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Come to the Water! God speaks to us:
Mark your calendars for the next NOAC to be held September 1-5, 2008, at Lake Junaluska Assembly, Lake Junaluska, N.C.! Click here for more information. Click here to visit the NYC '58 photos.
Child Protection and Child Abuse Prevention
ABC has conducted a survey of Church of the Brethren congregations, districts, camps, and agencies and programs to learn about their policies and practices related to child protection and child abuse prevention. A summary of survey results will be presented at the 2008 Annual Conference in Richmond, Virginia. For information and links to resources related to the prevention of child abuse and developing a child protection policy, go to our Child Protection page.
Essential Servants: Reflections on the Caring Ministries of Deacons After twenty-five years of writing for deacons across the denomination in either the current Caregiving quarterly publication or the former denomination deacon newsletter The Caregiver, Fred Swartz has compiled a wonderful group of meditations as a new resource for deacons. This publication combines his commentaries with discussion questions which can be used for individual meditation or deacon meetings. The commentaries are on a variety of topics including: the role and responsibilities of deacons, caring for the congregation and caring for special needs and individuals. Click here to download this free resource. Permission is granted to copy these meditations with credit given to Fred Swartz and the Caring Ministries of the Church of the Brethren.
The Wellness Ministry presents a new resource, Wellness Study Guide, which is based on the Ten Commandments to Be Well. This resource is an 11-class series of workshops exploring the different dimensions of wellness and how this holistic view may strengthen us to more faithful, healthy and happy lives. Click here to download your free copy (PDF).
Individuals, families and congregations are encouraged to celebrate the joys of aging and the gift of older adults among us. Many resources are available to help you observe “Aging with Grace.” Click here to go to the Older Adult Month webpage where you can download these resources.
Multicultural Sensitivity Training Resources Available through Brethren Press The Association of Brethren Caregivers’ Board and staff participated in multicultural sensitivity training during its Fall Board meetings, held September 21-23 at the Church of the Brethren General Offices. Kathy Reid, ABC’s executive director, and Wendy McFadden, publisher of Brethren Press, provided the training. Resources used in the Multicultural Sensitivity Training during ABC’s Board meeting include:
These publications can be purchased from Brethren Press. How Accessible is Your Congregation? Church of the Brethren congregations will be asked to more closely evaluate their level of accessibility before completing the congregational survey form for the denomination's Yearbook. To help congregations with this self-evaluation, the Disabilities Ministries has sampled several self-assessment tools and formed a "Congregational Accessibility." This document offers a check list and further explanations about what it means to indicate that your congregation is accessible. Click here to go directly to the self-assessment tool.
ABC will hold five deacon ministry training events this Spring 2008.
For more information, click here. View Two New Presentations Describing ABC Two new videos presentations will help you learn more about the mission and many ministries provided through the Association of Brethren Caregivers. The first presentation is an excerpt of the reports shown at district conferences. The second is a 6-minute presentation first aired to delegates at the Cleveland Annual Conference titled "What Does ABC Do?" These presentations would be ideal to show to congregations wanting to learn more about the ministries of the denomination. To view or download these short productions, click here. 300-Day Anniversary Challenge Are you up to the challenge? As part of our 300th Anniversary celebration for the Church of the Brethren, individuals, congregations and agency staff are already taking on the challenge to be well – in body, mind and spirit. September 16, 2007 is exactly 300 days before Annual Conference 2008 – so start today! You are invited to register to commit to doing at least ONE health-promoting activity a day and mark it on your personal chart. Find all the details at www.brethren-caregivers.org. Share your stories, successes, and photos by contacting the Wellness Ministry office: mgarrison_abc@brethren.org NEW! "Could You Do One Thing?" Webcast Now Available Kurt Borgmann, pastor of the Manchester Church of the Brethren, asked this question when he spoke at the denominational Deacon Luncheon at the 2007 Church of the Brethren Annual Conference. In this webcast, Kurt reflects that each deacon has at least one gift, or expression of caring, to give. Then he considers the question, "What if every deacon gave their one gift of caring consistently and generously?" Kurt's presentation would benefit every deacon, and especially those who are considering the call to serve as a deacon. So tell your friends or plan your next meeting around this webcast titled, "Can You Do One Thing?" Click here to download this special webcast. Other Resources: Click here for a limited site map. Peace Church Long-term Care Insurance is Available by clicking here.
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The 2007 Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren accepted the query Child Abuse Prevention from the Michigan District and referred its concerns to ABC.
“Aging with Grace”
