Staff increase translation efforts

A team of Church of the Brethren denominational staff members has begun coordinating work on translation efforts in order to increase the number of printed resources and provide more interpretation at events. The group, which began meeting last year, is identifying the highest priorities for projects, assembling style guides for use by different translators, and locating funding beyond individual departments.

The team set a priority for two projects in Haitian Creole: One is translation of Manual del Pastor, a Spanish-language compilation of selected material from For All Who Minister. Another is translation of Chapter 4 of the Church of the Brethren Manual of Organization and Polity, with the intention of translating the entire manual once updates are finalized. The manual already exists in Spanish.

Convened by Nate Polzin, executive director of Discipleship and Leadership Formation, the team also includes Founa Badet, Rhonda Pittman Gingrich, Nancy Sollenberger Heishman, Wendy McFadden, and Traci Rabenstein.

Members of the team share updates on progress to date and plans for the future. For example: Annual Conference provided a Bible study and an equipping session in Spanish with English translation, translation of reports and business items into Spanish, and a Spanish-speaking table facilitator. The Church of the Brethren video report to delegates was presented with narration in three languages—English, Haitian Creole, and Spanish. The forthcoming LEAD Conference will feature breakout session tracks in three languages and plenary sessions will be translated.

Church of the Brethren staff are working toward an organizational practice of translating resources into Spanish and Haitian Creole. The team is exploring ways to generate new funding sources for this work.

While denominational staff have carried out various translation projects over the years, this translation team is making it easier to share information and collaborate effectively. The team is developing a network of translators and a glossary of terms to maintain consistency and Brethren identity across different translators.