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Shalom Team |
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Members have five year terms ending:
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Matthew 18 Workshop: www.brethren.org/oepa/programs/mor/workshop-trainings/matthew-18.html
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Article from the August 2007, New Life newsletter: |
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| The members of Pacific Southwest District's Shalom Team: Barbara Brandt, Live Oak; Luella Cole, Modesto; John Lahman,
Circle of Peace, AZ; and Mike Wolfsen, La Verne; have been in training since March 2006 for their role in assisting
PSWD congregations in maintaining healthy relationships. A fifth member, Vern Jahnke, La Verne, will soon join
the team. Barbara currently serves the Live Oak congregation as Deacon Chair, organist, primary class Sunday School teacher, and Christian Education Director. She is a retired preschool and first grade teacher. She has been married to Bev Brandt for 40 years and has two adult sons, one daughter-in-law (soon to be two), and two grandchildren. Luella is a member of the Witness Commission in the Modesto congregation, plays in the handbell ensemble, sings in the choir, and serves on the Senior Ministries committee. She is a retired teacher of special education. She has been married to Larry for 4 years, and between them they have four adult children, two daughters-in-law, one son-in-law, and four grandchildren. John is the Chair of Finance and Fundraising and a member of the Alternative Worship Experience music team at the Circle of Peace congregation in Peoria, AZ. He is a Student Adviser in the Guidance and Counseling department at Sunrise Mountain High School in Peoria. He and Deb have been married 32+ years. They have three adult children, one son-in-law, one daughter-in-law, and two beautiful grandchildren. Mike is a member and past chair of the Trustee and Property and Stewardship Commissions in the La Verne congregation. He currently teaches the middle school Sunday School class. He is the Chief Operating Officer of an environmental planning firm and has experience in organizational development and consulting. He and his wife Michael have been married 27 years. They have four adult children, all married, and eight terrific grandchildren. |
Vern is delighted to join the Shalom Team after recent training and having served on such reconciliation teams
in the past for the Evangelical Lutheran Church. He works in "specialized ministry" as a social worker
with Episcopal Home Communities. With his wife Deb, Vern has two sons. He has been associated with the La Verne
Church since serving a term as Interim Pastor there in 1999. Part of the Senior Choir, he has served on the church's
Missions and Service, Stewardship and Finance, and the Decade to Overcome Violence committees. A Minnesota native,
Vern came west for a graduate degree in Theology and Personality at the Claremont School of Theology. Created by action of Annual Conference 2002, the Shalom Team Model emphasizes a vision "found in the Hebrew word ‘shalom.' Shalom is a word rich with multiple meanings, including the concepts of peace with justice, wholeness, health, right relationships, reconciliation, and harmony with and for all creation; in short, total well being." (www.pswdcob.org/board/ministerial has the Church of the Brethren polity statement) The Shalom Team model emphasizes consultation, assessment, education, and mentoring in an effort to deal with any congregational disagreement at its earliest stages, before it threatens the health of the congregation. Recently, as part of its training, the team co-facilitated a Matthew 18 workshop at the Glendora Church of the Brethren with Annie Clark of the Ministry of Reconciliation. The Matthew 18 Workshop provides experiences in active listening, exploration of responses to conflict, tools for setting up behavioral covenants, dealing with anger, and getting to forgiveness. Members of the team are now ready to conduct Matthew 18 workshops in any congregation that extends the invitation. The team is also prepared to consult with any congregation and assist them in assessment as needed. by Luella Johnson |
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Papers related to the Shalom Team:
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John Lahman