Among items for sale at the Brethren Press bookstore in the Annual Conference exhibit hall is a brand-new book by publisher Wendy McFadden. Notes to the Church (Brethren Press, 2024) presents a selection chosen from McFadden’s 25 years of columns that have appeared in each issue of Messenger, the magazine of the Church of the Brethren.
McFadden will be one of the featured authors to hold book signings at the bookstore during the Conference.
Here is the full schedule of book signings:
Wednesday, July 3, 8:30-9 p.m.: Dawn Ottoni-Wilhelm and Katie Shaw Thompson will sign copies of a book to which they contributed chapters, Learning Together to Preach: How to Become an Effective Preaching Coach edited by John S. McClure and Allie Utley (Cascade Books, Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2023). Ottoni-Wilhelm wrote a chapter on “The Spiritual Dimension of Homiletical Coaching” and Shaw Thompson wrote a chapter on “The Continuing Education Experience.”
Thursday, July 4, 1:30-2:30 p.m.: Heidi Ramer will sign copies of Her Words, My Voice (Life Rich Publishing, 2022), a book that shares journal entries by Ramer’s mother about her experience of sexual abuse by a former denominational employee, alongside Ramer’s reflections on discovering this history as an adult, after her mother’s death. Ramer is the featured speaker for the Womaen’s Caucus Dinner on Thursday evening.
Friday, July 5, 1:30-2:30 p.m.: McFadden, who is publisher of Brethren Press and Messenger and executive director of communications for the Church of the Brethren, will sign copies of Notes to the Church. The book includes a selection of her columns covering a range of topics from the personal to the global, focusing on Brethren values of peace and community.
Saturday, July 6, 1:30-2:30 p.m.: Callie E. Swanlund will sign copies of From Weary to Whole-Hearted: A Restorative Resource for Overcoming Clergy Burnout (Church Publishing, 2024). This book has been a recent resource for the Church of the Brethren’s Part-time Pastor; Full-Time Church program. Swanlund is speaking at an equipping session on Thursday, July 4, at 8 p.m. and at a dinner event on Saturday, July 6.
#cobac2024
———-
Find more Church of the Brethren news:
- The speakers for National Youth Conference 2026
- Brethren and the Declaration of Independence: Denise Kettering-Lane presents an equipping session
- ‘God of grace and God of glory’: A call to worship
- Resolution on weapons transfer is adopted by the 2026 Annual Conference
- Review and Evaluation Committee brings an interim report