Brethren bits

— Remembrance: Ralph McFadden, 92, of Elgin, Ill., former executive staff for the Church of the Brethren denomination among other church leadership roles, died Nov. 14 following a rapid decline in his health. He worked on the denominational staff for 15 years. He served first as a staff member in the Parish Ministries Commission working in several areas including youth ministry, library resources, life cycle ministries, and person and faith communities, and also as half-time director of district ministries. Then, for almost a decade, he was executive of the commission from 1978-1987. He also was employed as executive director of the Fellowship of Brethren Homes from January 2015 to July 2018, and served additional terms as interim director in 2014 and director in 2001-2004. Previous to his work on the denominational staff, he was the first executive secretary of the then newly formed Mid-Atlantic District, from 1967-1970. The office was in Ellicott City, Md. Earlier in his career he was pastor of Akron (Ind.) Church of the Brethren from 1955-1958 and pastored Lafayette (Ind.) Church of the Brethren from 1960-1967. For four years, he was a part-time campus minister at Purdue University. In volunteer leadership positions he served as a member and also as president of the board of Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests, as a member of the board of the former Pinecrest Community (now Allure of Pinecrest). He was an ordained minister and also was ordained as an elder in the church. He held degrees from Manchester College (now Manchester University) in North Manchester, Ind.; Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis; and Bethany Theological Seminary, where he earned a master of divinity degree in 1960. He was a longtime member of Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren in Elgin, Ill., where his connection began when his father, Glenn, was pastor in the 1950s. He graduated from Elgin High School in 1951, then again lived in Elgin in the 1970s and 1980s while serving on the denominational staff. In the 1990s he again returned to Elgin, where he lived until his death. At the Highland Avenue Church he filled many roles including that of church board chair, with his longest role as a tenor in the Adult Choir. He was preceded in death by his former wife, Barbara, and daughter Jill. He is survived by his partner, Keo Xayavongvane; son Joel and wife, Laura, of Colorado; daughter-in-law Anne Tapp of Colorado; and granddaughter. A memorial service will be held several months from now.

— The Church of the Brethren’s Middle Pennsylvania District seeks a full-time district executive minister, with new developments in their efforts to discern God’s will for leadership within the district. A survey taken last year of district members indicated an openness to either a three-person leadership team or a more conventional one-person staff. That original effort has not resulted in a strong call to the position, therefore the District Coordinating Team has re-evaluated the financial package they are offering for the successful candidate and are now able to offer a more attractive package. The district is now seeking a full-time district executive minister to serve its 53 congregations located in rural, small town, and city settings. The district churches share a heritage that grounds them in a strong relationship with Jesus Christ, enlivened in the activity of the Holy Spirit. They seek to follow Jesus’ teachings and example, living in grateful response to God’s amazing grace, and sharing a cross-shaped love with a hurting world. The district executive minister will be expected to work both on location at the district office in Huntingdon, Pa., and remotely as needed. Compensation will be negotiated in reference to the denominationally recommended salary and benefits for district executive ministers. Travel is required both within and outside of the district. The District Profile and information on the new financial package are available through the Church of the Brethren’s Ministry Office by contacting director Nancy Sollenberger Heishman at officeofministry@brethren.org

— The Church of the Brethren seeks candidates for the position of program assistant for Children’s Disaster Service (CDS), a fulltime hourly position in the Brethren Disaster Ministries team reporting to the associate director of CDS. This position is located at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. Major responsibilities are to support programing and administration of CDS including providing administrative, programing, and clerical support to the associate director; support of volunteers, volunteer training, and response; and assistance with general administration of Brethren Disaster Ministries. Required skills and knowledge include ability to articulate the importance of ministry for traumatized and stressed children; understanding of child development; strong interpersonal skills that contribute to effective interaction and communication; ability to keep information and records confidential; excellent written and oral communication skills; excellent organizational skills with email, computer files, and paper files; high attention to detail; strong knowledge and experience using computers and technology; ability to work independently and with limited supervision as well as to work as part of a team, especially during stressful times of disaster response; ability to articulate and operate out of the vision, mission, and core values of the Church of the Brethren and to uphold the basic beliefs and practices of the Church of the Brethren as determined by Annual Conference; among others. Previous experience working with children or in the child development field and two years of office administration experience are preferred. Experience with Raisers Edge software is helpful. An associate’s degree or commensurate education, life, and work experience is required. Applications are being received and reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. To apply send a cover letter and resume by email to COBApply@brethren.org; Human Resources, Church of the Brethren, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120. The Church of the Brethren is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

— The University of La Verne (ULV), Calif., seeks candidates for the fulltime position of University Chaplain and director of the Office of Spiritual and Religious Life. ULV is a Church of the Brethren-related, non-sectarian, values-forward institution in southern California. This is an interfaith, onsite position. ULV embodies four core values: ethical reasoning, diversity and inclusivity, lifelong learning, and civic and community engagement. It is the number one private university in California for social mobility according to U.S. News and World Report 2024, and was recognized as the 33rd Best U.S. College by the Wall Street Journal 2024. The university supports a diverse and inclusive environment. The University Chaplain and director of Religious and Spiritual Life is a visionary and compassionate leader who advances a spiritually curious, inclusive, and thriving campus culture; bridges spiritual care and institutional strategy by fostering interfaith understanding, holistic well-being, and a culture of belonging across the university; serves as both a spiritual anchor and a culture strategist; champions ULV’s values through pastoral presence, interfaith engagement, and organizational alignment initiatives; navigates diverse perspectives, supporting healing and catalyzing collaboration among students, staff, and faculty. Core qualities and competencies include spiritual curiosity and interfaith fluency; deep respect for diverse belief systems; ability to engage across religious, secular, and spiritual identities; skill in facilitating courageous conversations and building connections between seemingly disparate groups; trauma-informed care and emotional intelligence; a grounded presence with the ability to navigate and help others navigate and facilitate discussions and events connected to grief, complexity, and celebration with grace; experience in aligning programs and systems with institutional mission and cultural aspirations; passion for emerging adult development and cultivating belonging across intersectional identities; skills as a systems thinker and evaluator navigating organizational dynamics and using data to assess and guide cultural change. Minimum qualifications include 5 years of experience in college administration or related religious leadership; 2 years of teaching experience; ability to perform ceremonial functions; being personable, approachable, team-oriented, and collaborative; good skills in communications, organization, supervision, and budget management. Preferred qualifications include a master’s degree or higher in theology, divinity, religious studies, higher education, psychology, organizational development, or related fields; a minimum of 3 years of experience in chaplaincy, spiritual direction, organizational change, DEI, or related roles. Ordination is preferred but not required. Reviews begin Dec. 1. Find the full position description at https://laverne.peopleadmin.com/postings/14683

— Camp Bethel in Fincastle, Va., seeks a dependable, caring leader to be full-time salaried Food Services coordinator. Food service ability or experience is required, and staff management experience is preferred. This position is available immediately. Starting benefits package includes starting salary of $36,000, an employer-paid pension plan, paid vacation leave, professional growth funds, and optional onsite housing and utilities. Camp Bethel is a facility free from tobacco, vaping, alcohol, and drugs. Read the online application instructions, position description, and more at CampBethelVirginia.org/fsc or e-mail questions to Camp Director Hannah Jarrett at Hannah@CampBethelVirginia.org.

— Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) continues to report episodes of violence in northeast Nigeria, even as mass kidnappings in the northwest of the country have attracted worldwide attention.

One of the most shocking mass kidnappings in northwest Nigeria took place last Friday, echoing the mass abduction of schoolgirls from Chibok in 2014. Some 303 students were abducted from a Catholic school by armed men most likely part of a criminal gang whose motivation was to extort ransoms from the families. Find a BBC report at www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpwk5qzzppzo

Sporadic violent incidents affecting EYN in northeast Nigeria continue as well, carried out by Boko Haram or other Islamist extremists. Recently, on Nov. 17, an attack near Garkida—where EYN and the former Church of the Brethren Mission in Nigeria was founded—affected the village of Biji Biji in Gombi Local Government Area. “Boko Haram terrorist carried out a coordinated assault that left homes, farms, and livelihoods in ruins,” said the EYN report. “Eyewitnesses recount that heavily armed militants stormed the village, setting ablaze residential houses and destroying stored farm produce belonging to members of the community. The destruction was widespread, forcing families to flee into the surrounding bush for safety…. While no fatalities were reported, the psychological toll on survivors is immense, as many now face displacement and the loss of their primary means of survival.”

The attack near Garkida “adds to a troubling pattern of attacks on Christian communities in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states, where Boko Haram and splinter groups have repeatedly targeted villages, churches, and schools,” said the EYN report. Find it at https://eynnews.com/terrorist-raids-village-in-garkida

— The Brethren and Mennonite Heritage Center in Harrisonburg, Va., is staging a new play, “Rise Up and Follow,” written by by Liz Beachy Hansen specifically for the center. “Set on Christmas Eve 1859, just before the outbreak of the Civil War, the play follows Brethren and Mennonite families considering what the conflict will mean for them and their neighbors,” said an announcement. “The characters struggle with the problems of slavery, building support of broader faith communities, and the challenges of early healthcare.” The play will be staged the afternoons of Dec. 13, 14, 20, and 21, between 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. “As we have done in previous years,” explained the website, “our Heritage Christmas event will invite guests to glimpse into a Christmas past. We will present four historical dramatic sketches in different buildings across our campus, and, over the course of an hour, visitors will progress between these scenes. Each scene features a different set of characters to show how various people faced the circumstances surrounding one particular Christmas Eve.” Online registration is free, but donations will be taken at the event with suggested donations of $10 per adult, $5 per student, children 5 and under free. All proceeds will support the center. Complimentary apple cider and cookies will be provided. For more information go to https://brethrenmennoniteheritage.org/events-calendar/2025/12/a-heritage-christmas . Reserve tickets by emailing info@brethrenmennoniteheritage.org or calling 540-438-1275.

— “What Comes after Starvation in Gaza?” is the title of, and main question in an Oct. 18 article in the New Yorker by Clayton Dalton, examining the effects of severe malnourishment on the people of Gaza and how “simply starting to eat normal meals again can cause sickness—even death.”

He wrote that “the latest food shortage in Gaza began in March, when Israel ended a ceasefire and imposed a blockade on all aid that lasted eleven weeks. After that, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which was backed by Israel and the U.S., began distributing limited amounts of aid; around three thousand Palestinians were killed while seeking food. This month, a United Nations study published in The Lancet reported that more than fifty-four thousand children are malnourished in Gaza. ‘Every family, by now, has been affected,’ John Kahler, a pediatrician and a co-founder of MedGlobal, a humanitarian organization that operates in Gaza, told me.”

For more understanding of the situation in Gaza, the author turned to historic studies of starvation including the World War II-era 1944 study at the University of Minnesota in which 36 conscientious objectors were recruited to voluntarily starve themselves. The Civilian Public Service unit was mainly from the historic peace churches and included several Church of the Brethren members.