— Remembrance: Galen Miller, 103, a former district executive in the Church of the Brethren, died on Feb. 13 in Wenatchee, Wash. He was born Jan. 7, 1918, in Weiser, Idaho, and was raised in Portland, Ore. He held a bachelor of divinity degree from Bethany Theological Seminary and a doctor of religion from Chicago Theological Seminary. He pastored Champaign (Ill.) Church of the Brethren and the Sunnyslope church in Wenatchee, Wash. In retirement he served as district executive minister for Oregon and Washington District, now the Pacific Northwest District of the Church of the Brethren. He also was interim pastor for several churches across the country. His professional career included working as superintendent for Erickson’s Plumbing Co., the largest plumbing shop on the South Side of Chicago, and working as a prune farmer in Gridley, Calif. Over the years, he volunteered his plumbing skills to many disaster relief and humanitarian projects across the country including for Habitat for Humanity, churches in Nampa and Boise, Idaho, and Bethany Seminary in Richmond, Ind. Golf and hiking were additional interests, and he hiked into the Grand Canyon with family members six times in his life, the last at age 91. He was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Wanda Johnson Miller, in 2019. He is survived by children Jim (Pam), Sharon (Steve), Bill (Roxanne), Randy, Marsha (Ken); and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A celebration of his life will be held when it is safe to gather. Find an obituary published by Wenatchee World at www.wenatcheeworld.com/tributes/in_memoriam/galen-miller/article_099d385e-008a-5bf8-9d0e-4d1d8b2588ad.html.
— Remembrance: Emiko Okada, 84, a leader at the World Friendship Center in Hiroshima, Japan, died suddenly and unexpectedly on April 10. She collapsed during a time of remembrance for another longterm board member and volunteer at the center, Michiko Watanabe, who passed away in February. “Emiko, a long time World Friendship Center board member and Hibakusha who gave her testimony at WFC and many other places, was greatly loved and such a loving and caring person,” said Roger and Kathy Edmark in an email to the Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) office. The Edmarks are the current volunteer directors of the center, which for decades has had BVS volunteers as its directors. Okada was one of the two main characters in the documentary Atomic Mom. Her story is on the center’s website among other Hibakusha Stories at https://wfchiroshima.com/english.
— The Church of the Brethren seeks to fill a fulltime hourly position of Buildings and Grounds assistant. This position provides support for the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill., and other properties in Elgin that are owned by the denomination. Responsibilities include building and equipment maintenance, warehouse operations, shipping, mail, and supplies, among others. Skills and knowledge required include ability to relate with integrity and respect within and beyond the organization, knowledge and experience of building operation and facilities management, knowledge of electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and mechanical work is helpful but not required. Also required: ability to bend, stoop, climb, lift and carry 50 pounds, work in an extreme environment in or out of doors, handle hazardous materials and exposure to hazardous situations, skills in oral and written communication, and ability to access, input, and retrieve information from a computer. At least five years of Buildings and Grounds operations experience is helpful but not required. A high school diploma or equivalent is required. Applications are received beginning immediately and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Apply by sending a resume by email to the Office of Human Resources, Church of the Brethren, at COBApply@brethren.org. The Church of the Brethren is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
— Church World Service (CWS) is hiring for three positions to work with asylum seeker “Welcome Programs,” including asylum seeker case management, Call Center management, and border shelter support. The organization seeks qualified and diverse candidates to fill these remote positions, with a “plus” for candidates living in a border state. CWS Asylum Services, part of the Immigration and Refugee Program, provides comprehensive support to asylum seekers in the United States. This includes supporting reception at US southern border shelters, providing case management services across the US, offering remote support through the CWS Call Center, and providing legal services to asylum seekers.
CWS seeks a motivated, flexible, service- and advocacy-driven individual to serve as a Call Center program manager who will develop, manage, and expand the CWS Call Center. The Call Center is a national program that provides information and referrals to migrants across the United States. Technical, coordination, and interpersonal skill sets are required. This individual must have the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment and navigate challenging systems. Multi-tasking, customer service, and ability to navigate online research in a fast-paced environment are required. Fluency in English and Spanish required.
CWS seeks a motivated, flexible, service- and advocacy-driven individual to serve as a Call Center specialist. Technical, coordination, and interpersonal skill sets are required. Fluency in English and Spanish required. This individual must have the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment and navigate challenging systems. Multi-tasking, customer service, and ability to navigate online research in a fast-paced environment are required.
CWS seeks applicants for the Monitoring and Evaluation coordinator position, with the primary role to manage the implementation of monitoring, evaluation, and research for these services. Strong technical skills are required. This individual must have the ability to work independently while coordinating regularly with a broader team remotely. Experience designing and implementing M&E systems is required.
Find out more and apply at cwsglobal.org.
— Registration for FaithX (formerly the Workcamp Ministry) closed yesterday, April 15. Final calculations for group size discounts will be completed and a notice of the remaining balance will be sent to registrants by April 20. The total balance of the registration fee is due May 3 along with required registrant forms. If you still want to register for a FaithX experience, please reach out to the FaithX Office as soon as possible. Visit www.brethren.org/faithx for more information regarding 2021 FaithX this year. Contact the FaithX Office at faithx@brethren.org or 847-429-4386 for questions or for more information.
— The leadership of the Church of the Brethren in Venezuela has been carrying out evangelistic outreach to various communities living in the southern part of the country. This “Orinoco project” is taking place along smaller tributaries of this large river that cuts right through the middle of the country. Donations from Brethren in the United States have helped provide the sound system, generator, boat, and life preservers for the project.
‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑
Find more Church of the Brethren news: