Mission and Ministry Board Vision, Mission, and Core Values
Mission and Ministry Board members
(terms conclude at Annual Conference each year)
Kathy Mack, chair (2027)
Josiah Ludwick, chair-elect (2029)
Michaela Alphonse (2027)
Daniel Butler (2030)
Edward Cesar-Fincher (2029)
Barbara Daté (2026)
Joel Gibbel (2027)
Tina Hunt (2028)
Robert Jackson (2028)
Sarah Mason (2030)
Rosanna Eller McFadden (2027)
Deirdre Moyer (2028)
Karen Shively Neff (2026)
Colby Patton (2029)
Eric Ramirez (2030)
Janice Shaw-Morgan (2029)
Joanna Wave Willoughby (2026)
Leadership Team
Don Fitzkee, Moderator
Dennis Beckner, Moderator-elect
David Steele, General Secretary
David Shumate, Secretary
Pete Kontra, District Executive, Atlantic Northeast District
Ex Officio members
Nevin Dulabaum, president, Eder Financial
Jeff Carter, president, Bethany Theological Seminary
Marie Benner Rhoades & Matt Guynn (alternating), Co-Executive Directors, On Earth Peace
Meeting dates
2026
March 13-15, Modesto, Ca.
June 27/28-July 2, Ft. Wayne, Ind.
October 16-18, Elgin, Ill.
2027
March 12-14, Elgin, Ill.
July 28-August 1, Daytona Beach, Fla.
October 15-17, Elgin, Ill.
2028
March 10-12, Elgin, Ill.
Annual Conference, location/dates TBA
October 20-22, Elgin, Ill.
2029
March 9-11, Elgin, Ill.
Annual Conference, location/dates TBA
October 19-21, Elgin, Ill.
2030
March 8-10/11, Elgin, Ill.
Annual Conference, location/dates TBA
October 17/18-20, Elgin, Ill.
*July meeting dates are held in conjunction with Annual Conference. Conference scheduling may necessitate date adjustments.
Related News
Board urges prayerful action to support immigrants
The Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board met March 13-25, 2026, in Modesto, California. The board issues a resolution on immigration and heard many reports. A highlight was attendance Sunday at five local congregations.
‘A Spirit of Power and Love’: A statement from the Church of the Brethren Inter-Agency Forum
The Church of the Brethren’s Inter-Agency Forum (IAF) met in Florida on Jan. 27 and has issued the following statement. The IAF includes officers of the denomination’s Annual Conference; the general secretary of the Church of the Brethren and the chair of the Mission and Ministry Board; representatives of the Council of District Executives; and executives and chairs of the boards of the three Annual Conference agencies: Bethany Theological Seminary, Eder Financial, and On Earth Peace.
When life is chaotic and out of control, how do we stay strong in faith?
Weighing heavy on my heart is the violence and political unrest being experienced in Minnesota. Most of the activity is occurring in Minneapolis, but there is an ICE presence here in Rochester as well.
Mission and Ministry Board approves 2026 budget during special Zoom meeting
The Church of the Brethren’s Mission and Ministry Board held a special meeting by Zoom on the evening of Nov. 24 to approve the 2026 budget for the denominational ministries.
Mission and Ministry Board extends general secretary’s term, recognizes Material Resources, approves 2026 budget parameter, among other business
The Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board held its fall 2025 meeting on Oct. 17-19 at the General Offices in Elgin, Ill., led by chair Kathy Mack with chair-elect Josiah Ludwick and general secretary David Steele.
Mission and Ministry Board postpones budget parameter decision, calls executive committee
The Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board met in advance of Annual Conference in Greensboro, N.C., for its summer meeting. Presiding over the meeting on July 2 was chair Colin Scott, assisted by chair-elect Kathy Mack and general secretary David Steele.
Melissa Fritz concludes her work with Material Resources
Melissa Fritz on July 8 concluded her work as a packer with the Material Resources program of the Church of the Brethren. The program is located at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. This layoff is due to the upcoming closure of the Material Resources program at the end of 2025.
Revelation 7:9 Awards are presented by Intercultural Ministries
The annual Revelation 7:9 Awards were presented to eight individuals this year, in an event held during the Mission and Ministry Board’s pre-Conference meeting on July 2 in Greensboro, N.C. Intercultural Ministries director Founa A. Badet presented the awards.
‘Sensitive Locations, Sacred Spaces’ nationwide prayer vigil supports lawsuit to protect sanctuaries
An interfaith prayer vigil on the evening of Thursday, April 3, at 6:30 p.m. (Eastern time) held both in-person at National City Christian Church in Washington, D.C., (5 Thomas Circle NW) and online via live-stream will support a court hearing in the sensitive locations lawsuit.
Mission and Ministry Board adopts resolution on weapons transfers at spring meeting
A resolution on weapons transfers was adopted by the Church of the Brethren’s Mission and Ministry Board at its spring meeting held March 7-9 at the General Offices in Elgin, Ill. Board chair Colin Scott led the meeting, assisted by chair-elect Kathy Mack and general secretary David Steele.
Church of the Brethren general secretary’s declaration filed alongside dozens of others in motion for preliminary injunction of policy on sensitive sites
Here is an update on the lawsuit filed on Feb. 11, 2025, on behalf of the Church of the Brethren and more than two dozen other Christian and Jewish religious denominations and associations, in response to the Trump Administration’s rescission of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) “sensitive locations” policy that had restricted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from conducting immigration raids, arrests, and other enforcement actions at houses of worship.
Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board shares concern for immigrant, migrant, refugee church members (in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole)
The Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board expresses grave concern for those across the country who are of migrant, immigrant, or refugee status who may be under threat of deportation following recent presidential executive orders. These renewed threats of deportation are already affecting the lives of many in our denomination’s congregations.
Thursday, Jan. 16, is declared a day of prayer and fasting for the Church of the Brethren, at the request of Atlantic Southeast District
The Church of the Brethren’s Mission and Ministry Board has declared Thursday, Jan. 16, a day of prayer and fasting for the denomination, at the request of the board of the church’s Atlantic Southeast District. The declaration invites all Church of the Brethren congregations, projects, fellowships, the board, and the denominational staff to participate.
Statement of priorities guides budget decision by Mission and Ministry Board
A statement outlining a set of ministry priorities for the Church of the Brethren denomination has guided the Mission and Ministry Board’s decision on the 2025 budget. These priorities, identified by executive-level staff following a series of retreats that general secretary David Steele held over the past year, were outlined by Steele working with the Executive Committee.
Mission and Ministry Board approves 2025 budget for denominational ministries, affirms day of prayer and fasting for immigrants
The Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board held a special Zoom meeting Dec. 5 to act on a proposal for the 2025 budget for denominational ministries. Two items were acted on: The board approved the 2025 budget proposal brought by general secretary David Steele and treasurer Ed Woolf and recommended by the Executive Committee. The board supported a request from the board of Atlantic Southeast District for a day of prayer and fasting for immigrants.
Year-to-date financial report for 2024 anticipates good giving
Church of the Brethren treasurer Ed Woolf presented a year-to-date financial report to the Mission and Ministry Board’s meeting on Dec. 5, anticipating a good outcome in terms of giving to the denominational ministries.
Mission and Ministry Board approves new Global Mission Development Fund at its Fall 2024 meeting
The Church of the Brethren’s Mission and Ministry Board held its Fall 2024 meeting Oct. 17-20 at the denomination’s General Offices in Elgin, Ill. Colin Scott presided as chair, assisted by chair-elect Kathy Mack and general secretary David Steele.
Church of the Brethren general secretary signs public letter in advance of Israeli Prime Minister’s address to Congress
Church of the Brethren general secretary David Steele was one of more than 200 Christian leaders from around the world who signed a public letter in advance of the address to Congress by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, which took place the afternoon of Wednesday, July 24.
Mission and Ministry Board sets budget parameter for denominational ministries in 2025
The Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board set the 2025 budget parameter for the denomination’s Core Ministries during a pre-Annual Conference meeting in Grand Rapids, Mich., on July 3.
Mission and Ministry Board completes Kingian Nonviolence training, works at envisioning
The Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board held its spring 2024 meeting on March 15-17 at the denomination’s General Offices in Elgin, Ill. Board chair Colin Scott presided, assisted by chair-elect Kathy Mack and general secretary David Steele.