Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren has announced that the magazine “Basin and Towel” will discontinue publication following the July release of Vol. 6, Issue 2 titled “Transitions.”
Founded in 1999 by the Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC), the “Caregiving” magazine specifically supported deacon ministries for more than a decade. In 2010, after the merger of ABC and the General Board to create Church of the Brethren Inc., the publication transformed into a resource for congregational leaders and was renamed “Basin and Towel.” Over the last 5 years, through 6 volumes and 17 issues, some 1,500 regular readers have benefited from reflections on congregational vitality and practical leadership support.
Citing refocused priorities, staffing changes, and ongoing budget considerations, Jonathan Shively, executive director for Congregational Life Ministries stated: “It has become clear that we can no longer sustain the quality of, and our commitment to the magazine. Therefore the difficult decision has been made to discontinue publication. We are grateful for the contributions of our writers and the support of our readers. While ‘Basin and Towel’ will no longer be available, Congregational Life Ministries will continue to provide important leadership accompaniment and congregational formation resources.”
Subscribers will receive a letter detailing the process for addressing subscriptions with a remaining balance.
For assistance with congregational vitality, discipleship formation, and leadership support contact Congregational Life Ministries at congregationallife@brethren.org or 847-429-4303 or find online resources at www.brethren.org/congregationallife .