Brethren Volunteer Service’s Statement on Racism

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.

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Summer Orientation

Brethren Volunteer Service is pleased to announce that we will be hosting an in-person Summer Orientation for Unit #329 at Inspiration Hills Camp in Burbank, OH. This decision was carefully considered and researched in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Brethren Disaster Ministries (BDM), Children’s Disaster Services (CDS), and Faith Outreach Expeditions (FaithX). We are excited to be able to gather safely and in intentional community for the orientation experience once more!

We are still accepting BVS applications through June 4, 2021. Please consider sharing your gifts with BVS to serve a world in need.

Download the full BVS Orientation COVID-19 guidelines and consent form

Upcoming Orientation Units

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.

BVS updates

  • Brethren Volunteer Service reaffirms statement on racism

    The above statement was released on June 19, 2020. In November of 2020, BVS was asked to take the statement down temporarily because some of the language was offensive to members of the Church of the Brethren. In the spirit of the 2009 Annual Conference statement “A Structural Framework for Dealing with Strongly Controversial Issues,” BVS staff took time to work at mutual understanding, doing much research, listening, and learning. After reviewing Annual Conference statements, referencing the newly adopted Mission and Ministry Board Strategic Plan, and in light of events that have occurred since its initial release, BVS staff feels the need to restate its stance on racism and recommit itself to working towards healing racism.

  • Brethren Volunteer Service offers in-person summer orientation unit

    Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) is pleased to announce that we will be hosting an in-person summer orientation for Unit 329 at Inspiration Hills Camp in Burbank, Ohio, from July 18-Aug. 6. We are excited to be able to gather safely and in intentional community for the orientation experience once more!