Donna Rhodes, executive director of the Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center (SVMC), has announced her retirement effective April 30, 2025. She has served SVMC since Oct. 1, 2001. Her first position was as director of the ACTS Ministry Training Program and Continuing Education. She assumed the role of executive director in 2006.
SVMC is a ministry training partnership of five districts in the Church of the Brethren: Atlantic Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Middle Pennsylvania, Southern Pennsylvania, and Western Pennsylvania. In addition, the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership and Bethany Theological Seminary are partners. SVMC’s mission is to equip leaders for ministry in a regionally based, Christ-centered, culturally relevant context in ways that bear witness to the beliefs, heritage, and practices of the Church of the Brethren.
Throughout her time with SVMC, Rhodes has continued the mission of grassroots ministry training, maintained strong relationship with partners, advocated for excellent continuing education for clergy, and, along with Middle Pennsylvania District, is envisioning a program for laity ministry training. When she reaches her retirement date, Rhodes will have provided strong leadership for the SVMC for nearly 24 years.
Her previous employment was as minister of Nurture at Stone Church of the Brethren in Huntingdon, Pa. She remains a member of Stone Church and is currently serving on the denominational level as chair of the board for Eder Financial.
———-
Find more Church of the Brethren news:
- More than two dozen Christian and Jewish denominations and associations—including the Church of the Brethren—sue to protect religious freedoms
- A letter from the Annual Conference Office
- Children’s Disaster Services fields large response to Los Angeles fires
- Intercultural Ministries offers online prayer request page
- NOAC online registration will open May 1