Church of the Brethren Newsline
May 25, 2018
Leadership of the Fellowship of Brethren Homes is in transition following the resignation of executive director Ralph McFadden, who resigned earlier this year. McFadden had been staying on until a successor was found. The fellowship in mid-May announced that Dave Lawrenz, who recently retired from leadership of Timbercrest, a Church of the Brethren retirement community in North Manchester, Ind., has agreed to take the executive director role.
McFadden began as executive director in January 2015. “Ralph brought a lot of energy and vitality to the role, helping us always to think about ‘next steps’ while also keeping us firmly in touch with our organization’s Brethren roots,” said an announcement from Jeff Shireman, chair of the executive committee for the fellowship. McFadden will wind down his involvement with the fellowship over the next few months, and will officially retire at the end of July.
Lawrenz begins as executive director in mid-July. “We have had several executive directors in the last 15 years, and each one has brought their own talents and spiritual gifts to bear in moving the organization forward,” said the announcement from Shireman. “Just as all of our ‘homes’ are adjusting to new ways of doing things in this volatile environment, we look forward to working with Dave and benefitting from the unique spin he will put on his leadership of the Fellowship.”
For more about the Fellowship of Brethren Homes, a collaborate ministry of the 22 retirement communities that are related to the Church of the Brethren, go to www.brethren.org/homes.
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