Brethren bits

— Nominations for the ballot for the 2025 Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren are still needed. The Nominating Committee has extended the deadline for nominations to Dec. 20, 2024, and the deadline for candidates to submit nominee information forms to Jan. 3, 2025. More information about the offices that are open and links to the forms can be found at www.brethren.org/ac/nominations.

— Katy Gray Brown joined the Bethany Theological Seminary board of trustees in October. She is professor of Philosophy and Peace Studies at Manchester University in North Manchester, Ind., where she is chair of the department of Philosophy and Religious Studies and director of the Peace Studies Institute and Program in Conflict Resolution. She holds degrees in peace studies from Manchester (B.A.) and the University of Notre Dame’s Kroc Institute (M.A.) and earned a doctorate in philosophy at the University of Minnesota. Prior to her arrival at Manchester in 2007, she taught at the University of Minnesota, the University of Saint Thomas, and Metropolitan State University. She is a member of Manchester Church of the Brethren and is part of a house church called Common Spirit, also in North Manchester. She will attend her first Bethany board meeting in March 2025.

— The December episode of the Brethren Voices community television show is on Brethren Disaster Ministries and Children’s Disaster Services, under the title, “Assisting Others Following the Nightmares of Disasters.” During the past year, Brethren Disaster Ministries has been doing rebuilding in two areas of Kentucky and next year, is scheduled to assist the rebuilding of homes in Letcher County, Ky., in an area devastated by flooding in July 2022. “With so many disasters happening, it continues to be a very busy time for BDM and CDS,” said the description of the program. In addition to sharing stories of Brethren doing disaster relief on the ground, this episode includes Andy Murray sharing his song, “A Christmas Carol,” which compliments the good works of Brethren Disaster Ministries, and Ken Medina spontaneously composing a song dedicated to the volunteers who work with CDS, as well as a video by Enten Eller featuring the construction of homes in Kentucky in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Find this and other episodes of Brethren Voices on YouTube.

— Sing Me Home hosts its final event of 2024 this Saturday, Nov. 23, at Manchester Church of the Brethren in North Manchester, Ind. This free event takes place from 3 to 8 p.m. and features a gift fair showcasing area artisans; a community meal featuring homemade soups and baked goods; and live music from the Manchester University Jazz Combo, Indianapolis-based Rhonda & Greg, Fort Wayne-based KelsiCote, and Michigan-based singer-songwriters Seth Bernard & Jordan Hamilton. The gift fair will run from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Live music will be performed throughout the afternoon. The evening concert featuring performances from KelsiCote and Seth Bernard & Jordan Hamilton will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Find complete details at singmehome.org. Sing Me Home is a collaboration between Manchester Church of the Brethren and local band Friends with the Weather.

— Creation Justice Ministries is offering a new resource called “Truth, Healing, and Repair,” inviting the church “to reflect deeply on [its] role in colonization and environmental harm, while offering practical steps toward meaningful repair and restoration with Indigenous Peoples. This resource is more than a guide—it’s a call to action rooted in faith and a commitment to justice,” said an announcement. “In 2021, Creation Justice Ministries embarked on the Truth and Healing Project to collaborate with Indigenous, environmental, and church leaders. Our goal is to connect movements addressing historical wrongs with solutions to today’s environmental challenges, such as pollution, land degradation, and climate resilience. Through this project, we invite churches nationwide to reflect on their relationships with the land and Indigenous peoples in their regions. Whether through engaging in truth-telling, supporting Indigenous-led initiatives, or fostering relationships built on trust, this resource equips your church to embark on a journey of healing for the land and its people.” Find out more at www.creationjustice.org/truthhealingrepair.html