— Remembrance: Virginia Lee “Tootie” Long, 82, a former longterm employee at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., died on April 4 at Bridging Life Dove House in New Windsor. Born Oct. 28, 1942, in Uniontown, Md., she was the daughter of James Millard Albaugh and Charlotte Virginia Weller Albaugh. She worked at the center for some 33 years in total, starting in housekeeping with her mother, and then moving to work at the warehouse with IMA, the former Interchurch Medical Assistance. She is survived by daughters April Sue Billings and husband Alan, and Roxann L. Staub, of Taneytown, and grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was predeceased by son James Carroll Long and son-in-law Ralph Staub Sr. A funeral service will be held at the convenience of the family and interment will be in Winters Cemetery. Memorial gifts are received to the Humane Society of Carroll County, Md. Find a full obituary at www.hartzlerfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Virginia-Tootie-Long
— Remembrance: Elsie Koehn, a former district executive minister in the Church of the Brethren, passed away on April 14. She was born Dec. 23, 1938. She led the Southern Plains District as executive minister for more than 10 years, from May 2009 to August 2019. Previously she had spent 16 years in the pastoral ministry at Pleasant Plains Church of the Brethren in Aline, Okla. It was at that congregation where she was licensed to the ministry in 1993 and ordained in 1995. Her leadership in the denomination also included service as moderator of the Southern Plains District in 2007-2008 and service on the Standing Committee of district delegates to Annual Conference. Memorial services are planned with a graveside service this Thursday, April 17, at 1 p.m. at West New Hopedale Cemetery in Ringwood, Okla., and a memorial service on Saturday, April 26, at 12:30 p.m. at Country Estates Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, Okla.
— Remembrance: Brian K. Roten, 61, of Manheim, Pa., a longterm volunteer leader for Brethren Disaster Ministries, died unexpectedly of natural causes at his home on April 8. He was the son of Joseph Roten Sr. and Virginia Trimble Roten. “It is with extreme sadness and heaviness of heart that we share with you the news,” said a Brethren Disaster Ministries email. “It is certainly a devastating loss to his church family, his family and friends, and his BDM family.” Roten trained to be both a construction and a household leader for Brethren Disaster Ministries in 2018 at the rebuilding project in Marion, S.C., and served every year since in at least one of those roles, including being signed up to serve this coming summer. He also was active with the Brethren Disaster Relief Auction, and in recent years joined a group from Atlantic Northeast District to complete repairs of the building of Brooklyn (N.Y.) First Church of the Brethren. He was an active member of Stevens Hill Community Church of the Brethren in Elizabethtown, Pa. A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 3, at 11 a.m. at the Stevens Hill Community church, with the family receiving guests during a luncheon following. Memorial gifts are received to Brethren Disaster Ministries and to Stevens Hill Community Church of the Brethren. Find a full obituary at https://spencefuneralservices.com/tribute/details/1339/Brian-Roten/obituary.html
— Global Mission prayer requests:
A prayer request for Haiti: Country advisory team member Ilexene Alphonse has shared news of recent violence affecting at least three congregations and pastors of l’Eglise des Freres d’Haiti (the Church of the Brethren in Haiti). Prayer is requested for pastor Bernard Gachelin of the Croix des Bouquets Church, and his whole neighborhood in Tabba, which was set on fire. Some of the people fled with just the clothes on their back. Prayer is requested also for pastor Nathan Darius from the Sodo church and pastor Wousmande Darius from the Acajou church, who spent at least four days in hiding due to gang violence in their areas. Those congregations and their families are scattered all over the region, with gangs in control of their home areas. “Our Haitian people are in dire need of God’s intervention or they continue to be butchered by the gangs,” said the prayer request. “Thank you very much for your concerns and prayers.”
A prayer request for Uganda: “Our hearts and our prayers go out to the Kibwa community in Uganda, especially members of the Church of the Brethren there who have lost their homes and crops from a storm. May they have the resources to rebuild and know the love and support of the global Church of the Brethren. May God be a very present help in their time of need.” The Kibwa (pronounced “CHEE-bwah”) church in Uganda was destroyed in a storm on March 30 (see photo below). Bwambale Sedrack, a leading pastor in the Church of the Brethren in Uganda, reported the disaster to country advisory team member Gordon Hoffert. Kibwa was a fairly new congregation, established in 2023. This is the rainy season in the country, Hoffert said, “and the wattle and daub construction was no match against the wind and rain. Thankfully there were no injuries.”
— The latest “Rooted” newsletter from the Brethren Creation Care Network is now posted online. “Spring is often considered a season of renewal, of new life,” said the opening reflection. “We think about colorful blooming flowers, of newly born animals, of many more hours that can now be spent outside after winter is over. The poem ‘Spring’ by Mary Oliver captures the contrast of spring to the winter that came before it, and the spiritual sense of renewal that can come with the season. This year, Earth Day is the Tuesday following Easter, and it seems fitting that a celebration of the planet and a renewed commitment to the environmental movement can follow a holiday about resurrection and hope after a period of mourning.” The newsletter also includes a blogpost about renewal of the environmental movement this Earth Day, actions that can be taken, a resource from Creation Justice Ministries for this Earth Day, information about Faith and Climate Action Week, and a request for feedback from readers. Go to https://mailchi.mp/brethren/rooted-2025-4
In related news, EYN received media attention in Nigeria for a statement by president Daniel Mbaya rejecting a narrowing of the political system in Nigeria to a one-party system. “The Church declared at its annual general meeting in Adamawa State that attacks on perceived political enemies by the powers that be must stop,” reported the Daily Post, one of several media outlets reporting on the event. The newspaper said Mbaya “stressed that political freedom must be allowed to flourish around the country” and that he also called for protection of the freedom of the press and democracy. See https://dailypost.ng/2025/04/10/we-reject-one-party-system-eyn-condemns-attack-on-political-enemies-in-nigeria
— Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) has held its mid-year retreat for current volunteers based in the United States (see photo at right). “This year it was held at Camp Ithiel in Gotha, Florida!” said an announcement. “Mid-year retreat offers volunteers the opportunity to reflect on their service year so far and prepare for the remainder of their BVS term and beyond. Volunteers enjoyed late night campfires, kayaking on the lake, reconnecting with other BVS volunteers, and home-cooked meals served by camp.”
— A “save the date” notice from Discipleship and Leadership Formation executive Nate Polzin: The L.E.A.D. Planning Team has scheduled the next in-person L.E.A.D Conference for May 1-3, 2026, again hosted by Ephrata (Pa.) Church of the Brethren. Between now and then, the team is planning quarterly virtual events as four webinars focused on one of the four leadership components: Listen, Equip, Adapt, Disciple. The first webinar is scheduled for Thursday, June 19, at 7 p.m. (Eastern time) featuring Dennis Edwards, the keynote speaker at the L.E.A.D. Conference held last fall, presenting material on listening as a leadership skill from his book Humility Illuminated. More information about the webinar will be shared soon.
— An Easter music Messenger playlist has been compiled from suggestions collected by the Church of the Brethren denominational staff. Go to www.brethren.org/messenger/playlists/easter
— Also now online is a playlist of most of the songs and hymns that will be used at the 2025 Annual Conference. Click on the “Songs and Hymns” tab at www.brethren.org/ac2025/worship
— The Church of the Brethren’s Southern Ohio and Kentucky District has held a collection of Church World Service (CWS) Cleanup Buckets. “With all the flooding in recent months, CWS cleanup buckets are in demand,” said a district announcement. On April 8, members of the district assembled 240 buckets from donations that were given following Hurricane Helene. These buckets are being shipped to Catholic Charities in Memphis, Tenn., for distribution to flood survivors.
— Donna Rhodes’ 24 years of ministry with the Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center was recognized and celebrated on April 3 at the SVMC board meeting at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College. Rhodes is retiring at the end of April after a career that included more than 150 ACTS graduates entering into ministry, 352 ACTS classes organized, 45 TRIM courses and 26 Bethany Seminary graduate-level courses facilitated, 99 ministerial continuing education courses conducted, and “thousands of seeds planted” for the Kingdom of God, said a report to Newsline from Dave Crumrine. Shown here are Rhodes (second from left) with SVMC board chair Mark Liller (at left), incoming SVMC director Audrey Hollenberg-Duffey (second from right), and SVMC program coordinator Karen Hodges (at right).
— Bethany Theological Seminary is offering a Zoom event titled “State of the Seminary” on Tuesday, May 13, at 7 p.m. (Eastern time). “Join President Jeff Carter, Executive Director for Student Services Lori Current, and Academic Dean Steve Schweitzer for a conversation on Zoom about all the great things happening at Bethany Theological Seminary,” said an announcement. “Hear these leaders discuss the Seminary’s academic programs, our progress in reducing students debt, our new collaborations with Brethren Colleges and Universities, our successful fundraising efforts, our commitment to Brethren values, and more. Bring your questions — we want to hear from you!” Join at this link (passcode: Bowtie): https://bethanyseminary.zoom.us/j/89525467097
— In more news from the seminary, Dr. Kathy Melhorn, a former member of the Bethany board of trustees, will give this year’s commencement address on Saturday, May 10, at 10 a.m. in Nicarry Chapel. Dr. Melhorn, who retired in January 2024, was the first board-certified child abuse pediatrician in Kansas and was instrumental in creating and raising funds to launch the Child Advocacy Center of Sedgwick County, where she currently serves on the board. The center provides a child-friendly, multidisciplinary approach to child abuse investigations and management. Along with providing patient care, consultation, court testimony and education throughout the state in all areas of child abuse and neglect, Dr. Melhorn held several administrative roles in the KU-Wichita Pediatrics department most notably as program director for the pediatrics residency program for 15 years. She earned several teaching awards through her work at KU and has been recognized by others including the Department of Health and Human Service Commissioner’s Award for Kansas from the Administration on Children, Youth and Families; the Volunteer Leadership Award from the National Children’s Alliance; and the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children Outstanding Front Line Professional Award for demonstrating extraordinary dedication and skill in direct care efforts on behalf of children and families. She helped initiate the Kansas State Child Death Review Board, which she has served on since 1992. She also is on the board of McPherson (Kan.) College. She and her husband, Mark, are active members of First Church of the Brethren of Wichita, Kan. Read more about Dr. Melhorn at https://bethanyseminary.edu/bethany-announces-commencement-speaker
— McPherson (Kan.) College and the University of Kansas School of Medicine are partnering to promote rural healthcare in Kansas, according to a college release. McPherson and the KU School of Medicine’s Salina campus “will explore partnerships in academic health science scholarships, rural health promotion, healthcare career development, and community health resources, including joint grant funding,” said the release. “The collaboration also aims to establish partnerships with the Health Occupations Students of America organization, develop new service projects, and co-host tabletop simulation events. McPherson College students will have increased access to KU School of Medicine’s Rural Scholars and Urban Scholars programs, providing guaranteed admissions for qualified undergraduates. Additionally, faculty, staff, and students from KU’s Salina campus will visit McPherson College as guest lecturers in classes and at pre-professional organization activities.” KU School of Medicine will provide a scholarship for one McPherson student to participate in mentored student research and team-teaching experiences. “Rural healthcare is in crisis,” said Dr. Tyler Hughes, dean of the KU School of Medicine-Salina. “Teamwork between KU School of Medicine-Salina and liberal arts colleges in Kansas will aid in building a pipeline of excellent medical professionals for rural patients throughout our state.” Read the full release at www.mcpherson.edu/2025/04/mcpherson-college-and-ku-school-of-medicine-announce-collaboration
— The Brethren Heritage Center in Brookville, Ohio, is sponsoring “Flying to Greater Heights,” an event with speaker Vince Lewis. The event takes place on Saturday, May 3. Brookville Grace: A Charis Fellowship Church (665 W. Westbrook Rd., Brookville, Ohio) hosts the morning sessions, with the doors opening at 8:30 a.m.: from 9 to 10 a.m. “Air Force to Anabaptist – A Personal Testimony” and from 10:30 to l1:30 a.m. “Nonresistance – A Major Challenge to Anabaptists.” That afternoon, from 1 to 3:30 p.m., Vince and Charlette Lewis will be at the Brethren Heritage Center for a time of informal conversation. Said the announcement: “Lewis was fascinated with airplanes as a child which led him to learn to fly planes and eventually to enter the US Air Force where he became a bomber pilot. However, his career soon interfered with his family life which caused his world to fall apart. He came to realize he was focusing on the wrong things. God led him to the Brethren and that changed everything. His is a gripping story of faith and transformation.” The Lewis story is told in the book Committed, authored by Darryl Derstine and available in the Brethren Heritage Center bookstore.
— The National Council of Churches of Christ in the US (NCC) seeks candidates for the position of program director to lead the MOSAIC program, a national storytelling initiative focused on capturing and sharing Christian narratives through diverse media formats. This fulltime role involves program development, staff supervision, partnership cultivation, and project execution across documentary production, digital storytelling, social media marketing, and event coordination, including a storytelling film festival. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in program management, storytelling, and faith-based initiatives, with the ability to drive strategic growth, engage communities, and measure program impact. This role offers a competitive salary and benefits while providing an opportunity to shape a transformative storytelling movement. Based in Washington, D.C., remote work with monthly travel for meetings. Find out more at www.nationalcouncilofchurches.us. Apply by submitting a cover letter and resume to mosaicjobs@nationalcouncilofchurches.us
— An Ecumenical Earth Day Prayer Service will be held via Zoom inspired by the Creation Justice Ministries’ 2025 annual resource, “The Power of God: From Extractive Theology to Transformative Faith.” Said an invitation: “This virtual service will guide participants into prayerful reflection through seven original pieces of music, created exclusively for the resource. The service will also feature a powerful reflection from Derrick Weston, Creation Justice Ministries’ Director of Theological Education and Formation.” The service takes place on Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22, at 1 p.m. (Easter time). Find out more and register at https://secure.everyaction.com/LVcHkJlylkKOISjgiX-xOw2
— Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) executive director Mae Elise Cannon has led a small interfaith delegation of Christian and Islamic leaders to Egypt between April 5-8. “Meetings in Egypt included conversations with religious and political leaders for the purpose of discussing the role international religious leaders can play in calling for an end to all violence, especially the devastating toll of ongoing bombing and military incursions by the Israeli military in Gaza and the West Bank,” said a release. “At the heart of these meetings was a shared conviction: that peace can only be achieved through the protection of human dignity and adherence to the international rules-based order.” The Church of the Brethren is a member denomination of CMEP. Read the full press release at https://cmep.salsalabs.org/pr-april112025
— Also from CMEP, the organization is a co-sponsor of a 2025 Way of the Cross for Peace and Justice in Washington, D.C., on Good Friday, April 18. The Way of the Cross commemorates the Passion of Christ and is a way to remember the steps he took toward the cross and the crucifixion. This event focuses on peace and justice concerns by processing among DC institutions, said the announcement. Find out more about how to participate at https://maryknollogc.org/resources/2025-way-of-the-cross-for-peace-and-justice
— World Council of Churches general secretary Jerry Pillay has condemned “in the strongest terms” the bombing of the Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza, said a release from the WCC. The bombing is the fifth time that the hospital has been attacked by the Israeli military since the war in Gaza began. “That this attack occurred on Palm Sunday, at the start of Holy Week, deepens the outrage and sorrow,” said Pillay. “Hospitals must never be targets.” He reflected that the repeated assaults on this church-run medical facility reflect the unbearable suffering endured by the people of Gaza, whose dignity and humanity continue to be violated. “As we mark Easter, the resurrection of Christ affirms that death and injustice will not have the final word,” said Pillay. “In the face of destruction, we proclaim life. We call on the international community to act urgently to protect civilians, uphold international law, and help bring an end to this brutal war.”
— The WCC also has issued a release expressing shock over recent attacks in North Darfur, Sudan, particularly assaults on camps of displaced people in Zamzam and Abu Shouk, and the town of El Fasher. “These attacks are reported to have resulted in the deaths of over 400 civilians including at least nine humanitarian workers, and the displacement of an estimated 400,000 people,” said WCC general secretary Jerry Pillay. “The violence has been marked by horrific brutality.” The release noted that “these atrocities are a gross affront to fundamental religious values of human dignity and the sanctity of life” and that they come on the two-year anniversary of the eruption of internal conflict in Sudan. “These violations add to a grievous and still mounting toll of tens of thousands dead, hundreds of thousands facing famine, and almost 13 million people displaced,” Pillay said.
— Riverside Church in New York City held a Palm Sunday commemoration of the 2014 abduction of the schoolgirls from Chibok, Nigeria. “The violence surrounding the 2014 abduction of the girls did not kill the dreams of moms pursuing an education for their daughters nor stop girls from attending school in Nigeria,” reported Doris Abdullah, who represented the Church of the Brethren at the commemoration and also serves as the denomination’s representative to the United Nations. “From New York City to Chibok, girls aspire to attend school,” she wrote to Newsline. The commemoration screened filmmaker Joel Kachi Benson’s work titled “Mothers of Chibok” showing mothers and daughters interacting in the rural community. “School is not free in Nigeria,” she noted. “The drive for their children to continue being educated is a sure sign, for me, that Boko Haram has failed in their terror campaign to stop children from going to school. Hope and dreams are alive in Nigeria.” The commemoration included, in addition to the film, panel and roundtable discussions by professor Mojubaolu Olufunke Okome who served as moderator of the event, with Jumoke Ayandele, Gbemisola Abiola, and filmmaker Benson himself. Performance and cultural expressions were brought by Seyi (Shayee) Awoyomi with a violin performance by Devon Webster. The keynote speaker was Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode.
#MissionAndMinistryBoard #StrategicPlan #RacialJustice #LoveOurNeighbors #Discipleship #NewTestamentGiving
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Find more Church of the Brethren news:
- Church of the Brethren Inter-Agency Forum sends letter regarding multicultural commitments and welcome at Annual Conference
- Intercultural Ministries seeks volunteer ‘frontliners’ (in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole)
- Church of the Brethren staff and leaders meet in Uganda to plan for increased humanitarian needs in South Sudan
- Grants support increased humanitarian needs in South Sudan, among other responses to violence and war
- Messenger magazine receives three awards from the Associated Church Press