This edition presents a variety of perspectives by those who have thought a lot about how Christians view the Middle East in light of our faith or who have lived and traveled there. If we are committed to breaking down walls and making peace, as Paul described Christ's mission in Ephesians 2, then we need to be able to see the conflict in the Middle East more from the point of view of ordinary Palestinians and Iraqis, for example, than we in North America usually do. Read>>

Summer 2004 - Engaging the Government: Christians and Politics

In an election year in the United States and Canada, this edition provides a variety of perspectives on political involvement and engaging the government, recognizing that there are many perspectives on these issues in the Brethren in Christ Church. Complexities abound, and there are often no easy, clear-cut answers when it comes to how Christians can and should effectively engage the government, so in this edition are some ways to focus on principles rather than personalities. Read>>

Spring 2004 - Attitudes Towards Money

This edition contains a number of perspectives on stewardship, money and economics, and how they influence the choices we make about spending and lifsetyle. (PDF not available)

Winter 2004 - Food Security

Genuine and lasting food security consists of more than providing emergency food assistance in times of particular hardship or famine. The fact is that the world produces enough food to feed everyone on the planet; the problems lie in access, distribution, political self-interests, wars and other conflicts. This edition of Shalom! highlights some of the way ways various organizations address these problems, and challenges us with the biblical admonitions to "offer food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted" (Isaiah 58:10).

Also included is an update on the future of Shalom! Thanks to many generous contributions, we are close to being able to publish as usual during 2004, despite having lost denominational funding. We continue to solicit your support! Contact Harriet Bicksler for more information (bickhouse@aol.com). Read>>

Fall 2003 - Being a Church in the Global Community

This edition of Shalom! reflects on Africa 2003, the 14th Mennonite World Conference Assembly, held in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, in August. In doing so, the edition highlights the membership of the Brethren in Christ Church in the global fellowship known as Mennonite World Conference, celebrates the worldwide nature of the church, and explores what it means to be the church in an interconnected global community. Read>>

Summer 2003 - Transforming Conflict and Making Peace

Paul in Romans 12 says, "If it possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." That verse offers two options. On the one hand, Paul seems to be saying that sometimes peacemaking and transforming conflict are hard, perhaps impossible, and all we are asked is to do what we can. On the other hand, perhaps peace is possible more often than we think; perhaps we give up too easily, or perhaps we don't try hard enough to imagine all the possibilities. This edition features the stories of several people who have imagined the possibilities for transformation and chosen the way of peace and reconciliation. Read>>

Spring 2003 - Living Simply

"When we focus on what is really important rather than on what our culture tells us we need, we are freer to respond boldly, generously and joyfully to the needs of our world. Yet simple living is often anything but simple, and involves a complex web of choices and compromises that depend on the specific circumstances of families and communities. As families and churches, we should be talking together to figure out how we can in fact live simply so that we are free to love boldly, give generously and serve joyfully." Read>>

Winter 2003 - The Arts and the Church

"My soul thirsts for visual beauty that goes beyond the ordinary and the practical....Like a human body deprived of crucial vitamins, my aesthetic muscles crave artistic nutrients to sustain and energize them....Ultimately, I yearn for an artistic sensibility in the church that seeks art that communicates something deeper than the latest fashion--art that touches our deepest aesthetic instincts and elicits faith responses as a consequence...the beauty of holy lives given in service to God." So says Dwight Thomas in the lead article in this issue. The secular world often celebrates "the arts, the soul of the community." To what extent are the arts the soul of the church as well? Read>>

Fall 2002 - Grief and Loss

"All of us have or will experience grief and losses at some point in our lives. This issue of SHALOM! contains some powerful stories from our Brethren in Christ brothers and sisters about how they coped with their losses and emerged strong in their Christian faith. The issue also contains an invitation to attend Mennonite World Conference in August 2003 in Zimbabwe." Read>>

Summer 2002 - Language and How We Communicate

"Here's another take on the denominational vision point of 'Bold Communications.' This issue of SHALOM! explores not only the message of the gospel that we want to communicate and our methods for communication, but also the kind of language we use, the attitudes behind our language and choice of words, and the desire to find way to transcend the barriers to good communication." (PDF not available)

Spring 2002 - Leadership Development

In the church, where we very much need dedicated and skilled leaders, it is especially important to identify and mentor people who demonstrate leadership qualities and who won't impede the "productive flow." This edition of Shalom! focuses on a number of ways in which the Brethren in Christ Church is working at leadership development that will produce leaders who will help to guide the church in fulfilling its mission. Read>>

Winter 2002 - Partnership and Capacity-Building

The Bible emphasizes the enriching and empowering qualities of partnering with others, from God's providing Adam with Eve as his mate in the Old Testament to Paul's testimony of each member of the New Testament church contributing his or her unique gifts to the service of the ministry. Read>>

Fall 2001 - Restorative Justice

Though origionally conceived and applied as a look at criminal justice system, prison and offender ministries, situations of abuse, etc., this issue took on a new dimension in the light of the horrific events of September 11 that unfolded as devopment of the issue was nearing completion. Read>>

Summer 2001 - Multiculturalism, Diversity and Racial Reconciliation

In striving toward our denomination's stated vision for enriched and diverse community, several of these articles offer an extensive outlook toward considering a diversity of cultures, race and even age groups within our expanding church family. Read>>

Spring 2001 - Peace

Several new thoughts on a recurring topic for the Board for Brotherhood Concerns. Read>>

Winter 2001- Ministries of Compassion

Consideration of the many avenues of serving the church in compassionate outreach. Read>>

Fall 2000 - Denominationalism vs. Congregationalism

The struggle between two models of an overall church body, one based on the larger body of a church denomination, the other based on the body formed by individual congregations. Read>>

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