Church of the Brethren Newsline
January 28, 2017
The Conference Office has released the ballot that will be presented to the 2017 Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren this summer. Topping the ballot are two nominees for Annual Conference moderator-elect. Nominations for a number of other offices to be filled by election of the delegate body also have been announced.
On the ballot for the position of moderator-elect are Donita Keister of Mifflinburg, Pa., and J. Roger Schrock of McPherson, Kan.
Keister is an associate pastor at Buffalo Valley Church of the Brethren in Southern Pennsylvania District. She currently is a member of the denomination’s Mission and Ministry Board, and serves on the board’s executive committee, but will complete her term of service prior to the 2017 Annual Conference.
Schrock is a member of McPherson Church of the Brethren in Western Plains District. He is a retired pastor and former denominational staff member. He has served the Church of the Brethren as executive of World Ministries, as Africa representative, and as a missionary in Sudan, among other appointments. In a volunteer capacity, he has been a member of the Standing Committee of Annual Conference and currently serves on the Mission Advisory Council.
Following are nominees for other positions to be filled by election in 2017, listed by position:
Annual Conference Secretary
James M. Beckwith (incumbent) of Lebanon, Pa., Annville Church of the Brethren, Atlantic Northeast District.
Paul Schrock of Indianapolis, Ind., Northview Church of the Brethren, South/Central Indiana District
Annual Conference Program and Arrangements Committee
Jan Glass King of Martinsburg, Pa., Bedford Church of the Brethren, Middle Pennsylvania District
Jan Orndorff of Woodstock, Va., Sugar Grove Church of the Brethren, Shenandoah District
Mission and Ministry Board, Area 1
Audrey Hollenberg-Duffey of Hagerstown, Md., Hagerstown Church of the Brethren, Mid-Atlantic District
Colin W. Scott of Harrisburg, Pa., Mechanicsburg Church of the Brethren, Southern Pennsylvania District
Mission and Ministry Board, Area 2
Christina Singh of Freeport, Ill., Freeport Church of the Brethren, Illinois and Wisconsin District
Frances Townsend of Onekama, Mich., Onekama Church of the Brethren, Michigan District
Bethany Theological Seminary Trustee, Colleges
Celia Cook-Huffman (incumbent) of Huntingdon, Pa., Stone Church of the Brethren, Middle Pennsylvania District
Shane Kirchner of McPherson, Kan., McPherson Church of the Brethren, Western Plains District
Bethany Theological Seminary Trust, Clergy
Paul Brubaker (incumbent) of Ephrata, Pa., Middle Creek Church of the Brethren, Atlantic Northeast District
Dana Cassell of Durham, N.C., Peace Covenant Church of the Brethren, Virlina District
Brethren Benefit Trust Board
Sara Huston Brenneman (incumbent) of Hershey, Pa., Harrisburg First Church of the Brethren, Atlantic Northeast District
Katherine Allen Haff of North Manchester, Ind., Manchester Church of the Brethren, South/Central Indiana District
On Earth Peace Board
Bobbi Dykema of Seattle, Wash., Olympic View Church of the Brethren, Pacific Northwest District
Cheryl Thomas of Angola, Ind., Pleasant Chapel Church of the Brethren, Northern Indiana District
Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee
Barbara Wise Lewczak of Minburn, Iowa, Stover Memorial Church of the Brethren, Northern Plains District
Daniel L. Rudy of Roanoke, Va., Ninth Street Church of the Brethren, Virlina District
The Standing Committee also has chosen delegates to represent the Church of the Brethren at the World Council of Churches. Liz Bidgood Enders has been chosen as delegate. Glenn Bollinger has been chosen as alternate delegate.
For more information about the Annual Conference go to www.brethren.org/ac .