Nurturing and Teaching God's People
The Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership is a cosponsored program of Bethany Theological Seminary and the Ministry office of the General Board of the Church of the Brethren. The Academy is an umbrella for several non-degree ministry training efforts within the Church of the Brethren, including Education for a Shared Ministry (EFSM), Training in Ministry (TRIM), and continuing education.
$96,000 is the General Board investment in this vitally important ministry training partnership.
The Ministry office at 1-800-323-8039 can help you learn more.
Heart, Soul, and Mind; Becoming A Member of the Church of the Brethren is the latest in a series of curriculum offerings by the General Board. Curriculum development is a long and costly process, but important to the foundational core of Brethren values and our understanding of the word of God through Jesus' example and teachings.
$80,000 will develop, create and produce an entire school year's curriculum for ages 6 to 600.
$800 will help create one grade level's appropriate activities.
$8 will print and bind a teacher's guide to inspire and motivate.
Contact Brethren Press at 1-800-323-8039 for more information.
KBC is the primary training ground for Nigerian church leaders in Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria-EYN (Church of the Brethren in Nigeria). Begun in 1961 the school is located just north of Mubi near the Cameroon border in northeast Nigeria. At any time about 85 families are living and studying on the campus. Farm plots are provided to students to help them provide for their families during the time of study. Agricultural training is also a part of the curriculum. Both degree and certificate programs are offered.
Typically a teaching couple from the US church serves alongside the Nigerian faculty, teaching Brethren beliefs and practice, New Testament, and similar courses. Lyall and Vivian Sherred (Denver, CO) recently completed service in this assignment (8/01), and a replacement teacher is being sought.
$50,000 supports US teachers and institutional development at Kulp Bible College.
See also: Nigeria-Church Leader Development, Nigeria-Mission Overview.
Contact Global Mission Partnerships at 1-800-323-8039 for more information.
General Board Congregational Life Team staff consultation and coaching are available to help congregations ground their common life spiritually, identify their strengths and areas for growth, build bridges with their communities, and develop a mission focus. The office of Congregational Life Ministries works toward these ends in collaboration with districts and local service agencies.
$50,000 will support one area office with staff and resources.
$5,000 will bring consulting help to one congregation for one year.
$500 will hold a workshop for training congregational leadership.
Contact Congregational Life Ministries at 1-800-323-8039 for more information or the area coordinator near you.
The Washington Office serves as a bridge between members of the church and public policy makers, informing church members about current events and legislation and encouraging them to respond. The office keeps members informed with a written monthly newsletter and other office publications such as "Backgrounders" and "Legislative Updates." It also brings a Brethren voice to Capitol Hill, acting as advocates to impact national policy with the denomination's values as interpreted by Annual Conference and General Board statements.
$45,000 keeps the Washington office open and acting on our behalf in DC for another year.
Contact the Brethren Witness office at 1-800-323-8039 to learn how you can help make a difference.
A 10-week summer internship for college students who wish to explore the set-apart ministry. Selected pastors and congregations, or other settings, serve as mentors and a "teaching church." This is a joint initiative of the Ministry office and Youth/Young Adult office. Alumni often continue into the ministry.
$50,000 will fund this entire internship program for one summer.
Contact the Ministry office or Youth/Young Adult Ministries office at 800 323-8039 to learn more or to sign up.
Dominican Republic Theological Education
Church of the Brethren pastor Guillermo Encarnacion oversees this training program for preparing pastoral leadership, which produced its first graduates in 1999 using a specially designed Brethren curriculum. Ten Dominican ministers were ordained and seven more licensed during a special service in February 2000. The Ministry Office has continued to produce resources to serve this group.
$28,000 will cover the General Board's investment in developing this important Dominican Republic leadership.
Contact Global Mission Partnerships at 1-800-323-8039 for details.
This office monitors and creates many of the communication avenues for the church. It produces a biweekly electronic newsletter called Newsline, oversees the www.brethren.org denominational website and maintains the General Board's portion of the site, develops news sections and features for Messenger and Agenda, sends out press releases to the public media, and provides coverage of Brethren events.
$5,000 will allow the creation of new resources on the General Board website.
$1,000 will fund the purchase of new digital photography equipment
$250 will cover Newsline Internet fees for two years.
Contact Brethren Press/Communications at 1-800-323-8039 for more information.
Nigeria-Church Leader Development
The amazing growth and vitality of the Nigerian church means that it establishes about 12-15 new congregations each year, each with a minimum of one hundred members. This growth creates a constant need for an expanding supply of trained leaders. Global Mission Partnerships provides a scholarship grant for pastoral preparation enabling over 200 men and women to be in preparation at Kulp Bible College, the Theological College of Northern Nigeria (TCNN), and various other Bible schools and seminaries. Regional Bible schools have also been established and a small amount of financial support goes to these efforts at basis biblical training.
In addition, one or two Nigerian leaders are brought to Bethany Theological Seminary for study alongside US pastors-in-training. This is an enriching experience for both the American and Nigerian leaders, and builds greater sense of unity and common identity in our relationship as sister churches. These Bethany graduates are highly valued by the Nigerian church as they return to Nigeria and share their training with many others in positions as teachers, pastors, and church administrators. The seminary and the General Board jointly fund the Nigerian student scholarship at Bethany.
The latest Nigerian church leader to study under this scholarship, Rev. Mbode Ndirmbita, arrived in late August 2001 and will study until mid-2003.
$20,000 will fund the pastoral training for over 200 men and women in Nigeria and America.
$280 will support one student at the Theological College of Northern Nigeria for one year.
$24 will support one student for a month of biblical education and training
See also: Nigeria-Kulp Bible College, Nigeria-Mission Overview.
Contact Global Mission Partnerships at 1-800-323-8039 for more information.
Worshipful Work, a fresh approach to seeking the mind of Christ in decision-making, is being introduced to congregations through a network of trained district leaders. The network hopes to "create space for the Spirit to move and transform decision-making throughout the church." Fifty trained leaders across the denomination stand ready to assist districts, congregations, and other groups in bringing together the worship of God and the work of God. In a related expression, the Youth/Young Adult office is piloting "The God-bearing Life" program, a spiritual development series cosponsored with Shepherd's Spring Outdoor Ministries Center.
$12,000 will make "Worshipful Work" accessible across the country.
$1,200 will fund teaching one week long session at the "God-bearing Life" program.
$120 will purchase program supplies and worship center resources for one training session.
Contact Congregational Life Ministries at 1-800-323-8039 for more information.
Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation
The Brethren Witness office produces a host of resources on peace and justice issues and environmental concerns, equipping congregations and individuals to learn and become actively involved. Faith Expeditions are one expression of the equipping process and enable Brethren to examine these issues up close and hands-on.
$10,000 produces and distributes materials to challenge our thinking about living as Christian peacemakers and seeking justice for all.
$500 covers an entire reprint of The Peace Book, a 43-page resource for young peacemakers.
$100 will produce an brochure on the Equal Exchange Coffee Project or the new SOS project for energy stewardship in congregations.
Call 1-800-323-8039 and ask for Brethren Witness to learn more about available resources.
The cabinet consists of senior high youth selected from across the country, who work with advisors and Youth/Young Adult Ministries staff to plan denominational events and programs. Cabinet members serve a two-year term. Every other cabinet serves as the main planning group for National Youth Conference. Cabinets serving in alternating terms help to shape workcamps, National Youth Sunday materials, and other programs.
$5,000 will support the entire budget of the cabinet as it carries out its work.
$400 will bring a cabinet member to a National Youth Conference planning meeting.
Contact the Youth/Young Adult Ministries office at 1-800-323-8039 to learn more.
This week-long event is held each spring except National Youth Conference years, bringing together youth and advisors from across the country for a week of concentrated study on a domestic or international issue. The event, sponsored by the Youth/Young Adult office and Church of the Brethren Washington Office, focuses on the ways our faith and our role as public citizens interact. Youth hear from noted speakers, visit the United Nations, have meetings with congressional representatives, and engage in small-group discussion.
$5,000 covers the total General Board investment for one year of CCS.
$300 will cover the registration fee scholarship of a racial/ethnic participant.
The Brethren Witness or Youth/Young Adult Ministries offices can be reached at 1-800-323-8039.