Chris Douglas to retire from the Church of the Brethren staff

Chris Douglas

Chris Douglas will retire from the Church of the Brethren staff on Oct. 1. She has worked for the denomination for more than 35 years, since 1985. Most recently, she has served as director of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference.

Douglas began her work for the denomination as staff for Youth and Young Adult Ministry and Urban Ministry in Jan. 1985. She went on to serve full‐time as director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for 20 years, from 1990 to 2009. During that time, she took on expanded responsibilities for leadership development events, increased attendance at National Youth Conferences, and expanded the youth workcamp program. Among her accomplishments, she mentored numerous Brethren Volunteer Service workers as they coordinated six National Youth Conferences.

She became Annual Conference director on Sept. 6, 2009, and by the time of her retirement will have directed 11 Annual Conferences (the 2020 event was cancelled because of the pandemic). Her final Conference will be the 2021 event. As the first Conference ever to be held virtually, it represents a closing challenge in Douglas’ tenure.

Her organizational skills have been evident in her work with the Conference, negotiating with host sites in various locations across the country, overseeing the work of many volunteers and committees, making sure the Conference goes smoothly, doing onsite trouble-shooting, and more. As Conference director, she has been staff support for the Program and Arrangements Committee, for the Conference officers, and for the Church of the Brethren Leadership Team.

She has been a member of the Religious Conference Managers Association for many years. She is a graduate of Manchester College in North Manchester, Ind., and holds a master of divinity and a doctor of ministry from Bethany Theological Seminary. An ordained minister, she also has served as a pastor in the Church of the Brethren.

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