2020 Ballot

Faith Statement

I’ve always liked the words said to be the motto in Christopher Sauer’s print shop: “For the glory of God and my neighbor’s good.” A rich faith connects the vertical dimension of drawing nearer to God through Jesus Christ and living our lives in praise of that relationship with the horizontal dimension that puts our faith into action for the blessing of others. I strive to deepen both of those lines in my faith journey, while allowing room for the Spirit to blow in with fresh perspectives.

Vision

I view Annual Conference as a meeting place that should be filled with worship, celebrating who we are and allowing us to discern together how best to follow Jesus Christ into the future.

Intercultural Work

I’ve traveled broadly, to nearly 80 countries. My father grew up in South America, I was born in Germany, and our house regularly had international guests while I was growing up. I know some Spanish.

Demographic Information

Home: Easton, Maryland
District: Mid-Atlantic Congregation: Easton
Occupation: Pastor, academic advisor
Male, age 50, European-American

Experience

Local: Pastor, board chair, youth advisor, Sunday school teacher, worship leader.
District: Ministry interview team, camp board and chair, nurture commission, youth advisor, district executive search committee.
Denomination: Denominational staff, National Youth Conference cabinet advisor, National Junior High steering committee, National Young Adult cabinet, Annual Conference age group coordinator.
Other: Camp volunteer and Bible study leader, Manchester University campus pastor.

Relationship of skills/experience to the position

I’ve experienced a wide breadth of the church. I’m familiar with most of its agencies/programs and know many people across the denomination. At Manchester I planned an annual regional youth conference.

Faith Statement

I love Jesus and have committed my life to serving him through sharing God’s love with all people. Jesus is God’s love for humanity in the flesh … up close and personal. Jesus shows us that God wants to be near us. I believe that God has called me to share in the responsibility of making new disciples and helping others become all that God created and imagined them to be.

Vision

I believe worship is like a stained-glass window with many shapes, sizes and colors forming a beautiful picture of God. I am committed to implementing this into all worship and programs of the church.

Intercultural Work

Bilingual. Missionary in Sicily for 10 years. Founded and taught a community school of music for neighborhood children in Sicily. Founded and directed an Italian gospel choir.

Demographic Information

Home: Harrisonburg, Virginia
District: Shenandoah Congregation: Harrisonburg First
Occupation: Pastor
Female, age 57, European-American

Experience

Local: Pastor, associate pastor of worship, youth pastor, choir director.
District: District Conference program and arrangements committee, preacher, delegate and choir director, Christian Growth Institute worship class developer and teacher, pastor’s mentor.
Denomination: Annual Conference delegate, worship planning committee, Bible study speaker, and composed/led 2017 theme song, “Risk Hope”
Other: Mennonite Church USA conference planner and worship leader, Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center board, and ecumenical worship service public prayer.

Relationship of skills/experience to the position

Serving in this role would be a way to respond to God’s call to use my gifts. Planning worship for large and small churches both locally and Internationally prepare me for this position. My training and experience in music also gives me a variety of musical styles to work with.

Faith Statement

Just like any of us, I remain a work in progress. I grew up the son of a Church of the Brethren pastor, so faith has been a part of my life as long as I can remember. At Messiah College, the Lord used my best friend, who later became my wife, to challenge me to stop just giving Jesus lip service and to instead really live what I was saying. Concurrently, a calling to be in ministry with under-served urban communities was being revealed and confirmed. Since then I’ve done my best to live out this call with integrity.

Vision

It excites me to make the various church contexts accessible to people who aren’t always able to experience them. I love building bridges between people and communities that don’t always interact.

Intercultural Work

Year-long service in Rwanda. Fifteen years’ experience serving at Harrisburg First Church. Leading a praise team in an intercultural context. Serving under and alongside pastor Belita Mitchell.

Demographic Information

Home: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
District: Atlantic Northeast Congregation: Harrisburg First
Occupation: Associate pastor
Male, age 42, European American

Experience

Local: Associate pastor, youth pastor, praise team leader.
District: Turn Around Task Team member.
Denomination: Global Mission and Service worker in Rwanda.
Other: Brethren Community Ministries program assistant/oversight for Agape-Satyagraha program.

Relationship of skills/experience to the position

I’ve been in the Church of the Brethren my whole life: member, staff and missionary. Intercultural work, missionary service in Africa, growing up in a rural/suburban church. I’ve seen all that the church can hope to be.

Faith Statement

I believe that God’s love and grace was poured out for us through Jesus Christ, and he is our ultimate example on how to live and how to love. As Christians, we are called to love God with all that we are and to love our neighbors as ourselves. All of us have been created by God in God’s own image and we are God’s beloved children. By loving God and loving our neighbor, we will shine the light of Jesus Christ for others to see and it will give glory to God.

Vision

In a culture that is tearing us a part, my vision is that we may be one in Christ, reconciling both groups to God in one body through the cross (Ephesians 2:16), centering ourselves on Christ alone.

Intercultural Work

New Community Project Learning Tour to East Africa in May 2019, Community Interfaith Peace Prayer Service planning, Involvement with VOICE – Virginians Organized in Interfaith Community Engagement

Demographic Information

Home: Manassas, Virginia
District: Mid-Atlantic Congregation: Manassas
Occupation: Pastor
Female, age 40, European-American

Experience

Local: Deacon, discernment team chair, pastoral search committee, Sunday school teacher, communications ministry team, fellowship and hospitality ministry team, youth advisor, Vacation Bible School director.
District: Junior high youth advisor, spiritual and congregational life ministry team.
Denomination: Shine curriculum writer, 2020 Annual Conference worship planning team.
Other: International Day of Prayer for Peace planner, principal’s advisory council, math department chair.

Relationship of skills/experience to the position

As we seek to maintain the unity of the Spirit, even through our diversity, it is vital to have relationship building, effective communication, conflict resolution, and organizational skills.

Faith Statement

Christ commanded us to love one another and to see and reap everlasting fruit, so that one day when in his presence again, we will be able to drink the water of everlasting life. Love, compassion and empathy. Corner stones for living out and continuing Jesus’s work here on Earth.

Vision

My vision for serving is to add my skills and experiences to a group of unique people working for the continuation and betterment of our denomination, churches and communities.

Intercultural Work

Growing up in Ivester and experiences through work have provided me opportunities to learn from and work with a wide variety of people from different walks of life.

Demographic Information

Home: Grundy Center, Iowa
District: Northern Plains Congregation: Ivester
Occupation: mnside lumber sales
Male, age 39, European-American

Experience

Local: Leadership team chair, clerk, deacon chair, youth leader.
District: Moderator, board vice chair, ministry commission chair, constitution and bylaws committee, ethic committee, review and support of licensed ministers.
Denomination: None.
Other: CROP Walk coordinator.

Relationship of skills/experience to the position

The positions and training I have received provide me a wide variety of skills and experiences to draw from. I have experience working with personnel, budget and working as a team to accomplish goals.

Faith Statement

God is my creator, Jesus is my redeemer and I have the gift of the Holy Spirit to lead me. Each of us is called to live our lives as Christ’s representative, using the skills and talents we have been given. Jesus commands us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Peacefully, Simply, Together.

Vision

To help the Church of the Brethren continue its mission both within Brethren ministries and beyond to Christ’s mission. Use our church’s rich heritage as a foundation for the future, while facing the current challenges before us.

Intercultural Work

I worked 30 years for an international company where I interacted daily with co-workers and customers from different cultures, countries, and faiths.

Demographic Information

Home: Rochester, Minnesota
District: Northern Plains Congregation: Panther Creek
Occupation: Retired software engineer.
Female, age 56, European-American

Experience

Local: Treasurer, co-leader of house church.
District: Board chair, new church development committee, camp counselor, Sending of the Seventy visitor.
Denomination: Standing Committee, Nominating Committee, Annual Conference table facilitator.
Other: Community Bible study leader and treasurer.

Relationship of skills/experience to the position

Having served at the local, district and national levels gives me a broad perspective. While district board chair, dealt with conflict and moved forward to healthier relationships, has given me hope.

Faith Statement

I rest my faith in God and try to align my life to reflect this faith as it was made perfect in Jesus Christ and is revealed through the Holy Spirit.

Vision

Bethany Theological Seminary is in a challenging time. As such, the Board of Trustees has a fiduciary responsibility to empower innovation while preserving core values as the theological school of the Church of the Brethren.

Intercultural Work

Training to enhance intercultural sensitivities, various ministry experiences, and personal relationships continue to convince me that changes to the perceptions and realities of the status quo are challenging and essential.

Demographic Information

Home: Manassas, Virginia
District: Mid-Atlantic
Congregation: Manassas
Occupation: Retired
Male, age 59, Caucasian

Experience

Local: Pastor; Moderator.
District: Clerk; Ethics Committee; Calling and Credentialing Team
Denomination: Annual Conference Moderator; 300th Anniversary Committee worship planning team, worship planning team; General Board, chair; Ministers’ Association; Bethany Seminary, trustee; Author
Other: Nason Hospital Foundation Board of Directors

Relationship of skills/experience to the position

My experience and training provide insight into the way the Church of the Brethren has worked in the past, strengths and shortcomings we now faced, and opportunities going forward.

Faith Statement

Jesus redeems us from our sin, releases us to move forward to serve our creative God, and accompanies us on our journey of life. God beckons us to pursue the vision of all creation experiencing Shalom, all of creation one community, with each person and everything fulfilled by making its contribution, using all of our God-given gifts. The Holy Spirit gives us inspiration, illumination, energy and joy.

Vision

Strong seminary faithful to its calling to serve God by sending wise, prepared leaders into the world able to perceive the new things God will be doing with new generations.

Intercultural Work

I lived in Barcelona, Spain for a year in Brethren Colleges Abroad, a month in Guatemala in college rebuilding after the 1975 earthquake, 6 months in Poland in college, 2 years in Poland in Brethren Volunteer Service.

Demographic Information

Home: Onekama, Michigan
District: Michigan
Congregation: Onekama
Occupation: Pastor
Female, age 64, European-American

Experience

Local: Pastor.
District: New church development committee chair, vision and restructuring committee, leadership team secretary, board vice chair, Education for a Shared Ministry local supervisor/mentor.
Denomination: Mission and Ministry Board, Brethren Ministers’ Association chair, Rural and Small Church committee.
Other: Brethren Volunteer Service teacher in Poland, retail/manufacturing business co-owner/manager.

Relationship of skills/experience to the position

I understand the concerns and skill sets needed for local church, district and denominational leadership. Having run a business, I have some understanding of financial realities and challenges.

Faith Statement

I believe that God is our creator and that we have been placed on this earth for different purposes, conscious practices.

Vision

My vision of being on this board is to provide a socially conscious and diverse perspective in decision making for the organization.

Intercultural Work

I am a Salvadoran immigrant raised in southern California by a pacifist, culturally diverse family and church community. I have studied and worked for social justice in education, organizational structures, and socially which in turn manifest in varying divine connections with God. My connection with God manifests in service and education, and I am guided to learn from the world around me and support others’ learning and advocate for the underserve.

Demographic Information

Home: Pomona, California
District: Pacific Southwest Congregation: La Verne
Occupation: Academic Advisor
Female, age 36, Latina

Experience

Local: None.
District: District National Youth Conference coordinator.
Denomination: None.
Other: Volunteer coordinator, partnership lead, community college liaison, outreach and curriculum development.

Relationship of skills/experience to the position

I’ve practice in mediating difficult conversations/conflicts, minimizing duplication of work efforts, understanding cultural perspectives for programmatic goals, and connecting visions to practice.

Faith Statement

My encounters with God have always been in the quiet spaces removed from the noise of daily life. As a child, Camp Blue Diamond was that quiet space for me. As I’ve grown, those periods of seeking and listening have then compelled me back into the noise to live embedded in community, working for justice and striving to follow Jesus. I need both times of deep contemplation and action for my faith to feel alive, and the Church of the Brethren provides me with a tradition of each.

Vision

To use my experience and knowledge as a college faculty member to strengthen the scholarly theological foundation that Bethany provides to its students and the wider church.

Intercultural Work

My sociological expertise is in race/ethnicity, and I’ve been on faculty at several predominantly non-white institutions. Currently at a Hispanic-serving institution focusing on student equity, I work daily with students and colleagues from across the globe.

Demographic Information

Home: Elgin, Illinois
District: Illinois/Wisconsin Congregation: Highland Avenue
Occupation: Sociologist
Female, age 42, White

Experience

Local: Church board, administrative review committee, deacon leadership team, pastoral search committee.
District: District youth cabinet.
Denomination: Annual Conference junior high activities coordinator, youth and young adult workcamp coordinator through BVS, young adult steering committee, Youth Peace Travel Team.
Other: College faculty development committee, college curriculum review committee, college Black History Month committee, Rural Sociological Society diversity committee

Relationship of skills/experience to the position

In academia, I’ve sat on committees charged with curriculum review and faculty development. As a lifelong member of the Church of the Brethren, now living in Elgin, I understand the relationship between denominational agencies and the wider church.

Faith Statement

Having grown up in the Church of the Brethren tradition, I believe we are called to “continue the work of Jesus. Peacefully. Simply. Together.” It is incumbent upon all of us to examine our own strengths and talents and carefully consider how best to use them for the good of our community. I strive to continue Jesus’s work by paying attention to those around me, including those who do not have all the advantages I have, and by working to increase communication and understanding among us.

Vision

Often the most helpful board member is the one who can ask pertinent, probing questions. With my experience in accounting, finance, investments, and insurance I hope I can ask the important questions.

Intercultural Work

Five years studying and working in Strasbourg, France. Two years in the Peace Corps in Honduras. Six years as an assistant professor of Business at the Panama Canal College in Panama.

Demographic Information

Home: North Manchester, Indiana
District: South/Central Indiana Congregation: Manchester
Occupation: Accountant, consultant
Female, age 62, European-American

Experience

Local: Treasurer/accountant, church administrator, funeral dinner coordinator, solar energy project coordinator.
District: District audit committee, camp audit committee.
Denomination: Annual Conference insight session presenter.
Other: Timbercrest board of directors, Manchester community school board, community foundation board.

Relationship of skills/experience to the position

With 22 years of combined board experience and extensive board training, I have learned that an effective board must strike the balance between laissez-faire and micro-managing.

Faith Statement

Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. He is my friend who shows me how to love and live a righteous life. Without Him, I would be completely lost and destroyed by my sin. I am deeply thankful for His never-ending love and His resurrecting life, which enables me to set aside my evil, sinful ways and become who He created me to be – fully human, more like Him – whole, healed, and complete.

Vision

My vision for serving in the capacity is to: honor God with my gifts, be a person of integrity, listen and seek to understand, work for win/win solutions, and empower others to be their best.

Intercultural Work

On various occasions, I have worked with Brethren Housing Association which provides transitional housing for homeless women in Harrisburg, PA.

Demographic Information

Home: Hummelstown, Pennsylvania
District: Atlantic Northeast Congregation: Hershey Spring Creek
Occupation: Senior internal auditor, information security professional
Male, age 51, European-American

Experience

Local: Deacon, evangelism and service commission chair, ministry and worship commission chair, church auditor.
District: Gift and discernment team member.
Denomination: Brethren Benefit Trust board member.
Other: Love in the Name of Christ of Great Hershey board member and treasurer.

Relationship of skills/experience to the position

Other than my experience of being on the Brethren Benefit Trust board, I am a senior auditing professional with in-depth experience in information security, compliance, and risk mitigation.

Faith Statement

Jesus Christ still is the only one who has reconciled this violent world to God, me included. He invites us to join him in his unconditional love for everyone. We all come short of such deep loving, and ever again are ourselves in need of forgiveness and reconciliation. So, the cross is central to my faith, central to all prophetic witness, and to every call for justice and peace. yet the cross is precisely where we experience a love, that can transform our weakness into bold discipleship.

Vision

As a board member I would challenge myself and the church to speak prophetic Christ -centered truth to power, as long as we still can have a voice. We must, especially after 1/6/2021, return to being a “Confessing Church”.

Intercultural Work

I have close ties with my German roots (resistance of the confessing

church under Hitler). I worked with Navajos, and inner- city children, am pastor of a very diverse congregation, death row support.

Demographic Information

Home: Union Bridge, Maryland
District: Mid-Atlantic
Congregation: Glade Valley
Occupation: Pastor, art teacher, artist
Female, 78, European-American (born in Germany)

Experience

Local: Pastor, associate pastor, Sunday school teacher, pastor’s wife, Bible school, Bible-art camps. Spiritual director
District: Retreat leader, camp counseling,
delegate to District Conference
Denomination: Instructor for trim, spiritual director, director of Brethren Peace Fellowship,
Co-leader of East-West Theological Seminars in Berlin, Germany. articles and art in Messenger
Other: Maryland art teacher of the year, author of “Move over Picasso”

Relationship of skills/experience to the position

I will bring my experiences from international work-camps/peace-seminars, peace ministry, my own art, art teaching, writing, pastoral prophetic ministry, and Biblical peace- making, hosting peace retreats at my place.

Faith Statement

Inspired by the Sermon on the Mount and the book of James, I strongly believe that faith is not so much about what we testify to as it is about how we live. If our neighbors and those with whom we are in conflict don’t see our faith in our lives and our work, it doesn’t matter much what we tell them about our beliefs. Faith and conviction are incredibly important but not sufficient. It matters that we are present to the world and that we do the right thing.

Vision

Creative solutions are not found when one side wins and one loses. Truly creative and workable solutions are found when all the parties to conflict recognize elements of themselves in the solutions.

Intercultural Work

Moderator Imperial Heights, rebuilding a board in conflict for three years, BVS in California with the UFW & Cesar Chavez. Choice Communities Pennsylvania making integrated communities w/ethnically diverse subcontractors.

Demographic Information

Home: Los Angeles, California
District: Pacific Southwest
Congregation: Glendale
Occupation: Architect – California license
Male, age 72, European-American

Experience

Local: Board member, moderator, stewards committee, pastor search committee, worship leader and pulpit fill
District: Moderator, District Executive search committee, conference presenter – accessibility issues, delegate, moderator Imperial Heights COB, pro-bono architecture, Camp La Vern blitz build
Denomination: AC Delegate
Other: California emergency services inspector, Arch QA, code manager, Habitat for Humanity skilled professional, leader renovation woman’s shelter

Relationship of skills/experience to the position

My church and civic life centers on listening & learning, seeking common needs & possibilities when goals conflict. I can offer expert advice but prefer seeking solutions without winners & losers.

Faith Statement

Since my retirement, I have dedicated my time, talents and life to working with the Church of the Brethren, the local community and the educational areas in my Central Pennsylvania region where I grew up.

Vision

My vision is very simple: to continue the work that I began many years ago at the local church level and had expanded into the Middle District of Pennsylvania for the betterment of the Church of the Brethren.

Intercultural Work

I have had a broad array of positions in the local and district church, and I have also interfaced with many types of business and financial groups in my business career.

Demographic Information

Home: Claysburg, Pennsylvania
District: Middle Pennsylvania Congregation: Lower Claar
Occupation: Retired business professional
Male, age 69, European-American

Experience

Local: Board member and chair, youth group president.
District: District vice chair, coordinating team, treasurer.
Denomination: None.
Other: General Refractories president, Adience Inc chief operating officer, Claysburg PAST (Preserving Artifacts, Stories and Traditions) president, Claysburg Educational Foundation president.

Relationship of skills/experience to the position

I have been involved with finances and budgets from small amounts to running a corporation that in today’s dollars would be $500 Million.

Faith Statement

I believe in the creator God and the Word was present in the beginning of time: that Jesus is the sacrificial offering from God for our sins: that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. I believe that the greatest commandment is Matt. 22: 37-40. This passage helps me to understand what my relationship with God/Jesus should be and how it should reflect my relationship with others.

Vision

I feel that the Church of the Brethren needs to think out-of-box in support of pastors salaries/benefits that may be more in-line with other positions that require similar educational standard.

Intercultural Work

Taught high school in which inter-city and rural students attended; worked with the Congolese church in Kettering. Hosted for 6 months a Nigerian interim pastor serving at our local church.

Demographic Information

Home: Dayton, Ohio
District: Southern Ohio and Kentucky Congregation: Prince of Peace
Occupation: Retired teacher and camp administrator
Male, age 77, European-American

Experience

Local: Moderator, youth teacher/advisor/ church school teacher, board and chair, interim pastor, deacon, pastor search committee chair.
District: District trainer, board, associate district executive, youth advisor, EduCare representative, listening committee for camp concerns chair, camp administrator, camp master plan management team.
Denomination: Outdoor Ministries Association chair and secretary, National Youth Conference workshop/small group leader, Annual Conference youth activities co-chair, People of the Covenant editing committee.
Other: Teacher’s Association negotiating team, high school athletic boosters treasurer, Ohio OWE board of directors chair.

Relationship of skills/experience to the position

Experience: both sides of the spectrum – negotiation team and as a receiver of salary/benefits; knowledge of guidelines for pastors.