Bethany as Dr. Marvin Meyer presented the 2008 Oreon E. Scott Lectures.

Dr. Meyer (Ph.D., Claremont Graduate University; M. Div., Calvin Theological Seminary) is Griset Professor of Bible and Christian Studies and Co-Chair of the Department of Religious Studies, Chapman University. Using as his theme Disciples and Gospels – Lost and Found, Dr. Meyer gave individual presentations on the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Mary and the Gospel of Judas.

Bethany College preministerial students were introduced at Monday’s Timothy luncheon and Dr. Dan P. Moseley, Herald B. Monroe Professor of Practical Parish Ministry, Christian Theological Seminary, was the luncheon speaker.

To subscribe or read archives, visit "The Old Main Journal".

Fair Trade Coffee Project for Your Church?

DHM and Week of Compassion partner in coffee project (from Disciples News Service).

In 2007, Disciples bought 3,420 pounds (1.71 tons!) of fairly traded coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate and snacks. In 2008, DHM and Week of Compassion launched the Disciples of Christ Coffee Project through Equal Exchange. If your congregation or region is not already serving fairly traded products, DHM and Week of Compassion invite you to begin serving Equal Exchange products. Proceeds from the initiative will support a Disciples Hunger Relief and Food Security Fund within WoC and DHM.
Find out how you can support small farmers around the world.

Disciples Musicians to Meet in Tulsa

Annual conference in Oklahoma!
The next Association of Disciples Musicians annual national conference takes place July 19 to 24, 2008, at First Christian Church in Tulsa, Okla. The theme will be "What is God doing?-Searching for Emerging Worship in a Changing Culture." More info and reservations can be found at http://www.discipleshomemissions.org/ADM/index.htm.

Moments in Disciples History: A Prescription For Missions

From Disciples News Service and the Disciples of Christ Historical Society

It didn't quite work out the way he had foreseen. The passionate missionary knew - just knew - that his work would help bring about Christ's millennial reign on earth. The timing seemed exactly right and his devotion was unmatched.

James Turner Barclay went to the Holy Land to be one of God's agents in ushering in Christ's final reign. Although his mission work concluded in the mid-19th century, as Disciples' first overseas missionary, Barclay lives on as an example of passionate service to the Church and the world.

Born in Virginia in 1807, Barclay attended the University of Virginia and the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied medicine. Originally Presbyterian, like so many other Disciples, the physician would go on to put down solid roots in the Christian Church. After joining the Disciples movement, Barclay moved to Washington, D.C., where he helped start a Disciples congregation.
Barclay's wife, Julia Sowers, was a close friend of Alexander Campbell's wife Selina, and the Barclay's younger son married the Campbells' daughter, Decima. Eventually Barclay would become professor of natural sciences at Bethany College.

Even before joining the Disciples, Barclay had expressed a passion for missions. Longing to serve in China, he sought placement with the Presbyterian Board of Missions but decided against going overseas when his aging mother asked him not to leave. After his mother's death and his affiliation with the Disciples, Barclay signed on with the Disciples' newly formed American Christian Missionary Society in 1849 to work in Palestine.
Stirring Barclay's zeal for the Holy Land was a view he shared with many other 19th-century Protestants: a hope that Palestine would embrace Christianity and be a linchpin in divine history to inaugurate Christ's millennial reign.

Barclay served two missionary tours in Palestine, the first between 1851 and 1854, and the second between 1858 and the early 1860s. However, the evangelism plans of the Virginia doctor largely failed; his audience was unresponsive to his Christian proclamation.

Despite the disappointment, the doctor dug in his theological heels after his second term of service, expounding in Campbell's journal, the Millennial Harbinger, his confidence in Christ's quick return and the dramatic turning of the multitudes to the Christian faith.

Though Barclay's evangelizing mission stalled, he retained an unshakable desire to serve the world in Christ's name. Despite the lack of converts, Barclay's medical outreach was a success, the Disciple doctor treating more than 2,000 malaria victims the first year of his initial missionary tour. And Barclay made a lasting impact through geographical research. His 1858 book The City of the Great King was a seminal study of 19th-century Jerusalem.

We remember Barclay because of his unique prescription for Disciples missions and for the zeal he displayed in evangelism. Oh, and that church he helped start in Washington? That went on eventually to become National City Christian Church.

By Ted Parks

Associate Professor of Spanish

Lipscomb University, Nashville, TN

"Baptism" Document available online

One Baptism: A Word to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in West Virginia is a fine document prepared by Dr. William B. Allen, Regional Minister Emeritus, back in 2001. It has been made available again on our site. Reflecting on the practice of "re-baptism" in some congregations, Dr. Allen presents a clear challenge. If you haven't seen this in past years, spend some time with it today.

Click "Congregational Resources" link at left, or download it directly (it is a small .pdf file).

Little Rock Tornado: Week of Compassion is On the Scene

[From Week of Compassion updates - sign up on lower left panel of their homepage]
An early morning tornado ripped through central Arkansas today causing extensive damage in Little Rock, Benton and other communities in the state. First Christian Church in Little Rock was hit and all the buildings on its campus were damaged. WOC has sent a solidarity grant to the congregation to express the concern of the whole church. David King is the interim pastor at the church. WOC is also working with the Great River Region to assess possible damages to other congregations and among Disciples members.

Your Global Ministries Update: March 27, 2008

If you do not already get this weekly Global Ministries Update (and would like to receive it directly to your email inbox),
please reply to this email (ruthm@ucc.org) with “YES GM UPDATES” and include your name, mailing & physical address, phone number, and home church.
------------------------
Disciples and UCC… together in God’s global mission - Visit us at: www.globalministries.org

Please download the MONTHLY MISSION STORY for your church bulletin/newsletter:
March 2008: pdf or text only or espanol
April 2008: pdf or text only

To download the WEEKLY PRAYER for Sunday worship, click here: Laos

Calming the Storm: Register now for Churches for Middle East Peace Advocacy conference, April 20-22.

Hope is Global: Join Darfur activists around the world in a Day of Action on Darfur, Sunday, April 13. Visit Save Darfur to join an event in your area. Plan a Tent of Hope event with your congregation, school or community.

Request for Prayer for the Election in Zimbabwe
March 29, 2008 marks a momentous occasion in the political history of Zimbabwe as the people go to the polls to elect leaders for the country. Given the past history of Zimbabwe's elections, there is great concern that the elections are carried out in a manner that fosters free and fair democratic elections. As Christians this is an opportunity for us to pray with our brothers and sisters as they exercise their constitutional right to vote. To read the entire request, click here: Zimbabwe Elections

Death of Former Missionary to the Philippines, Lynn Keyes
Word has been received of the passing of Lynn Keyes, 86, on Monday, March 17, 2008. Lynn and his wife, Lillian, served as educators in the Philippines from 1951-1967. To read the entire obituary, click here: Lynn Keyes

Global Ministries Council of Theological Students Publish Latest Newsletter
The following students are a part of Global Ministries Council of Theological Students for the 2007-2008 school year: Geoffrey Brewster-Phillips Theological Seminary, Carla Dietz Carroll-Yale Divinity School, Cheryl Cloar-Christian Theological Seminary, Sage Crary-Hartford Seminary, Evan Dolive-Lexington Theological Seminary, Diane Faires-Vanderbilt Disciples Divinity House, Cara Gilger-Vanderbilt Disciples Divinity House, Donna Goodnow-Chicago Theological Seminary, Stephanie Haskins-Andover Newton Theological School, Robin LaBolt-Eden Theological Seminary, Mark Pettis-Lexington Theological Seminary, Aaron Wade-Howard University School of Divinity. To read their newsletter on “Mission Praxis”, click here: Newsletter - March 2008

The National Interreligious Leadership Initiative Sends Letter to Secretary Rice
28 Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders, including Sharon Watkins and John Thomas faxed a letter to Secretary Rice on March 20th. The letter begins: “We write to commend your active support for current diplomatic efforts led by Egypt to turn what was for several days an informal, temporary and fragile cessation of hostilities between Palestinian forces in Gaza and the Israeli Defense Force into a formal, permanent and comprehensive ceasefire covering Israel, Gaza and the West Bank.” To read the rest of the letter, click here: NILI Letter

Project M.A.E.S.T.R.A. in Paraguay Shares Stories of its Workers
Project M.A.E.S.T.R.A. is a program of Friendship Mission. Friendship Mission was founded in 1953 by the United Christian Missionary Society (predecessor of the Division of Overseas Ministries) and by graduates of the International School in Paraguay. (The International School was the first Disciples mission in Paraguay and was founded in 1917.) The Spanish word "maestra" means "teacher" in English. Project M.A.E.S.T.R.A. uses the acronym for the Spanish description, which, when translated into English means "Friendship Mission Extension of Health Services Through Relationships and Aid." The goals outlined for the project are to provide medical services including medications to people in areas where there is no local access to said services; and to offer classes and workshops to teach about diabetes, hypertension, disease prevention, hygiene, etc. Services are provided by a team of four which includes a social worker/receptionist, a nurse, a medical doctor, and physician assistant. To read the stories, click here: Delia Lopez and Nelida Lopez

If someone forwarded this e-mail to you and you would like to receive directly to your inbox these weekly Global Ministries updates, please send your name, e-mail address, physical address, phone number, and home church to: bshebeck@dom.disciples.org

Please contact us, if you want any further information:
bshebeck@dom.disciples.org
Bob Shebeck
317-713-2571

Find a Missionary Visit in your State:
WV: May 1-31, 2008, Krista Johnson (Sabeel in Jerusalem) Contact: Thad Allen tallen@wvdisciples.org

Bethany/Lexington Theological Seminary Hold Program Partnership Discussions

(from The Old Main Journal - Bethany College's E-magazine):

[Bethany] President Scott D. Miller and Provost Michael Mihalyo, Bethany College, and President R. Robert Cueni and Interim Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs Richard Lowery, Lexington Theological Seminary, have begun conversations regarding the potential for educational partnerships in the near future. Formal and informal programs under consideration include studies to support vocational and lay leader development. Most important is that these collaborative efforts will clearly bring together the oldest College and oldest Seminary within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

“While religious studies and theological formation have different purposes, mutual contributions enriching to both are possible," stated Dr. James Farwell, chair of the Department of Religious Studies at Bethany. "An understanding of religion as a living spiritual practice with which seminaries are concerned is important to academic students of religion; and those who are formed by seminaries for theological and institutional leadership benefit from the critical tools and critical questions posed by religious studies. I am eager to see what might be accomplished in a collaborative effort between Bethany and Lexington Seminary.”

[The Regional Minister and staff encourage the Christian Church in West Virginia to take this very encouraging news into their prayers. May God's mission be furthered in it! DTC]

Regional Minister: Pray for Pastor, Church at Installation

Dearest Regional Church-

On Sunday the 6th of April, the Reverend Aaron Watkins will be installed as Senior Minister of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Bluefield, West Virginia. This solemn and sacred event will take place during morning worship. As a sign of our unity I invite us to remember Aaron and his fine parish in moments of both personal and corporate prayer. Sunday morning prayers in our congregations are most appropriate. Aaron is the husband of Dawna, a minister herself, and the proud father of Nicholas.

Easter love to you all,
Thaddaeus Allen

Youth Event in California - Wanna go?

Young people - and adults - from around the United States and Canada are registering for the upcoming International Christian Youth Fellowship (ICYF) event that will be held July 24-27 at Chapman University in Orange, Calif. Disciples high school youth gather at ICYF every four years for worship, discussion and leisure activities.

A new form that allows Disciples Ministry partners, such as general ministries and college and universities, to reserve display space has been created at www.icyfchapman.org
Mission sites, registration forms, and promotional materials also can be downloaded from the site.

Adults attending the event are reminded to sign up for a workshop when they register. Although adults can not participate in youth workshops, they are encouraged to select from one of three sessions designed for youth leaders and others at ICYF. Any questions about the conference should be forwarded to: ICYFChapman@yahoo.com

New Disciples History Website Unveiled

Disciples of Christ Historical Society today launched a major update to its website http://www.discipleshistory.org/.

“It’s better than ever,” said Historical Society president Glenn Thomas Carson. “With 1,000 people visiting discipleshistory.org every month, we want to make access to our resources as easy as possible.”

The site includes a fully searchable catalog, index to periodicals, and digital images.

Two new programs are featured on discipleshistory.org. First, Journeys in Faith helps individuals write their spiritual autobiography, which then will be made available online. Second, Streamers helps congregations teach the history and beliefs of the Stone-Campbell movement. It is an in-depth curriculum developed in partnership with Disciples Home Missions. It is available for free download at discipleshistory.org.

The site also includes a staff blog sharing thoughts and insights on research, programming, and church life.

Disciples of Christ Historical Society is a general ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), also serving Churches of Christ and Christian Churches/Churches of Christ. Glenn Thomas Carson, President.

Women's Gatherings: Reservation Deadline

Reservations are now due...nearly past-due for our annual Disciples Women's Annual Spring Gatherings. Please have one person from your congregation contact the church where you willo be attending, as listed below. Hope you will be there!

April 5 - Matoaka (Registration begins at 11:30. Lunch and program to follow)
Contact: Craig Hammond- 1-304-327-0309 or 1-304-327-8167

April 6 - Wheeling First (Registration begins at 3:00. Program at 3:30, followed by dinner at 5:00)
Contact: First Christian Church 1-304-242-1520

April 7 - Proctor (Registration begins at 6:00. Dinner and program to follow)
Contact: Sharon Colvin- 1-304-455-2892

April 8 - St Albans (Registration begins at 6:00. Dinner and program to follow)
Contact: Pat Harris- 1-304-727-1696

Other questions, contact Mary Uhl.