The ninth Family Peace Camp was held at Camp Ithiel in Gotha, Fla., from Friday evening to Sunday noon, Sept. 4-6, just before labor Day. This year the resource leader was Kathryn Bausman, co-pastor of Community Church of the Brethren in Twin Falls, Idaho, with her husband Mark Bausman. Both Kathryn Bausman as speaker, and the theme, “Living into Scripture, Today! Building Justice and Peace,” were chosen with the help of On Earth Peace.
Year: 2015
World Council of Churches Condemns Escalation of Conflict in Syria
The World Council of Churches (WCC) has expressed grave concern over the escalation of conflict in Syria, in an official statement issued on Oct. 12. The statement strongly condemns all foreign military operations “especially since hope has been raised for a political process in line with the proposals made by the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria, and approved by the UN Security Council last August,” said a WCC release.
Brethren Representative Reports from United Nations 70th Anniversary Event
The 193 nations of the United Nations opened the UN’s 70th anniversary (Sept. 23-Oct. 2) at the headquarters in New York with 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that reflect the desires of the world’s people.
Brethren Bits for Oct. 15, 2015
In this issue: Mission and Ministry Board fall meeting, general secretary speaks at Bridgewater Forum for Brethren Studies, materials for Bethany Sunday, On Earth Peace interns, Food Week of Action, Camp Mack celebrates program director, Young Center’s Brethren Heritage Festival, “Come to the Well” Sabbath rest for ministers, prayer for Iraqi Kurdistan, and more.
Summer Orientation Held by Brethren Volunteer Service and Brethren Revival Fellowship
Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) Unit 310 is an orientation unit held in cooperation with the Brethren Revival Fellowship (BRF). The volunteers in Unit 310 completed training this summer and have begun work at their project site. All of the volunteers are serving at the Root Cellar in Lewiston, Maine.
Newsline for Oct. 9, 2015
1) GFCF supports agriculture in DR Congo and Alaska, nutrition in Roanoke area, BVSer in DC. 2) Alaska and Louisiana: A tale of two tillers. 3) Query focuses on relationship of On Earth Peace to the denomination. 4) Bethany Seminary’s peace essay contest to highlight peacemakers. 5) Manchester University students are pen pals with death-row inmates. 6) NCC laments Umpqua shooting, asks NRA to join in gun violence reduction efforts. 7) Bethany’s Presidential Forum promises to be intriguing event. 8) National Junior High Sunday will be observed on Nov. 1. 9) We are addicted to guns today: A reflection from the president of the NCC. 10) Brethren bits
Brethren Bits for Oct. 8, 2015
In this issue: Positions at Camp Mack and Camp Pine Lake among other job openings, young adult committee sets dates for NYAC 2016, prayer requests for Nigeria and Haiti, Bread for the World Sunday, On Earth Peace Anti-Racism Transformation Team, Children’s Aid Society pictorial history, Elizabethtown College master of education degree to focus on peace education, and more news from churches, districts, camps, and colleges
GFCF Supports Agriculture in DR Congo and Alaska, Nutrition in Roanoke Area, BVSer in DC
The Global Food Crisis Fund (GFCF) of the Church of the Brethren has provided several grants in recent months that support agriculture by a Brethren group in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a gardening project in Alaska, nutrition education and cooking classes for Spanish speaking population living around Roanoke, Va., and the work of a Brethren Volunteer Service worker at the Church of the Brethren Office of Public Witness in Washington, D.C.
National Junior High Sunday Will Be Observed on Nov. 1
National Junior High Sunday in the Church of the Brethren will be observed on Nov. 1. The 2015 theme is based on James 2:14-17 from “The Message”: “Faith Without Works Is Outrageous Nonsense.” Worship resources and other resources for the special Sunday are made available online and are free to download from www.brethren.org/yya/jr-high-resources.html .
Query Focuses on Relationship of On Earth Peace to the Denomination
West Marva District Conference has adopted a query titled “On Earth Peace Reportability / Accountability to Annual Conference.” This query, initiated by Bear Creek Church of the Brethren, asks “if it is the will of Annual Conference for On Earth Peace to remain an agency of the Church of the Brethren with reportability and accountability to Annual Conference.”