'ChristiaNet'

Monthly Global News and Information for members and friends of the
Christian - Churches of Christ - Disciples of Christ family of churches around the world from 'World Convention’

Number 58 – February  2008

To contact us, or discontinue, write only to worldconv@aol.com ChristiaNet uses a send-only address. Clinton J. Holloway, Editor

Global Leaders Forum About Sharing Resources

Plans are currently being finalized for the Third Global Leaders Forum to precede World Convention on Wednesday July 30 from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M. at the Millennium Maxwell House Hotel. The forum theme, adds to the Convention theme, Sharing Resources. This pre-event, designed specifically for church workers, will present print and non-print resources from publishing houses, authors and other ministries across the traditions of the Stone-Campbell Movement. The $25 registration fee will cover the cost of lunch and assist a two-thirds world church worker to attend. Registrations may be sent to the Convention office. Forms will also be provided in the next issue of World Christian, available next month. Contact Clinton J. Holloway at worldconvclint@aol.com for questions.         

We Need Your Help! As part of the Global Leaders Forum, mentioned above, we want to produce a list of new and innovative resources available for Church workers and leaders. Have you written a book, produced curriculum, created a video, developed a website that you want others in ministry to know about? Do you provide a service, offer educational opportunities for those in ministry, or have you developed a product that you want to get in the hands of global leaders of the church? Have you created puppets for children’s ministry, worship banners for churches, or does your ministry produce a handicraft that you want to market? If so, we need to know so that we can pass that information along to our global leaders forum participants. Send complete details to Clinton J. Holloway at worldconvclint@aol.com A substantial list is already forming!         

Global Women Connecting Retreat to Pre-cede Convention

The Global Women Connecting (formerly World Christian Women’s Fellowship) will hold their quadrennial retreat immediately before the 17^th World Convention in Nashville. All women of the Stone-Campbell Movement are invited and encouraged to attend this event, beginning at 6:30 pm on Monday July 28. The retreat will conclude at noon on July 30. The theme is All Women Together in Christ.  Cost of the retreat is $45 exclusive of hotel and meals. For more information go to www.worldconvention.org or email abowman@dhm.disciples.org   

Millennium Maxwell House is Full! 

Our contact has informed us that you have bought out our block of rooms at the Millennium Maxwell House! However, there is still plenty of housing in Nashville! But have no Fear! World Convention has negotiated a special package at the Holiday Inn Express just four blocks from the Nashville Convention Center. The cost is $99 per room per night plus tax. The price includes the deluxe continental buffet breakfast which features hot dishes as well as pastries and fruit. A shuttle bus service will run from the hotel to the Convention Center for those who have difficulty walking. To book a room at this special rate contact our housing agent Karin at kadinolfi@aaasouth.com

 For other options contact the Nashville Tourist Bureau at 800- 657 – 6910 or http://www.visitmusiccity.com/wcccc

Register for Tours Online March 1!

By March 1 you will be able to book your pre and post Convention tours online via our website. A description of tours was mailed out in the last issue of World Christian. Our tour agent, Jerry Masterson (jmasterson@goodtimetravel.net) says the response to the tours, thus far, has been very good. Options include: New York, Washington D.C., Niagara Falls, U.S. National Parks in the West, and Stone-Campbell Movement Heritage Sites. Book now, spaces are limited for each tour.

Prayer Focus: Please continue to pray for the African nation of Kenya, which continues to struggle with post-election violence and discord. There are many Stone-Campbell Movement ministries in Kenya (see National Profile). Recent hostilities have affected their work and may compromise the plans of some who have made plans to attend the Nashville Convention. Our ministry partners at The Christian Chronicle report the violence in Kenya has resulted in the deaths of at least ten members of our churches.     

News Briefs

Correction! In the January issue of ChristiaNet we incorrectly listed the author of In Search of City: An Autobiographical Perspective on a Remarkable but Controversial Movement. Thomas A. Jones should have been given as the author. We apologize for the error.

See the World Convention website for an updated National Profile on the South American nation of French Guiana and recent Stone-Campbell Movement there. Special thanks to Greg Herriford of Teen Mission, USA for providing this update!

Disciples of Christ Historical Society has announced the January passing of Dr. Lester G. McAllister, 88, of Claremont, California. Dr. McAllister was the consummate Christian gentleman, historian and scholar. Co-written with William Tucker, McAllister’s 1974 Journey in Faith was a major interpretive history of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Lester was the last founding member of the Historical Society, begun in 1941. He also served many years on the Board.

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) congregations will observe Week of Compassion February 17-24. WOC helps rebuild communities ravaged by disaster, creates sustainable sources of income for rural villages, provides micro-credit to women to start poverty-alleviating business, teaches trades and job skills to people maimed by land mines, offers children a chance to go to school and much more.  www.weekofcompassion.org

In January of this year, Austin (Texas) Graduate School of Theology, moved to a new campus at 7640 Guadalope Street, Austin. The new 27,000 square foot facility will allow them to expand their academic offerings and plan for the future. Stan Reid serves as President. Visit AGST online at www.austingrad.edu       

Word of World Convention is popping up in lots of places as excitement is building for this summer. Recent issues of the periodicals National City Christian, One Body, Christian Standard and Horizons have featured stories of World Convention, as have several papers and newsletters of Disciples Regions. Horizons and Christian Standard featured us on their covers and devoted ten pages to the mission and ministry of your World Convention. In coming weeks Disciples World and the emagazine New Wineskins will carry WCCC advertisements. If you would like to publish a World Convention article, email us. We would be glad to send you news and photographs that can be customized for your publication. Limited supplies of the Christian Standard and Horizons articles are available in the office. Contact us for a free copy.

World Convention on the Road

On February 22 the Local Arrangements Planning Committee for the 17^th World Convention will gather in Nashville. 

Calendar of Events

The latest edition of World Christian is currently at the printers. For those who prefer to view on-line it will soon be on our web page.

March 10-11, 14^th Annual National Preaching Summit, Indianapolis, Indiana, www.collegepress.com/nps

April 1-2, Robert O. Fife Lectures in Christian Reformation, 21^st Century Religion, Higher Education, and the call for Meaning, Emmanuel School of Religion, Johnson City, Tennessee, www.esr.edu

April 11-12, Stone Campbell-Journal Conference, Back Toward the Future: Looking for Theology in the Stone-Campbell Movement, Cincinnati, Ohio, www.stone-campbelljournal.com

April 19, HIV/AIDS Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana, Sponsored by FAME/CMF, www.YourChurchandAIDS.com

April 24-27, 96^th National Convention of Christian Churches/Churches of Christ in the Philippines, Intimacy with God, Iloilo City, www.nationalconvention2008.co.nr

April is the time for several Regional Assemblies of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The following regions will host springtime assemblies: April 18-20: Montana and North Carolina; April 24-26: Oklahoma; April 25-27: Alabama-Northwest Florida, California-Northern Nevada; April 26-27: Oregon. Go to www.disciples.org for times and locations.   

World Convention seeks to build up fellowship, understanding and common purpose within the Christian - Churches of Christ - Disciples of Christ family of churches, now serving and witnessing as part of Christ's church in no less than 178 countries.