Brethren Volunteer Service is a full time volunteer program that places volunteers in a one or two year long assignment in the United States and some locations around the world. This ministry of the Church of the Brethren has been a major program in this Christian denomination since 1948.
Due to the number of interested applicants and the continued health concerns over the pandemic, BVS has made the decision to offer a virtual Winter Orientation from January 31st- February 12th, 2021.
Following the same format as the summer and fall units, the winter orientation will be two weeks long and will be done while volunteers are already at their project sites – building in a two-week quarantine time so that volunteers are ready to begin serving as soon as orientation is completed. BVS staff is working hard to include as many aspects of the traditional orientation as possible. The volunteers will gather virtually to grow in faith, learn about Brethren history, service, and social justice issues, build community, work together to accomplish common tasks, and have fun. Because of this new format, BVS staff will be working ahead of orientation with volunteers to discern their project placements, which is typically done during the three-week orientation.
The winter orientation will now take place January 31st – February 12th, 2021. The application deadline for this unit is Monday, December 14th, 2020 and the application can be found online. If anyone is interested in joining this unit and would like more information, please reach out to the BVS staff at BVS@brethren.org.
Winter 2021 #328
January 31 – February 12, 2021 (Virtual) – Applications are due December 14, 2020.
Summer 2021 #329
July 18 – August 6, 2021 (Inspiration Hills Camp) – Applications are due June 4, 2021.
Fall 2021 #330
September 19 – October 8, 2021 (Camp Brethren Heights) – Applications are due August 6, 2021.
FaithX (formerly the Workcamp Ministry) has announced a March 15 opening date for registration for short-term summer service events in Tiers 1, 2, and 3. However, the Church of the Brethren program announced a decision that Tier 4 events will not be possible this summer and will not be offered at registration.
Brethren Volunteer Service has welcomed four new volunteers who completed the 2021 Winter orientation as part of BVS Unit 328. The orientation was held as a virtual, online event because of pandemic restrictions on in-person gatherings.
Hannah Shultz has resigned from her position on the Church of the Brethren staff as coordinator of short‐term service with Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS), effective Jan. 27. She has accepted a position with Georgia Interfaith Power and Light, an organization that engages communities of faith in stewardship of Creation as a response to climate change and environmental concerns.
Two interim employees--Shawn Flory Replogle and Pauline Liu--have been promoted to staff positions with the Church of the Brethren. Replogle has accepted the position of executive director of Organizational Resources for Finance. Liu has accepted a position coordinating volunteers for Brethren Volunteer Service.
Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) will be holding a virtual Winter Orientation for Unit 328. Due to the number of interested applicants and the continued health concerns over the pandemic, BVS has made the decision to offer a virtual orientation for new volunteers from Jan. 31-Feb. 12, 2021.