Summer 2011, "Pursuing Peace: How Are We Doing?"
Last year, Mennonite World Conference posed a question to its member churches, “How is your church doing in its desire to be a peace church?” The Brethren in Christ response to that question was adapted and published in the Spring 2011 edition of In Part  ("Keeping the Peace"). This question is an important one to consider, especially as we observe war and armed conflict in faraway places or angry words and abusive relationships at home, in our neighborhoods, workplaces and churches. It matters that the Brethren in Christ continue to be a “peace church” for two reasons: 1) Following Jesus means following his call to be peacemakers and his example of living nonviolently. In other words, it’s biblical. 2) A world mired in conflict and injustice cries out for solutions that don’t perpetuate horrific cycles of violence from generation to generation. As first the Psalmist and then Peter said, we are to “seek peace and pursue it”!

Spring 2011, "Relating to People Who are Not Like Us"
This edition of Shalom! was motivated by the current state of public discourse, which so often seems full of inflammatory and negative rhetoric by many individuals and groups demonstrating very little respect for those with whom they disagree. The problem is not the disagreement, often significant, or even the characterization of one’s own or one’s group’s attitudes and beliefs as good and right compared to others. It’s more that the others are so often portrayed as "not one of us," often in hateful and untruthful ways. In a recent sermon on preconceptions, Granthan Church senior pastor John Reitz noted that "our preconceptions are one sure way to work against God." How many times have we stood in God’s way because of our attitudes toward other people, especially those who are not like us and who stretch us beyond our comfort zones? As we observe how often people, especially Christians, speak in such cruel ways about others, and realize that within us is the same capacity, we need to remind ourselves that God loves everyone—no matter how despicable or unlovable the person is—and calls us to do the same.  

Winter 2011, "What's in a Name?"
This edition of Shalom!, with a variety of stories about naming, is inspired by the current discussion of whether to consider changing our denominational name to something other than Brethren in Christ. After more than 230 years of being “brethren,” is it time to change the name to something that retains the emotionally and spiritually significant meaning of “Brethren in Christ” but doesn’t sound so gender-exclusive and old-fashioned or quaint? It’s not an easy question to answer and opinions abound. Names are important. We want people to say and spell our names correctly and to remember them. As Christians, we believe that God knows each of us by name—evidence of God’s care for us individuals. There's a lot in a name!

Fall 2010, "Movies"
If novels were the “devil’s guidebooks to hell,” according to the early Brethren in Christ who eschewed what they considered worldly forms of entertainment, what would they have said about movies? Here we are, more than two centuries later, doing an edition of Shalom! on a topic that would have unthinkable in a previous time—unthinkable both theologically and technologically. This edition of Shalom! on movies could have gone in many directions and ended up including not only some reflections on the value of movies but also recommendations on favorite movies by various contributors and imaginings about movies yet to be made.

Summer 2010, "Human Trafficking, Slavery and Sexual Exploitation
I used to think that the world-wide problem of human trafficking, slavery and sexual exploitation was confined mostly to somewhere else in the world. Imagine my surprise and chagrin to find out that not only is it in fact a serious problem here in North America but is close by to where I live in conservative central Pennsylvania. The PA Turnpike runs less than two miles from my house and I have come to realize that some of the large 18-wheelers lumbering across Pennsylvania on the turnpike are transporting young girls trapped in a life of prostitution or other type of exploitation. If this is happening here, it’s probably also happening in your community. I’m not referring just to the business of trafficking in humans, however—that is, stealing and/or selling young girls into prostitution, recruiting children to fight in rebel armies, selling and hiring people for slave labor, or being a sex tourist in brothels in various place around the world. I’m also referring to stuff that goes on much closer to home: the husband who has a secret stash of pornographic magazines or who browses porn sites on the Internet; the teenager who sends text messages (and/or revealing photos) to everyone at school labeling someone as “easy”; the family with the closely guarded secret of sexual abuse and violence happening in the home on a regular basis. These too are forms of trafficking and exploitation. This edition of Shalom! not only details the scope of the problem, but also provides information on how individuals and organizations are addressing it with courage and compassion.

Spring 2010, "Heroes"
This edition of Shalom! begins with the notion that we all need and have heroes in our lives—people we admire because of what they are able to accomplish, who influence us to do more than we thought we could, who inspire us with their ability to overcome obstacles and concentrate single-mindedly on something beyond themselves, or who maintain their integrity despite enormous pressures to compromise their values. Most of the writers in this edition raise to "hero" status ordinary people who have made an impact or persevered through challenges that might break others. In many cases, such people would not even be aware of the influence they were having and would recoil from the suggestion that they are heroes. They were or are simply doing what comes naturally, following their passion and being faithful to their Christian vocation. Defining such people as heroes might seem a stretch, but it also recognizes the potential in each of us to have a positive influence on someone else when we least expect it, to be on guard for those moments when something we do or say is exactly what someone needs, and to live with the expectation and understanding that what we do matters to others whether we know it or not. Who are your heroes? For whom are you a hero?

Winter 2010, "Health Care for All"
The topic of health care has been a lightning rod this past year for incredibly acrimonious debate, scare tactics, exaggerations and, in some cases, outright lies. Of course, some of the vigorous debate has been over genuine differences of opinion and philosophy about the best way for the United State health care system to be reformed and over the appropriate role of government in something like health care. Such a complex issue can't be resolved simply, much as we might wish it could. This is the third time in 25 years that Shalom! has focused on health. This time the focus is primarily on the perspective of health care professionals in the United States and those who experience it personally. Our model is Jesus who was compassionate and healed people regardless of their status (the centurion's servant and a widow's son; the daughter of Jairus and the woman with the 12-year affliction).

Fall 2009, Money Matters
Money is a tough topic. Whether we’ve had personal experience or not, we probably all know how money issues often create conflicts in marriage and family life, and as Christians who are part of a church that relies on the voluntary contributions of its members to fund its staff and ministries, we know that “money matters” often cause tension there too. We also know that we should be wise stewards of what God has entrusted to us and reach out generously with our resources, including our money, to those in need. In a time of economic uncertainty, this edition of Shalom! focuses primarily on being wise about our financial resources and implicitly encourages generosity with those resources. Wise use of resources and generosity are timeless principles, regardless of the stresses and pressures of our culture.

Summer 2009, The Stewardship of Creation
The issue of the stewardship of creation is not without controversy, which may explain why this is only the second time in 28 years that Shalom! has addressed the topic. Yet here we are again; the issue has not gone away. As Christians with an undergirding belief that "the earth is the Lord's and everything in it" (Psalm 24:1), we simply can't ignore our responsibility to be stewards of that earth. In its 2004 statement, "For the Health of the Nation: An Evangelical Call to Civic Responsibility," the National Association of Evangelicals presented this challenge: "We urge Christians to shape their personal lives in creation-friendly ways: practicing effective recycling, conserving resources, and experiencing the joy of contact with nature. We urge government to encourage fuel efficiency, reduce pollution, encourage sustainable use of natural resources, and provide for the proper for care of wildlife and their natural habitats." This edition of Shalom! featur es articles by individuals who have accepted that challenge in a variety of ways.

Spring 2009, Responding to Evil
In this issue, we examine evil as we encounter it in the world and ourselves, grappling with the difficult (and often painful) question of how we ought to respond in the face of what we find. The world is often a tangled mess, and it's often impossible for us to sort out the good from the bad. But as Christians, we trust that God can (and will) make these judgments. We look forward to the day when the chaff will be burned up and the wheat gathered--when evil and injustice will be purged from the earth, and shalom will be restored. But we also know that in order for this to happen in the world, it must first happen in our own hearts.

Winter 2009, Alleviating Poverty
Poverty is a relative thing, with people who are considered poor in North America making many times more money than people who live in abject poverty in other parts of the world. In the midst of a serious recession, various efforts continue to mobilize to "end poverty" or "make poverty history," raising questions of just how to do that. Responses to poverty include giving money, living more simply and consuming fewer of the world's resources, advocating for public policies that mitigate systemic justice, volunteering in agencies that meet the needs of the poor, developing congregational ministries that reach out to the poor, and educating ourselves. However we respond, as Christians we must always remember that God both cares about the poor and expects us to do something to help. This edition addresses poverty alleviation efforts that are very small scale in the great scheme of things, recognizing that it takes efforts of every size and types to alleviate poverty in any significant way. God calls us to this kind of work wherever we are and whatever we are able to do.

Fall 2008, Real Men
Over the years, there have been several editions of Shalom! on gender issues and women in ministry and leadership, but never one exclusively on men's issues. Recognizing that in our culture and in our congregations, men are confronting significant and perhaps unique challenges to their roles as Christian spouses, parents and workers, this edition of Shalom! features articles about gender and domestic violence from a male perspective, fatherhood and parenting, and meeting the needs of men in the church.

Summer 2008 - The Church's Role in Peace and Justice Ministries
In election years in the United States, one of the recurring debates is over whether the government or private agencies like the church should run and/or fund programs that provide assistance to people in need. The answer is not either-or, but some form of both-and: yes, the government has a role in providing for its most vulnerable citizens, and yes, churches as well as other private prganizations are often much more effective and efficient. The point for this edition of Shalom! is not to engage in the complexities of the debate, but to focus particularly on the role of the church and individuals in creating and supporting ministries that address human need, and to provide?some examples and resources. Writing in the New Testament, James says that "real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world" (1:27, The Message). Ideally, every Brethren in Christ congregation, as well as every individual in each congregation, ought to be practicing the kind of "real religion" James describes.

Spring 2008 - Our Children, Our Future
We in the church who quote Jesus' words to "let the children come because of such are the kingdom of God" bear great responsibility to nurture and protect the children among us. With that in mind, this edition of Shalom! focuses on ways that the church can ensure the healthy social, emotional and spiritual development of children. A couple articles tell personal stories of children whose special needs provided not only challenges but opportunities for their parents and others to learn the unlimited power of love and grace. Other articles focus on specific things the church can do, like develop and implement child protection policies. There are also a couple of suggestions for how you can help children in other parts of the world.

Winter 2008 - Media, Technology and Faith
This is the second edition of Shalom! in less than two years on some aspect of technology, which probably tells you something about the rapid pace of change. Many of us probably think we are reasonably savvy when it comes to computers and other electronic gadgets, but on the continuum of knowing and/or effectively using what is possible technologically, we probably are way on the low end of the continuum. We know enough, however, to know the implications of technology and media for how we do our jobs in industry or government as well as how we do church and communicate our Christian faith. So in this edition, there are articles about Christians in Hollywood, using media in worship, and the portrayal of Christian faith in media such as newspapers and rock-and-roll music. There are also articles about making life better and safer for senior citizens with new technologies, and about the uses and misuses of the communication tools made possible by the Internet. Demonstrating that technology is a relative term, there is also an article describing how at the very basic end of the continuum are methodologies that can make life better for people who experience poverty and other hardships.

Fall 2007 - Women in Ministry and Leadership
The Brethren in Christ Church has affirmed the licensing and ordination of women since 1984, and many of us have benefited from and deeply appreciated the ministries of gifted women in leadership positions in the church. Even though there is not unanimity of opinion on this issue throughout the denomination, many have experienced something similar to Peter when he finally went to see Cornelius after seeing the vision of the sheet being let down from heaven and being told to get up and kill and eat the animals which he considered unclean. He later told the Christians in Jerusalem, "If then God gave them [Cornelius and the Gentiles] the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was that I could hinder God?" Similarly, we believe that God gives women the same gifts he gives men for pastoral ministry and for leadership in the church and, like Peter, we don't want to hinder God. This edition of Shalom! was produced in collaboration with the Brethren in Christ Council for Women in Ministry and Leadership to reaffirm the official denominational position and to help fulfill the council's vision of "encouraging divinely gifted women to fulfill their call to ministry and leadership."

Summer 2007 - Focus on Africa
The news from the continent of Africa, not just Zimbabwe, generally tends not to be good—when we hear it, that is. With such things as the war in Iraq dominating the news cycles (not to mention the 2008 political campaign and all the celebrity news) even horrendous happenings in Africa often don’t receive a whole lot of coverage. There seems often to be relative silence in the U.S., for example, on the situation in Zimbabwe (in fact, some few people don’t even know what or where Zimbabwe is!). Why is that? Is it because Zimbabwe has no strategic importance to the United States, or because for the most part it’s black-on-black persecution and violence? When we do hear about Africa, it’s often about repeated droughts and food shortages, civil war, human rights abuses, genocidal violence on a grand scale in places like Rwanda and Sudan, refugee crises, and the HIV/AIDS pandemic gripping large percentages of the population of many countries. There’s a lot to lament about Africa. It’s not all bad, however. The Brethren in Christ have been in Africa for more than 100 years, making the BIC church there the oldest outside North America. The Zimbabwe church is the largest BIC conference anywhere in the world, and in the midst of its own struggles has sent people to other countries in Africa, such as neighboring Botswana, to share the gospel and plant new churches. And, as Graybill Brubaker writes in the lead article in this edition, Christianity has a long and rich history in Africa. This edition of Shalom! barely scratches the surface of what could be said about Africa, but perhaps it will help you pray more effectively and consider how you can support our brothers and sisters there.

Spring 2007 - Profiles in Peacemaking
In the 1970s, after growing up in the Brethren in Christ Church and knowing our historic peace church heritage, I finally internalized this part of my spiritual heritage, and I knew deep within my heart and soul that God calls us to be agents of reconciliation and peacemakers in the world. I knew then and stll believe that the model of Jesus calls us to work against the forces in the world that condone and often even promote violent solutions to problems. I also came to a broader understanding of the importance of peacemaking and reconciliation at all levels of life—personal, home, community, church, nations, and the world. This edition of Shalom! contains stories of peacemaking in various ways and contexts--some new for this edition, and some reprinted from past editions.

Winter 2007 - The Persecuted Church
Most persecution that Christians in North America face as a result of their faith pales in comparison to what Christans face in other parts of the world. Persecution, as defined by Release International, is "a situation where people are repetitively, persistently and systematically inflicted with grave or serious suffering or harm and deprived of...their basic human rights because of a difference...that the persecutor will not tolerate." This edition includes stories from several places in the world where our Brethren in Christ brothers and sisters face persecution and hardship, as well as reflections on persecution and religious freedom from a North American vantage point.

Fall 2006 - Advocating for Peace and Justice
“I have often regretted my speech, but never my silence.” This quotation from Publius Syrius that appeared on a page-a-day calendar of motivational quotations isn't always true. Sometimes we are silent when we should speak up. Advocating for peace and justice is one way to not be silent when something is wrong. Another quotation from Abraham Lincoln provides further motivation for advocacy: "The possibility that we might fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just.” And a third quotation by Mother Teresa explains why what seems like a small act is so important: “We know only too well that what we are doing is nothing more than a drop in the ocean. But if the drop were not there, the ocean would be missing something.” Supporting just causes publicly is what advocacy is all about, even when it seems like our advocacy is just a drop in the great ocean of injustice. The Bible promises that Jesus will be our advocate with God, because we in our own powerlessness need an advocate; similarly, people in our world whose situations have rendered them powerless need us to speak out for them, to speak out on behalf of justice and peace, to do something. This edition of SHALOM! explores the nature of advocacy and provides some helpful tips for engaging in advocacy.

Previous Issues

Click on any of the links below to download past issues of Shalom!

Summer 2006, Globalization and Technology
Spring 2006, Welcoming the Stranger
Winter 2006, Gender
Fall 2005, Creating Safe Space for Dialogue on Difficult Issues
Summer 2005, Water Stewardship
Spring 2005, Perspectives on Health and Wellness
Fall 2004 - Perspectives on the Middle East
Summer 2004 - Engaging the Government: Christians and Politics
Winter 2004 - Food Security
Fall 2003 - Being the Church in Global Community
Summer 2003 - Transforming Conflict and Making Peace
Spring 2003 - Living Simply
Winter 2003 - The Arts and the Church
Fall 2002 - Grief and Loss
Spring 2002 - Leadership Development
Winter 2002 - Partnership and Capacity-Building
Fall 2001 - Restorative Justice
Summer 2001 - Multiculturalism, Diversity and Racial Reconciliation
Spring 2001 - Peace
Winter 2001- Ministries of Compassion
Fall 2000 - Denominationalism vs. Congregationalism

Still confused as to what is included in each issue? Search through our Summary Page for a glance at each of our past topics.