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TRIBUTE TO TED FROM TED

The worldwide Moravian Church can give thanks for the life and service of Ted Hartmann, who died March 9. Br. Ted offered his many gifts to the mission outreach of the Southern and Northern Provinces for more than a half century. He had been an advocate of world mission before he became the first secretary of the newly formed Board of Foreign Missions in 1949, and he never stopped in this endeavor. He was Business Director and Treasurer and then Executive Director of the Mission Board, and then Business Director and Treasurer again.  His interest and support of world mission continued to be just as strong after his retirement in 1984. Even in his later years of diminished health, Moravian mission was the subject of conversation each time I got to visit in eastern Pennsylvania.

Brother Ted brought his gifts as a Christian lay person: faith and long-term dedication to the church’s mission. He brought gifts developed as an engineer and business supervisor: he was well organized, practical, and careful with finances. He brought gifts valuable in mission service: curiosity, readiness to travel anywhere, and openness to new people and experiences. He told funny stories of his cross-cultural misunderstandings, drawing us into the learning. With Doris Hartmann, he offered hospitality, support, advice, and local tours for international visitors to Pennsylvania.  

Brother Ted was an enthusiastic communicator of these experiences.  His thousands of photos show his amazement with the people and cultures of Christ’s church in many lands. He wove these pictures into articles in The [North American} Moravian and into themed slide programs for showing throughout North America.

Oh yes, Brother Ted also had a life outside the church in various community endeavors, including as a sports announcer for Lehigh University wrestling.

This was part of the wholeness of his life and witness.

The building of the Moravian Comenius Secondary School in Puerto Cabezas is named Hartmann Hall. He is also imprinted in many memories. As I visited in other Moravian Provinces, a frequent first question was “How is Br. Ted Hartmann?” He represented the interest and support of North American Moravians.  People also asked whether I sang the solo “How Great Thou Art” as Brother Hartmann did. (The answer was “No.”) The hymn summarizes his purpose: Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee; how great thou art.                                                      Rev. Ted Wilde

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – BWM

The Rev. William C. Sibert, Jr., was named Executive Director of the Board of World Mission (BWM), Moravian Church in North America, at its March 12-13, 2004 meeting in Winston-Salem, NC. Sibert replaces Interim Executive Director, the Rev. Dr. Gordon Sommers. 

            The position of Executive Director for the Board of World Mission serves to facilitate, define, and articulate a vision for mission for BWM and the North American Moravian Church. In addition, the Executive Director serves as the primary communication link for BWM with other agencies within the Moravian Church and the wider Unity, as well as with ecumenical partners. This position facilitates programming, budgeting, funding, and management of domestic and international mission efforts. In 2000, Sibert began new mission service with BEE World (Biblical Education by Extension), an organization who has worked in closed countries for the past 25 years providing leadership training to underground churches. Through BEE, Sibert began working in the Middle East where his responsibilities included teaching in Vietnam, China, and Nepal and helping to develop a new strategy that takes advantage of the rapid worldwide expansion of the internet called the Internet Biblical Seminary. The BWM has been supporting Sibert in his work with BEE World. In 2003, Sibert accepted an appointment from the BWM to serve as the Interim Director of Worldwide Witness. Sibert begins his service as Executive Director on April 1.  2004.