David Steele, who began Sept. 1 as general secretary of the Church of the Brethren, is planning to hold listening sessions across the denomination over the next several months. He describes the sessions as an opportunity to get acquainted and to share hopes and dreams for the church.
“As I step into these new days of my ministry with the Churches of the Brethren,” he says, “I would like the opportunity to get acquainted with one another–sharing our hopes and passions for the Church of the Brethren, while listening to identify the barriers that are hindering our fulfillment of Christ’s mission.”
The listening sessions are open events, and all are invited. Currently, five sessions are scheduled, most around district conferences this fall. More events will be held in other districts after the first of the year.
Here are times and locations of the five listening sessions that have been scheduled so far:
— Saturday, Sept. 17, to start immediately following conclusion of the Southern Pennsylvania District Conference at Buffalo Valley Church of the Brethren in Mifflinburg, Pa.
— Saturday, Oct. 1, to start immediately following conclusion of the Southern Ohio District Conference at Oakland Church of the Brethren in Bradford, Ohio
— Saturday, Oct. 8, to start immediately following conclusion of the Atlantic Northeast District Conference at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College’s Leffler Chapel
— Thursday, Nov. 3, 7 p.m., at the Bridgewater (Va.) Retirement Community in Shenandoah District
— Saturday, Nov. 12, during a break-out session at the Pacific Southwest District Conference at Modesto (Calif.) Church of the Brethren
For more information contact Mark Flory Steury,Donor Relations representative, at mfsteury@brethren.org