— Una Luz de las Naciones (the Church of the Brethren in Spain) has been celebrating its 21st anniversary with special events and recordings posted on YouTube and Facebook, see www.youtube.com/live/qyNPpt5OFaY and www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=561427692941958&id=100003984123899&mibextid=WC7FNe&rdid=77s6xhjDnSKQ9MuI. On Oct. 26, pastor Santos Terrero Feliz posted to the the Global Church of the Brethren Communion WhatsApp account (Google translation from Spanish to English): “Today Una Luz de las Naciones celebrates its 21st anniversary, and we want to thank the pastors and members for their support, backing and above all their fidelity; 21 years is a sign of stability, maturity, firmness, and confidence. Thank you very much for being faithful. Everyone who has been faithful to this house in the little things, the eyes of Jehovah will see them over the much.”
— In more news from Spain, a prayer concern from Una Luz de las Naciones, shared via the Global Mission office, has asked for prayer for those affected by the extreme flooding in the Valencia region of the country. Pastor Santos Terrero Feliz shared that “by the grace of the Lord the Churches of the Brethren in Spain were not affected.” He requested, “The south of Spain has had human losses, continue praying for this nation.”
— In another Global Mission prayer concern for South Sudan, continuous heavy rains combined with the controlled water release from Lake Victoria (the headwaters of the Nile in Uganda) has been causing extensive flooding in the northern states of South Sudan, displacing 1.3 million people. The situation is expected to continue into December, and is affecting major supply routes and the delivery of essential aid and supplies. This comes as South Sudan continues to deal with the impact of the 18-month civil war in neighboring Sudan. More than half a million Sudanese refugees and returnees from South Sudan have been registered in South Sudan since April last year. “Pray with us for all impacted by the flooding,” said the prayer concern. “Pray for the South Sudan mission and staff as they support families dealing with the multiple crisis in the country. Pray for peace in South Sudan.”
— The Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center (SVMC) is now accepting applications for the position of director. Responsibilities including overseeing the educational programs of SVMC, including the approved Church of the Brethren ACTS ministerial training program and relevant TRIM (Training in Ministry) courses, and for arranging continuing education events for the five supporting districts of the Church of the Brethren: Atlantic Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Middle Pennsylvania, Southern Pennsylvania, and Western Pennsylvania. This position includes collaboration with staff of the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership in course scheduling, guiding students to the appropriate educational track, and directing fundraising and budget management. The director also works with leadership at Bethany Theological Seminary regarding continuing education opportunities and perspectives on ministerial training. The director is reportable and accountable to the Governing Board of SVMC. This is anticipated to be a full-time position requiring 40 hours per week. Other duties may be assigned as needed. This position entails remote work. Residency within one of the the five partner districts is required. Travel to the office in Elizabethtown, Pa., district conferences, the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference, and continuing education events is required. Qualifications include a master’s degree in a related field (preferred); ordination in Church of the Brethren (preferred); successful completion of an educational track that leads to ordination in the Church of the Brethren; expertise in skills relevant to administration and organizational management, with a collaborative approach; experience in pastoral ministry; expertise in skills relevant for teaching and research; ability to direct fundraising and manage budgets; ability to maintain confidentiality; ability to relate well to people; membership in and familiarity with the Church of the Brethren; support for the mission and work of SVMC. Responsibilities include, among others: developing the education programs and providing the administration of SVMC; preparing the academic calendar including TRIM courses, ACTS courses, and continuing education events; collaborating with district executives of partner districts regarding ACTS courses, Ministry Formation, and Supervised Ministry; collaborating with the director of the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership and coordinator of English-Language Ministry Training Programs in scheduling TRIM courses on Brethren History, Church Polity, and Leadership; collaborating with the academic dean of Bethany Seminary in scheduling faculty to present continuing education events; channeling students to appropriate educational tracks; assisting partner districts in advising students on educational programs; staying current with technological developments in education; developing and maintaining good relationship with partners including the supporting districts, the Brethren Academy, Bethany Seminary, Elizabethtown College and Juniata College; reporting to those partners; envisioning for the future as to financial support for SVMC and educational programs and ways to promote the visibility and vitality of SVMC; directing fundraising and budget management; supervising and working collaboratively with staff; planning for personal and professional development. Background checks will be required prior to employment. Application review will begin immediately and will continue until Dec. 15, 2024, with the successful candidate to begin on or before April 1, 2025. To apply, email the following required items (letter of application, resume, and names and contact information for three references) to SVMCsearch@gmail.com. For more about SVMC see www.etown.edu/programs/svmc/index.aspx.
Most recently, CDS has begun responding to Hurricane Milton in Florida. CDS has two teams, each with four volunteers, responding in Tampa and Clearwater. The CDS teams are partnering with the Red Cross in shelters to serve children and families by bringing a calm presence and activities in a suitcase called the Kit of Comfort. The volunteers help affected children to recover after a devastating disaster. The teams have been in Florida since Oct. 27, serving more than 150 children. Find out more at www.brethren.org/cds.
–– The SVMC has announced upcoming continuing education events:
“The Question of Leadership: Why it Matters” led by Bethany Seminary president Jeff Carter on Nov. 16, 2024; the deadline to register is Nov. 11, go to https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/cr9y6re/lp/a0dcd9e2-1ebd-4290-a92f-a9fd24baa209. “What does it mean to lead in today’s church and world?” said the announcement. “The American Protestant church is in steep decline. The Church of the Brethren is experiencing schism. The pandemic accelerated the already changing patterns of religious life. Resources are scarce. Furthermore, Brethren are naturally suspicious of leaders; called, elected, or self-proclaimed. Values, such as humility, consensus, and the priesthood of all believers, lead to a flat hierarchy and a communal pragmatism. We celebrate leaders such as Dan West, Sarah Major, M.R. Zigler, and Anna Mow, but in their day, they stirred controversy by the manner of their leading. So, what does it mean to lead in today’s church and world?”
“Identifying and Responding to Suicide Risk” led by Julie Guistwite on Jan. 28, 2025; register at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/gbh6p7b/lp/44e2fd95-86de-469a-9f08-3fc27e6517e5. “Individuals considering harming themselves often seek guidance from spiritual care professionals over mental health providers,” said the announcement. “This interactive and engaging workshop discusses suicide risk factors and warning signs across generations and provides clergy guidance in responding. Engaging with an individual considering suicide forms the basis of a small group role-play activity. Attendees will gain practical knowledge and skills relevant across settings.”
— On Earth Peace has announced upcoming events including:
A “Church of the Brethren Kingian Nonviolence Assembly” described as “a sacred space for conversation, resourcing and equipping. A place for any member or friend of the Church of the Brethren to come together to share and build with one another about living out what we’re learning about nonviolence.” This event follows on the agency’s goal to train 1,000 Brethren and friends in Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Reconciliation. “With almost 300 trained or exposed to KNV, this event is being offered as an informal place for Brethren to come together to connect about their own next steps, questions, and ‘experiments in nonviolence,’” the announcement said. “Once we settle into a regular time slot, the event will happen monthly.” Find out more at www.onearthpeace.org/2024-11-13-cob-knv-assembly.
An overview of Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Reconciliation is offered as an online webinar at 6 p.m. (Eastern time) on Nov. 11. “Kingian Nonviolence is an approach to conflict and community leadership that offers values and methods useful for anyone who wants to use conflict constructively in your personal life, in group settings, or in community issues and building a reconciled world,” said the announcement. The two-hour event will cover the four pillars and the six principles and six steps and the social dynamics of Kingian Nonviolence. Find out more at www.onearthpeace.org/2024_11_11_2hr_intro_kingian_nonviolence.
— An archival collection on the work of Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT, formerly Christian Peacemaker Teams) in Palestine has been announced. A report from the archives coordinator for the Mennonite Church USA, Olivia Krall, notes the “new donation of archival materials from a CPT alumnus that tells the story of the 1997 ‘Rebuilders Against Bulldozers’ campaign. CPT, which was originally an initiative of the Church of the Brethren, Mennonites, and Quakers (Friends), has been active for almost 30 years in Hebron, a Palestinian city in the West Bank. “In 1995, the Palestinian mayor of Hebron invited CPT to come to the city to work as non-violent, international observers,” Krall wrote. “CPT’s insistence on a solidarity that reflects the unequal power dynamic between the Palestinians in Hebron and the Israeli settlers and soldiers has set it apart from other international organizations in the city, which focus on being impartial observers. The MC USA Archives contains many stories of CPT’s work for a just peace in Hebron. These stories include CPT’s resistance to an illegal fence put around Professor Mosallam Ali Shreateh’s wheat field, volunteers accompanying students and teachers on their way to school after they were harassed by settlers, and CPT’s work to prevent the demolition of Palestinian homes.” To learn more, go to www.mennoniteusa.org/archives/archives-cpt.
— Carlos L. Malavé, a leading ecumenical figure currently serving as president of the Latino Christian National Network, formerly the executive director of Christian Churches Together (CCT), has shared a document of statements from 16 Puerto Rican Christian leaders. The statements are “in response to remarks from a speaker at a Trump rally calling Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage. Puerto Rican Christian leaders are publicly calling on former President Trump to apologize to the Puerto Rican community. Each leader represents a significant faith constituency.” Find the document and the 16 statements at www.juntosencristo.org/ourdemands.
— Beacon Heights Church of the Brethren in Fort Wayne, Ind., is celebrating a new book written by church member Janice Shull. Only One Alice: The Teaching Life of Alice King Ebey “tells the story of her grandmother, Alice, and her husband, Adam Ebey, who sailed to Bombay, India, to serve 31 years as Church of the Brethren missionaries,” said the church newsletter. “When Alice died, she left a trunk full of diaries, letters, and other documents for Janice to discover. These inspired her to write Alice’s story of faith, courage, and hope. A story that continues to teach a message of service and compassion today.”
#MissionAndMinistryBoard #StrategicPlan #RacialJustice #LoveOurNeighbors #Discipleship #NewTestamentGiving
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Find more Church of the Brethren news:
- Global Food Initiative grants aid food security and related work of church partners
- ICM Café Cohort opportunity is announced by Intercultural Ministry
- Emergency Disaster Fund extends aid to organizations working in response to the Israel-Hamas war, in addition to other grants
- Brethren bits
- L.E.A.D. Conference gathers in Ephrata to learn to ‘Listen, Equip, Adapt, Disciple’