1) Royer Family Charitable Foundation offers major support to Haiti Medical Project, 2) Brethren Disaster Ministries opens rebuilding site in New Jersey, Illinois tornado clean up, 3) Ministry Office offers information on clergy housing ruling, BBT involved in appeal through the Church Alliance, 4) Seminary receives Lilly Endowment grant to improve economic well-being of future ministers, 5) Crop breeding success in North Korea, 6) Powerhouse 2013 gathers youth from the midwest region, 7) ‘Pioneering in a Global Context’ webinar set for Dec. 11,
8) Gather ’Round staff complete employment with Brethren Press and MennoMedia, 9) Michigan, Atlantic Southeast Districts announce staffing changes, 10) Reflecting on the anniversary of Newtown, 11) Brethren bits
Year: 2013
Ministry Office Offers Information on Clergy Housing Ruling, BBT Involved in Appeal Through the Church Alliance
On Nov. 22, a judge of the US District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin ruled that the housing allowance that is made available to clergy by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is unconstitutional. The decision has no immediate impact because it is not yet effective, and the ruling is on hold until all appeals are exhausted.
Reflecting on the Anniversary of Newtown
Dec. 14 marks the one-year anniversary of the deadly mass shooting that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Conn. As we take time to reflect on the anniversary of this terrible loss of life, Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence has organized a letter signed by over 50 national religious leaders, including Church of the Brethren general secretary Stan Noffsinger. Below is an excerpt from the letter that will be released to the public and sent to every member of Congress on Monday, Dec. 9.
Brethren Bits for Dec. 6, 2013
In this issue: Remembering former missionary Rolland Smith, NCC hires general secretary/president, Leininger retires from Camp Mack, Workcamp Ministry seeks assistant coordinator for 2015, Ministry Summer Service applications, congregations host live nativities, candlelight dinners at the John Kline Homestead, and much much more.
Crop Breeding Success in North Korea
Global Mission and Service staff in North Korea, Robert Shank, reports important strides in the rice, soybean, and corn breeding research at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST), where he and his wife Linda are teaching. A new crop, barley, has been added to this work in 2014, and a Global Food Crisis Fund grant is helping expand the work to include small fruits.
Gather ’Round Staff Complete Employment with Brethren Press and Mennomedia
Anna Speicher and Cyndi Fecher are completing their employment with Gather ’Round, the Christian education curriculum produced jointly by Brethren Press and MennoMedia. Gather ’Round is in its final year of production and will be available through the summer of 2014. The successor curriculum, Shine, will be available beginning next fall.
Michigan, Atlantic Southeast Districts Announce Staffing Changes
Nathan (Nate) Polzin has been called to serve as district executive minister for Michigan District, and Héctor Pérez-Borges has announced his plans to retire as associate executive for Atlantic Southeast District, in staffing changes for Church of the Brethren districts.
‘Pioneering in a Global Context’ Webinar Set for Dec. 11
“Pioneering in a Global Context,” a webinar co-sponsored by the Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren, BMS World Mission, Bristol Baptist College, and Urban Expression U.K., takes place Dec. 11 at 2:3-4 p.m. (Eastern). Register at www.brethren.org/webcasts .
Powerhouse 2013 Gathers Youth from the Midwest Region
More than 70 people took part in Powerhouse 2013, the Church of the Brethren Midwest regional youth conference, held at Camp Mack (Milford, Ind.) for the first time this year. It marked the fourth year for the event since it was restarted in a new fall format.
Brethren Disaster Ministries Responds to Illinois Tornado Outbreak
Following an intense outbreak of thunderstorms and tornadoes that heavily impacted parts of Illinois and Indiana on Sunday, Nov. 17, Brethren Disaster Ministries is preparing to be involved as needed in those states.