The Indiana e-Christian

Marge Galbraith, left, receives the Valiant Woman Award from Marilyn Porter.

Church Women United of Indianapolis presented the Valiant Woman Award to Marge Galbraith at their annual meeting on September 18, 2009.

Marge is a member of Geist Christian Church.  She graduated from Phillips University and received a master’s degree from Butler University.  Marge is married to Les Galbraith and they have two children and six grandchildren.

Marge taught in the Indianapolis Public Schools and was a Reading Specialist in Washington Township before her retirement in 2001. 

She has served the church in many capacities.  While a member of Northwood Christian Church, she was active in that congregation’s Christian Women’s Fellowship.  She was also a member of the diaconate, an elder, the children’s librarian, a member of the church board and the Faith Development and Outreach committees.  She frequently worked in the church’s food pantry.

Marge is active in Bread for the World and serves as treasurer of Bread for the World in Indiana.  She has regularly volunteered at Wheeler Mission, and, with Les, served as mentor for a family while they were getting a home through Habitat for Humanity. 

She has been active in Church Women United, serving as secretary for a four-year term.  Among those standing in support with Marge were past Disciples recipients of the Valiant Woman award, Sue Warrick from Westview Christian Church, Alice Langford from Northwood Christian, and Marilyn Porter from Central Christian.  Also standing with Marge for the presentation was her mother Dorothy Temple.

Church Women United is a racially, culturally, theologically inclusive Christian women’s movement, celebrating unity in diversity and working for a world of peace and justice.  Founded in 1941, CWU is a movement representing 25 million Protestant, Roman Catholic, Orthodox and other Christian women.

Geist Christian Church will host the Ministry in Hard Times workshop at its north campus on July 28-29.  The workshop is being sponsored by Net Results magazine and will precede the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Indianapolis.

Bill Tenny-Brittian, Bill Easum and Clif Christopher will provide keynote addresses during Ministry in Hard Times.  Noted pastors and consultants Gary Straub, Geoff Mitchell and Randy Updegraf Spleth will also provide participants with practical advice for being a vital and effective congregation, even under difficult economic circumstances.

Advance registration for the event is $85.  Walk-in registration is $95.  Advance registration is available through 21st Century Strategies, which manages Net Results.

The north campus of Geist Christian Church is located at the corner of 126th Street and Promise Road in Fishers, Ind., just north of Indianapolis.  More information is also available on the DisciplesWorld web site.

Mark Briley, Minister of Youth and North Campus Pastor for Geist Christian Church, Indianapolis, has accepted a call to become Senior Minister at Harvard Avenue Christian Church, Tulsa, Okla., following a six year ministry with the congregation at Geist.

Mark Briley

“It is with both a mixture of great sadness and immense pride that we announce the resignation of our associate pastor Mark Briley,” said Mike Fitzgerald and Randy Spleth, president of the congregation and senior minister respectively, in a joint letter sent to members today. “Mark’s last weekend at Geist Christian Church is July 25-26. He will begin his ministry in Tulsa on August 24, 2009.”

Briley began his ministry as an intern from Christian Thelogical Seminary while also serving Third Christian Church. He was ordained at Geist Christian and called as a full-time pastor in January 2005.

“During his tenure, Mark has touched the lives of many youth,” noted Spleth. “He launched ALTARed worship and has anchored the ministry of the north campus community.  A strong community of young adults knows him both as pastor and friend. He will be greatly missed.”

“Our six years at Geist Christian Church have shaped us in ways we never imagined and the relationships we have made have changed us forever,” said Briley.  “We will deeply miss our church family and the ministry we have shared.  We felt God leading us to accept this challenge of senior leadership at this time and the spirit of Geist will go with us.” 

Fitzgerald and Spleth shared in their letter, “We as a congregation can take pride in sending leaders into the wider church as an important part of our ministry. Sometimes, like now, it is a painful experience. But it is a value that we bring to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).”

Receptions are planned to honor Mark, Carrie, Morgan and Dane following the 5:30 p.m. north campus worship on July 25 and the 10:30 a.m. ALTARed and south campus worship services on July 26. 

“We are sad even as we are excited about this opportunity for Mark’s career and the Harvard Avenue Christian Church,” said Fitzgerald. We ask for your prayers for the Briley family as they go through the difficult task of saying goodbye. We also ask for prayers for the personnel committee and senior staff as we begin a search for ministerial leadership to serve our youth this fall.”

News story and letter posted at Geist Christian Church website: http://www.geistchristian.org/briley-accepts-call