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2009-12-15 issue:

NEWS DIGESTS - Dec. 15

by compiled by Anna Groff

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Friends, family and coworkers bid farewell to Schrag
Jim Schrag, executive director for Mennonite Church USA, hugs his granddaughter Lauren Sommerfeld during Schrag's retirement party at Mennonite Church USA offices in Newton, Kan., on Nov. 30. More than 90 people attended and brought their well-wishes to Schrag, who served as the denomination's first executive director, beginning in 2001.—Gordon Houser


Decline in MCC giving, people with HIV at risk
AKRON, Pa.—Giving by U.S. contributors to Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) is lagging behind last year's levels, but supporters continue to show their generosity through donations to several special projects. Overall contributions were down 12 percent as of Oct. 31. Giving to international and U.S. programming was about $9.8 million compared with $11.1 million in the same period in the previous fiscal year. However, giving to Menno-Santé, a multiyear program to revitalize Mennonite-run hospitals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has exceeded expectations. Donors also responded generously to recovery efforts for natural disasters in Asia. In early November, the response totaled about $343,000, nearly 25 percent more than MCC requested. One particularly vulnerable group is people with HIV and AIDS, whom MCC supports through its Generations at Risk program. Currently MCC anticipates modest budget reductions for international programming and more extensive cuts for domestic work through MCC U.S. during fiscal year 2010-2011.—MCC


Spanish-language ezine wins support
GOSHEN, Ind.—In April 2008, The Mennonite and Mennonite Education Agency formed a partnership to publish Meno Acontecer (Mennonite Happenings), a free electronic magazine for Hispanic leaders. Rafael Barahona, who leads MEA's Hispanic Pastoral Leadership Education office, serves as managing editor. Anna Groff, assistant editor for The Mennonite, creates each issue and sends the monthly ezine to some 600 subscribers. Because of Meno Acontecer's popularity, Iglesia Menonita Hispana decided to discontinue the publication of its newsletter "Encuentro" and enter into a partnership with Meno Acontecer, making it their official publication. The decision was made by the IMH board Nov. 2-3. To subscribe, send an email to MenoAcontecer@themennonite.org.—Everett J.Thomas


Peacemakers discuss resistance at conference
GOSHEN, Ind.—Resisters of the Vietnam War draft and those who supported draft resisters gathered at Goshen (Ind.) College Nov. 13-14 for a conference, "Resistance: Taking a Stand Against War, 1960s to Today." Three leaders from 40 years ago and others attended the conference. The leaders—Doug Baker of Goshen, J.D. Leu of Brunswick, Md., and Jon Lind of Manassas, Va.—were Goshen College students at the time. They attended the Mennonite Church’s General Conference delegate session at Turner, Ore., in August 1969 and called on the delegate body to recognize draft resistance—in addition to the historic peace position of nonresistance—as a valid and faithful peace witness. And the delegates did, somewhat to the students' surprise.—Goshen College


Israeli settlers beat and rob CPT workers
AT-TUWANI—On Nov. 17 in the South Hebron Hills of the West Bank, five Israeli settlers harassed a Palestinian family walking home, then beat and robbed two Christian Peacemaker Teams workers who were accompanying them. The family was returning from the nearby city of Yatta to their home village of Tuba when they encountered CPTers just south of the village of At-Tuwani. After the CPTers warned the Palestinians about the settlers seen earlier in the morning, the family chose a longer path toward Tuba, accompanied by the CPTers. Later they saw four settler men on a ridge 50 meters above them. The settlers ran toward the Palestinians and circled them. A fifth settler, masked and hooded, appeared from the valley below. When the Palestinian man told them he was only trying to walk home, a settler shoved him. As the CPTers attempted to step between the Palestinians and settlers, the settlers pushed them to the ground, hit and kicked them and stole their two video cameras. The settlers then walked to the illegal settlement outpost of Havat Ma'on (Hill 833), where they disappeared among the trees 20 minutes later. The Palestinian family arrived home safely. —CPT


Mennonite Women USA approves scholarship
NEWTON, Kan.—The Mennonite Women USA board approved $7,000 in scholarship awards for 11 international women at board meetings Nov. 7. Eight of the scholarships were renewal awards for women who are continuing their education with scholarship assistance given previously from Mennonite Women USA; four of the scholarships are going to new recipients. Individual awards granted ranged from $500 to $1,000. Renewal scholarships for 2010-11 total $5,000, while first-time scholarships totaled $2,000.—Mennonite Women USA


Harrisonburg church wins Bethel's funds again
NORTH NEWTON, Kan.—For the second straight time, the Harrisonburg (Va.) Mennonite Church youth group won Bethel College's service promotion at the Mennonite Church USA Convention 2009 youth gathering. And for the second time, Cornerstone Christian Academy in Philadelphia was the beneficiary. Harrisonburg Mennonite has a close relationship with Cornerstone Christian Academy that goes back about 25 years. As they did at Convention 2009 in San José, Calif., staff from Bethel’s admissions, alumni and church relations offices chose to emphasize service at their display booth. Youth who stopped by the booth helped put together playground equipment to be given to FCI Academy Kindergarten Village in Columbus, Ohio, and also had the chance to designate funds to a service organization of their choice by putting tickets in the hopper upon each visit.—Bethel College


EMU staff relish weekly radio programs
HARRISONBURG, Va.—They are three men on a mission—seeking to serve up an appetizing smorgasbord of eclectic music that may otherwise not hit the local radio airwaves. John L. Horst, Ted Grimsrud and Jim Bishop produce and host weekly programs on public radio station WEMC, 91.7 FM on a volunteer basis. Horst, a retired physics professor at Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, hosts "Mostly Mennonite, Mostly A Cappella," 8-9:30 a.m. EST Sundays. He plays blocks of mostly unaccompanied sacred choral music by local and nationally known artists and groups. Bishop, who dubs himself a "hopeless nostalgic," dishes up an hour of dusty discs from the decade of the 1950s, the "Friday Night Jukebox," 8-9 p.m. Fridays. Grimsrud, professor of Bible and religion at EMU, is host of “Wavelength” on WEMC, 3-6 p.m. Saturdays. He describes the program as “music from the intersection of country, folk, rock and roll, blues and gospel.”—Jim Bishop


Disabilities and Deaf Ministries partnership
GOSHEN, Ind.—The Boards of Anabaptist Disabilities Network (ADNet) and Anabaptist Deaf Ministries (ABDM) have entered into an agreement for the coming year to raise the visibility and promote the ministries of both organizations in Mennonite and related churches. Representatives from the ABDM Board met with the ADNet Board at its Oct. 31 meeting to talk about their common concerns.  Later in the meeting, the ADNet Board accepted a proposal that came from the ABDM Board at its meeting earlier in the month. The agreement brings clarity and intentional focus to what has been an informal working relationship since ADNet was formed in 2003. The new understandings mean that ADNet will facilitate a more intentional Deaf Ministries presence with brochures and resources at ADNet’s displays at conferences and other church events.—ADNet

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