ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, June 22, 1996 TAG: 9606240016
SECTION: RELIGION PAGE: A-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FROM STAFF REPORTS
Baptist Fellowship
More than 4,000 Baptists, including many from Western Virginia, are expected at the General Assembly of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship scheduled Thursday through June 29 in Richmond.
The fellowship was organized five years ago as an alternative for Southern Baptists who do not agree with the conservative direction of their national convention.
Although the fellowship has grown from 391 contributing churches to 1,500, the group says it is not yet ready to name a coordinator of its ministries. Delegates also are not expected to decide at this meeting in the Richmond Coliseum on breaking away fully from the older convention of churches.
Brethren conference
When delegates from Churches of the Brethren gather for the denomination's Annual Conference in Cincinnati July 2-7, the exploitation of children by U.S. corporations doing business in Third World countries will be on the agenda. A position paper on the issue will come before the body for possible adoption.
The annual business and fellowship meeting, which will be attended by many from Western Virginia, also has on its agenda statements dealing with nonviolence, the use of military forces to deliver humanitarian aid, end-of-life decision making, Christian faith and the political process, and human genetic engineering and fetal tissue.
Clyde Carter, a Daleville minister, is one of four candidates for national moderator. If elected, he would serve as vice moderator in 1997 and assume the full responsibility in 1998.
Spiritual retreat
"Walking the Labyrinth," a one-day spiritual retreat open to people of all faiths, is scheduled Aug. 10 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Nazareth Catholic Church, 2505 Electric Road S.W.
The retreat is based on a program of meditation developed at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. It will be led by Angier Caudle and is sponsored by the Phoebe Needles Retreat Center in Franklin County.
To register, send check for $20 to the Phoebe Needles Retreat Center, 732 Turners Creek Road, Callaway 24067, before July 20. Call 483-3381 for more information.
Association of the Year
The Strawberry Association of Southern Baptists, which includes 31 congregations in Bedford County and two in Botetourt, has won the 1996 award from the Virginia Baptist General Board as the Non-Metropolitan Association of the Year. The oldest Baptist association in Virginia, it was recognized for resort ministry at Smith Mountain Lake, its human outreach programs and new church development with the Lynchburg Association.
97th annual convention
The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center will be the scene of the 97th annual session of the Baptist General Convention of Virginia on Monday through Friday. Clergy and lay members will conduct business and gather for separate men's and women's meetings as well as attend workshops to enhance Christian education leadership. For details about the program, call 982-1241.
Regional bishop
Episcopal clergy and lay delegates of the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia will be at St. John's Church in Roanoke today for the election of the fifth bishop to serve the regional area since its formation in 1919. Voting will determine which of five men previously screened and nominated by a committee will succeed retiring Bishop A. Heath Light, who has served the diocese for 17 years. The five are from Maryland, Florida, Oregon, Wyoming and Ohio.
Bedford ground-breaking
Construction will begin today with a 10 a.m. ceremonial ground-breaking for Bedford's newest Habitat for Humanity house on Edmund Street. The project is being sponsored by the Strawberry Association of Southern Baptists.
Telephone survey
Members of the new Smith Mountain Lake Church of the Brethren will conduct a telephone survey of the Moneta community for four weeks beginning July 29. The group, whose pastor is the Rev. Judy Mills Reimer, meets Sundays at 7 p.m. at the Lakewood Professional Center. Call 721-1816 for more information.
Methodists realign
United Methodists of the Holston Conference, which includes churches west of New River, have approved the realignment of the Kingsport and Big Stone Gap Districts to reduce from 12 to 11 the regional administrative units. The delegates also plan walks in several communities on July 13 to protest the burning of black churches throughout the South.
In the annual rotation of pastors, Grady Clarence Winegar was named superintendent of the Wytheville District with Donald L. Nation being assigned to First Church in Galax, William Ray Edmunds Sr. going to Grahams Forge, Pamela C. Rhodes going to Shiloh at Woodlawn, J. Robert Layell to Wytheville Circuit and Angela M. Hardy to Wytheville Parish.
Bike against hunger
Registration is open for the seventh annual bicycle ride to combat world hunger. A human outreach ministry of Antioch Church of the Brethren in Franklin County, the ride may be made in 50- or 100-mile laps. The event raises funds by donors pledging their own gifts on riders undertaking the trips. Those taking the longer ride will begin at 6:30 a.m. at the church west of Rocky Mount with a later start at 7. Pre-registration is needed. Call 483-2087 for more information.
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