ibica - Brethren in Christ Church

JANUARY 2009
BRETHREN IN CHRIST WORLD MISSIONS
WINTER 2009
IBICA:
connecting the global BIC Church
A
POINT OF CONNECTION. A global network. A bridge between our BIC
conferences worldwide. This is the heart of the International Brethren in Christ
Association (IBICA). The idea was born when, in response to a call from the BIC
outside of North America, a group of church leaders met in 2005 to discuss the formation of
an umbrella organization that would foster deepening levels of cooperation within the global
BIC community.
“I think it represents a paradigm shift from a parentchild relationship to a partner relationship for BIC
leaders around the world,” shares BIC General
Secretary Don McNiven, who is especially excited
about the IBICA because it gives BIC churches in
other countries the chance to work in equal
partnership with the North American BIC.
“The North American BIC Church has always been
seen as the parent—and now these BIC churches in
other countries have become adult children, so to
speak, and the relationship could benefit from some
redefining,” he says.
The BIC, McNiven notes, doesn’t have a worldwide
organization that oversees it so there is a desire to have
a common place to talk together about
how our denomination as a whole
would address issues rather than
as separate conferences or
congregations.
The relationship between Brethren in Christ World
Missions and the IBICA is complimentary. BICWM executive director, Chris Sharp, affirms the role of IBICA as a
network where the global BIC Church can connect with
one another, build community, relationship and mutual
support. “As IBICA increases in its networking capacity,
BICWM will focus more and more on church planting,
evangelism and compassion in the unreached people
groups of our vast world,” Chris explains.
Bishop Danisa Ndlovu of Zimbabwe, a member of the
IBICA’s executive committee, calls the IBICA “a way to
enhance our family-ness,” saying, “It speaks to the fact
that we belong to the wider community of the Brethren
in Christ.”
Beyond that family feeling, the association allows
for exchange of ideas in areas of polity, doctrine and
practice, Ndlovu notes.
It is also a way for leaders of national BIC churches
to make needs known to fellow leaders from other
(continued on next page)
BIC leaders from 15
countries gather to pray
during an IBICA meeting
in Paraguay that followed
Mennonite World
Conference in July.
countries. “When we talk about
Executive committee members
Zimbabwe, I can say, this is what
and other church leaders
is happening here, and how can
traveled from Canada, Cuba,
we all be involved in addressing
Colombia, Honduras, India,
this issue?” Ndlovu explains.
Japan, Malawi, Mexico,
Mozambique,
Nicaragua,
McNiven echoes this thought.
Spain,
the
United
States,
“The North American BIC Church,
Venezuela,
Zambia,
and
for instance, has no first-hand
to
attend
the
Zimbabwe
knowledge of worshipping in
meeting
and
fellowship
direct persecution as in Nepal or
together. For some, this was
the starvation faced by people as
the first time they had met
in Zimbabwe. We can see how
—
and the excitement and
they maintain their spirit of hope
fellowship
was apparent.
and optimism and joy.” McNiven
The group approved a constisees this connection between
tution for IBICA; established
leadership as an opportunity
criteria for BIC congregations,
to “share that message in a
associations (clusters of connew way.”
gregations), and conferences
In his new post as president
Brethren in Christ pastors across the globe will benefit from
(national churches) around the
of the Mennonite World
the IBICA’s focus on leadership training and international
world; and, at the urging of
Conference (MWC), Ndlovu will
ministry collaboration.
church leaders from Nepal and
be able share how MWC is
Colombia, grappled with a
approaching issues that could
statement on how the churches
prove helpful to the IBICA as it
The association could facilitate
and
conferences
should respond to
considers similar issues.
resources for anything from providing
threats
from
militant
organizations.
Darrell Winger, interim Canadian
an educator to calling for a meeting
Meetings
like
this
lay
the groundConference bishop and a pastor at
of leaders to discuss how to meet
work
for
the
day
when
IBICA
will be a
The Meeting House in Ontario, is the
the need.
catalyst
for
developing
common
stateassociation’s executive director. His
The IBICA plans to meet every three
ments
on
core
doctrines,
distinctive
job is to articulate the vision and
years, in cooperation with the MWC
convictions and discretionary issues. ■
direction of the IBICA, facilitate its
assembly, Winger shared. The execufunctioning and relate to the executive
tive committee will meet annually, and
committee as it carries out the vision.
plans are being laid for effective email
“I really feel that the IBICA allows
communication in between meetings.
I B I C A T O D AY : organization
for the next phase in the development
Leaders of the organization most
of the global BIC family,” Winger says.
recently met in July in Paraguay
The purpose is to nurture a
“It fills a void for the BIC bishops and
following the MWC Assembly there.
common identity, promote a common
leaders as to ‘where do we fit in?’ as
mission, and provide a common
global leaders and mature national
network
for the global community of
I B I C A T O D AY : goals
conferences.”
the Brethren in Christ for addressing
He describes the association as
issues of mutual concern.
■ Consolidate and strengthen a
a “brokerage” of sorts. “Church to
The structure provides that all
common BIC identity across the
church, if a need becomes apparent
national BIC conferences, through
global church.
in one part of the global church, then
their duly-elected leaders (bishops,
■ Provide the framework for the
how can we resource that need?”
presidents, moderators, etc.,) are
global church to respond together
able to join the IBICA and vote on
to needs that arise across the
matters presented to it by the
I B I C A T O D AY : leadership
church, whether for emergency
executive committee.
relief or a crisis of another nature
Thuma Hamukang’andu
An executive committee of six
facing one of our sister conferences.
(Zambia), president
members is elected by the member■ Resource developing conferences
ship and represents various internaBijoy Roul (India), vice-president
in areas of polity, leadership/
tional regions where the BIC is
governance
dynamics,
ministerial
Warren Hoffman (North American),
present.
training/ordination
understandings,
secretary-treasurer
Funding comes from each national
as well as essential commonDanisa Ndlovu (Zimbabwe)
church that, upon joining the
identity markers.
IBICA, is requested to provide the
■ Provide a forum for national leaders
Felix Raphael Curbelo (Cuba)
equivalent
amount of 1% of total
to address matters of common
Donald McNiven (North America).
congregational
contributions
concern and challenges facing
toward
its
national
budget.
Darrell Winger, executive director
the church.
I B I C A T O D AY :
T
interview
erry Brensinger couldn’t ignore it anymore
— the numbers dug at his heart. “In Zambia, more than 200
churches and only 70 trained pastors. In Cuba, 100 churches and
none of the pastors trained,” reflects the newly appointed international
pastor/ teacher of the International Brethren in Christ Association.
“We typically in the West are moved, as we should be, by hunger relief or
AIDS orphans—and these needs are hugely important—but when I became
aware of the sheer numbers of churches without pastors, who have lay
persons doing the best they can, I couldn’t ignore it.”
Darrel Winger, executive director of the IBICA
“Then when I come and see you or
only hear about you in my absence,
I will know that you stand firm in one
spirit, contending as one man for
the faith of the gospel.
— PHILIPPIANS 1:27
I B I C A T O D AY :
projects
As the IBICA considers needs in
individual conferences, here’s a
look at some current challenges
the group is praying about and
working on:
■ Hurricane Ike swept across Cuba,
leaving a path of destruction from
one end of the island to the other.
■ Zimbabwe is embarking on a
tenuous transition to a powersharing agreement government,
even as the country reels from an
almost complete collapse of its
economic system.
■ The people of Zambia are gearing
up for national elections in the
aftermath of the death of their
president.
■ The province of Orissa in India is
experiencing the worst eruption
of anti-Christian violence in 60
years, while flooding in that
region as well as the province of
Bihar has resulted in many deaths
and millions of dollars worth of
damage.
Brensinger, who left his position as senior pastor at Grantham BIC in
Grantham, Pa. to take this position, will be available to train and encourage
pastors and other church leaders on site around the world at the invitation
of national conferences.
Brethren in Christ World Missions is deeply involved in training pastors,
“and they’re wonderful at what they do, but the needs are so great,”
Brensinger says. “The churches are growing so fast that the pastors can’t
keep up with it.”
Brensinger said his focus will be on identity issues, core values, and
developing a comprehensive approach to leadership training issues.
Brensinger hopes that as he is able to concentrate more on working with
already-existing churches, it will empower BICWM to extend outreach to
places where there are not yet any churches.
Travel will become a large part of Brensinger’s life. He plans to spend two
months a year in Africa, one month in Central and South America and one
month in another country where there is BIC presence.
In addition, he and his wife, Deb, are planning to lead a group of pastors,
church leaders, and spouses to
Israel in February 2010. ■
Terry Brensinger
is the new international
pastor/ teacher for
the IBICA.
IMPACT TOMORROW
ways to partner, send, go
You can get involved in the mission of the IBICA in several ways:
■ Learn more about the organization at its website: www.theibica.org
■ Make a donation. In Canada, you may donate by sending cheques payable to “Canadian
Conference BIC Church” c/o Canadian Conference Offices, 2700 Bristol Circle, Oakville,
ON L6H 6E1. In the U.S., you may donate by sending checks payable to the “IBICA” c/o
BIC Offices, P.O. Box A, Grantham, PA 17027.
■ Explore ways your congregation can get involved by contacting IBICA Executive Director
Darrell Winger at darrell@theibica.org, by phone at 905-483-2335 or by mail at 2700
Bristol Circle, Oakville, ON L6H 6E1. (There may be opportunities for a team or individuals from local congregations to serve in a national church setting, with IBICA providing
the linkage for communication between the two parties.)
www.bic-church.org/wm
V I S I T U S O N - L I N E AT
Contact us at
P.O. Box 390
Grantham, PA 17027-0390
(717) 697-2634
E-Mail: bicwm@bic-church.org
or in Canada at
2700 Bristol Circle
Oakville, ON L6H 6E1
(905) 339-2335
E-Mail: bicwm@bellnet.ca
Christine Sharp, exec. director
Carolyn Kimmel, editor
Geoff Isley, design
Brethren in Christ World
MissionsTODAY is published
free of charge by Brethren in Christ
World Missions.
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Grantham, PA 17027-0390
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