— The celebration of life service for Earle Fike Jr. is planned for 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 19, at Bridgewater (Va.) Church of the Brethren. A former Annual Conference moderator, denominational executive staff, and Bethany Seminary professor, he passed away on May 30. See a remembrance at www.brethren.org/news/2025/brethren-bits-76.
— The youth group at Heidelberg Church of the Brethren in Myerstown, Pa., got a “shout out” from Church World Service after volunteering to assemble CWS Hygiene Kits. The youth “loved the experience,” said a mention from CWS on a blogpost highlighting how congregations can get involved and make a difference. “It’s a great way to connect and work together to make a difference. We’d encourage your church or youth group to join this mission too.” Go to https://cwsglobal.org/blog/cws-kits-and-blankets-sharing-gods-love-near-and-far
— Bethany Theological Seminary has announced updated email addresses for all of its faculty and staff due to changes in the email system previously shared with neighboring Earlham College. “It is essential that you send messages to Bethany employees to addresses using the @bethanyseminary.edu domain,” said the announcement. Previously, Bethany employees could also be reached at the @earlham.edu domain. This arrangement ends on Monday, June 16. “For your convenience, you can find contact information, including email addresses, in the Faculty and Staff Directory,” said the announcement. Go to https://bethanyseminary.edu/about/faculty-and-staff-directory
— Church World Service is offering a webinar on “Refugee and Immigrant Leadership for Social Change” on Tuesday, June 17, at 1 p.m. (Eastern time). “We’ll highlight stories from our Refugee and Immigrant Leadership for Social Change program, share insights from our new report on the impact of refugee-led organizing across the U.S. and celebrate the individuals and partners who have helped shape this movement,” said an announcement. “Hear directly from refugee leaders driving grassroots change, and from partners like Democracy Fund and Unbound Philanthropy about their critical support for this work. We’ll also reflect on current challenges facing refugees and immigrants and the enduring power of community-led advocacy in the face of rising anti-immigrant rhetoric and discriminatory policies.” Speakers include Julia Yang-Winkenbach, US Program Officer, Unbound Philanthropy; Nora Hakizimana, Program Associate, Democracy Fund; Adamou Mohamed, CWS Director of Grassroots Organizing; Danilo Zak, CWS Director of Policy; Ahmed Ahmed, Lancaster, PA City Councilman; Yathrip Abdelgadir, CWS Refugee Community Organizer. Register at https://cwsglobal-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_a8JQnHF8R2GMoYUhRa10wQ
— Eight Brethren were among about 60 Mennonites gathered near the Wissahickon Creek in Philadelphia, Pa., May 2-4. The gathering of Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBTQ Interests titled “Fierce, Fabulous, and Sacred” was hosted “by both Germantown and West Philly Mennonite congregations with pastors Jay Bergen and Jonny Rashid sharing leadership with BMC’s Director Annabeth Roeschley and others, including Jessie Houff of the Church of the Brethren,” wrote Anna Lisa Gross in a report to Newsline. “The mutual care and support was foundational, from the thoughtful planning of the event, to how we interacted throughout the weekend. Travel support was available for those who needed it, and we stayed in people’s homes and the local congregations (including Ambler CoB) did all the cooking. I am so excited to gather in Minneapolis next May for BMC’s 50th anniversary celebration, for stories of courage and radical inclusion, of persistence amidst pain, of faithfully seeking divine revelation, of experiencing God’s love as fierce, fabulous and sacred members of the faith we share.”
— Torture Awareness Month is a time to “Live Our Values” in bold and public ways, says the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT). A “how to” webinar for faith advocates titled “How To Shine Your Light” on Wednesday, June 18, at 12 noon to 1:15 p.m. (Eastern time). “During the webinar, you will learn about how your faith community can partner with NRCAT to lead public witness vigils on the 23rd of each month to draw attention to the estimated 12,200 people who are held for up to 23 hours a day in solitary confinement in U.S. prisons and jails,” said the announcement. Presenters will include leaders of WISDOM, a Wisconsin network of faith-based organizations whose members have been leading monthly vigils on the 23rd of each month outside correctional facilities in Green Bay, Milwaukie, and Madison; and EXPO of Wisconsin about hosting rapid response vigils outside a women’s prison following tragedies there. NRCAT also is making banners with messages such as “Torture Is a Moral Issue,” available for display at a vigil or house of worship, contact tmorrow@nrcat.org to order a banner. Register for the June 18 webinar at https://bit.ly/June18-2025Webinar
— Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) has issued a statement condemning Israel’s military attacks on Iran, including reported strikes near nuclear facilities and in civilian areas. “These reckless and unlawful actions risk the lives of hundreds of millions of people across the Middle East and escalate the threat of a catastrophic regional war,” the statement said, in part. “We also call on Iran to cease its counterattacks against Israel. Military solutions are not the answer and will only cause more death, destruction, and harm. Such escalations not only cause civilian deaths but further destabilize the entire peace and security of the region. Israel’s ongoing military aggression, in recent days, has resulted in the deaths of dozens of unarmed civilians and the destruction of vast amounts of infrastructure in the occupied West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and now Iran. These actions demonstrate a blatant disregard for human life, international law, and regional stability. These actions are not defensive; they are acts of provocation and destruction. Israel is becoming increasingly isolated in the international community, acting outside the bounds of international norms and in violation of multiple international legal frameworks. CMEP calls on the international community to hold Israel accountable to the fullest extent of international law. This includes a complete and multilateral ceasefire and the withholding of weapons from Israel, because of their use in the violation of international law. This will prevent further escalation and halt Israel’s trajectory of destabilization and devastation across the Middle East.” The statement went on to note that “this is not only a Middle Eastern crisis, it is a global one. The ongoing attacks threaten not only the lives of Palestinians, Lebanese, Syrians, Yemenis, Iranians, and Israelis, but also the lives of Americans and others who may be drawn into war.”
To participate in next week’s weekly online prayer gathering for immigrant justice, on Thursday, June 19, at 12 noon (Eastern time), sponsored by the Deportation Defense Response Team, go to www.onearthpeace.org/2025_06_19_prayer_gathering_for_immigrant_justice_20250619
June 24 is the last chance to apply to serve in Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) this year, 2025. “If you or someone you know has been thinking about joining BVS, be sure to mark your calendars with our next upcoming application deadline!” said the announcement. The BVS Fall orientation will take place Sept. 10-18 for Unit 338 at Camp Mardela in Maryland where director Chelsea Skillen and volunteer coordinator Virginia Rendler will prepare BVSers for their upcoming year of service and help them create a supportive community with their fellow volunteers. Apply online by June 24 at www.brethren.org/bvs/volunteer/apply
The summer FaithX season has begun and there are several short-term service events this month. Said an announcement from Brethren Volunteer Service, where FaithX is housed in the denominational staff, “We are sending our best wishes to these groups for meaningful weeks full of service, friendships and fellowship.” The FaithX experiences this month include a junior and senior high week at Brethren Woods in Keezletown, Va., on June 8-13; a week for senior highs serving with SnowCap Community Charities in Portland, Ore., on June 15-21; and a week in South Bend, Ind., on June 24-29, partnering with Cultivate, the Methodist Downtown Soup Kitchen, and the Food Bank of Northern Indiana, hosted by Prince of Peace Church of the Brethren. For more information go to www.brethren.org/faithx
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