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.
Brethren Volunteer Service is pleased to announce that we will be hosting two in-person orientation units this year. Summer Orientation Unit #329 at Inspiration Hills Camp in Burbank, OH and Fall Orientation Unit #330 at Camp Brethren Heights in Rodney, MI. 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 August 20, 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
Summer 2021 #329
July 18 – August 6, 2021 (Inspiration Hills Camp) – Applications are due June 4, 2021.
Fall 2021 #330
October 3-22, 2021 (Camp Brethren Heights) – Applications are due August 20, 2021.
Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) is starting in-person training again with the summer orientation for Unit 329, gathering at Inspiration Hills Camp in Burbank, Ohio. Six volunteers are expected to take part.
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 (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!
Zechariah Houser has been hired by the Church of the Brethren as coordinator of short-term service for Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS), working from the General Offices in Elgin, Ill.
Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) attended Volunteer Fest on March 8-11, a four-night event hosted by Catholic Volunteer Network to connect with prospective volunteers about volunteering with faith-based organizations. The theme of this week was #WhyService, why is service important and why do people want to do service?