By Dan McFadden
Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) is pleased to announce the 2015 Partners in Service Award. Three congregations will share this award, which will be presented at the BVS luncheon on Monday, July 13, at the Annual Conference in Tampa, Fla. The Partners in Service Award is presented each year to an individual, group, or organization that has shown an exceptional commitment to the work of sharing God’s love through acts of service.
Cincinnati (Ohio) Church of the Brethren, Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren in Elgin, Ill., and Peace Church of the Brethren in Portland, Ore., will share the award for 2015. These congregations will be recognized for their commitment to partnering with BVS in hosting intentional community houses within their communities. These congregations have supported volunteers and hosted a community house where volunteers commit to living together and serving at BVS projects in the area.
The Cincinnati and Highland Avenue Churches hosted the first BVS community houses starting in 2009, followed by Peace Church in 2010.
This is the tenth year of the Partners in Service Award. Past recipients are:
2014: Walt Wiltschek, Manchester University
2013: Healing Farms: CooperRiis (N.C.), Gould Farm (Mass.), and Hopewell (Ohio).
2012: EIRENE, the German community development agency that sends volunteers to BVS each year and which the Church of the Brethren helped start in 1957
2011: World Friendship Center, Hiroshima, Japan
2010: Grace Lefever, Sonnewald Natural Foods, Spring Grove, Pa.
2009: Outdoor Ministry Association of the Church of the Brethren
2008: Washington (D.C.) City Church of the Brethren
2007: Trees for Life, Wichita, Kan.
2006: Community Church of the Brethren, Hutchinson, Kan.
Find out more about BVS at www.brethren.org/bvs .
— Dan McFadden is director of Brethren Volunteer Service.