— The Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center (SVMC) is offering a continuing education Zoom session on “Identifying and Responding to Suicide Risk” led by Julie Guistwite. The online event takes place Jan. 22, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Eastern time). “Suicide is a rising public health concern and the leading cause of death in the United States,” said an announcement. “Suicidal persons often seek guidance from clergy over mental health professionals in times of crisis. This interactive workshop discusses key risk factors and warning signs of suicide across generations. Attendees will gain knowledge of best practices in holding serious conversations and practical skills in responding to suicidal persons through engaging vignette-based discussions. Participants will advance their knowledge and skills in comfortably identifying and responding to suicidal congregational/community members.” Guistwite is the owner of Ripple of Light Bereavement Resource Center, LLC. She is an Advanced Certified Thanatologist and Certified Social Work Manager with 15 years of practical experience in healthcare settings including palliative care, hospice, and funeral home, among other qualifications. She has authored a Master’s Level Social Work Certificate in Holistic Bereavement Care and undergraduate level palliative care course and teaches undergraduate courses in palliative care, end-of-life issues, older adults, and health policy. Cost is $25 or $35 for 0.3 continuing education units. Register at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/tgdvuwj
Brethren Disaster Ministries staff have been in contact with Pacific Northwest District leaders due to the current flooding in north central Washington State, including Chelan and Okanogan Counties. As of Friday morning, Frosty Wilkinson and Brent Carlson, district disaster coordinators, share that there are no Church of the Brethren churches in the area that is flooding or any church members impacted. They will be keeping in touch with one family that could have their business impacted if the Skagit River breeches the dikes.
— Freeport (Ill.) Church of the Brethren is developing plans for a memorial garden for gun violence victims in front of the church, reports the Illinois and Wisconsin District newsletter. The memorial garden will feature memorial plaques, flowering plants, benches, and information boxes. Fundraising is under way. The congregation has been active in its witness against gun violence, with special observations each year on World Day of Prayer for Peace in September.
— The 2026 “InsideOut” camp curriculum, used by the Outdoor Ministries Association (OMA), will be titled “In the Wilderness.” An introduction to the theme notes: “Wilderness is a time or place where we encounter what is new, strange, scary, lonely, unknown or mysterious. The wilderness is a wild and beautiful time and place where we can discover the sacred within each person and all creation. … The wilderness reveals our strengths, growing edges, and potential as God equips us for the unknown still to come. The wilderness awaits us all, and God meets us there.” The annual InsideOut curriculum is a partnership between the Church of the Brethren and a variety of other denominations for use in outdoor ministry. Learn more at https://insideoutcurriculum.com
— Creation Justice Ministries is launching a Transformative Leadership program as a free cohort designed to equip teams of church leaders with the tools, structure, and support to guide congregations into deeper, more effective creation justice practice. “Across the country, congregations are wrestling with how to deepen their commitment to creation justice,” explained a release. “Some are ready for the next step but unsure where to start. Others have been faithfully engaged in this work for years but now feel discouraged or disconnected. Many are simply looking for renewed guidance, community, and structure to help their existing efforts flourish.” The announcement noted that “we know the work of climate action and creation justice is strengthened when it’s done in community” and so the new program focused on congregational teams. The teams who are accepted to the program will participate in a free three-day, in-person workshop that combines climate science, practical theological approaches, and community organizing tools. Congregations will then work with a Creation Justice coach over the course of six months to implement a climate action project in their church and community. Post workshop projects will be implemented with coaching from May-October 2026. The workshop titled “Christian Leadership for a Climate Changed World” will take place on March 9-12, 2026, at Camp Friedenswald in Cassopolis, Mich. The workshop is free but teams will be responsible for covering travel to and from the workshop. All lodging and board for the workshop will be covered by Creation Justice Ministries. The application deadline is Jan. 20. Go to https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdvhkBo5Otau0TNC_tCPzSsE9vS869_O066yATs4hw9y9O3Jw/viewform
— Also from Creation Justice Ministries, with the launch of its online Tree Equity hub the organization—which is a partner group for the Church of the Brethren Office of Peacebuilding and Policy—is actively recruiting churches to participate in tree equity projects in the following areas: Austin, Texas; Baltimore, Md.; Durham, N.C.; and the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. “These projects will be partnering with churches to plant trees in areas that need shade most, bridging faith and climate resilience action,” said an announcement. The organization’s staff want to connect with eligible congregations. Informational sessions for interested and eligible congregations will be held in January. Find more information about the tree equity projects at www.creationjustice.org/tree-equity.html
— A CROP Hunger Trek through the Grand Canyon has been announced by CWS/CROP Hunger Walk. An information session is being offered online for those who may be interested in an adventurous and more strenuous CROP Walk than those available locally. The trek happens in March. The one-hour information session is on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 9 p.m. (Eastern time) hosted by CWS board member and fellow hiker Dr. Paul Chan. “During the hour, you’ll learn more about this once in a lifetime experience, get answers to your questions and discover how you can be part of this bucket list journey for justice,” said the announcement. Sign up for the information session at https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=euIOW-fCoEOH02ucW1btoPqLJDziUHBGg9gtXUzb-21URTZCVFlTUjZXREo1RTNBWTVOREFUNk8wRi4u&route=shorturl. To express interest if you cannot attend the information session email mhinds@cwsglobal.org to receive additional information.
— The World Council of Churches (WCC) is linking climate and racial justice through its “Living Planet Monitor” publication. The WCC “presented evidence at the International and Ecumenical Conference on Racial Justice in Berlin this week that communities of colour face the heaviest burden of environmental harm – and that climate justice cannot be achieved without racial justice,” said a release. WCC leadership presented the second edition of the Living Planet Monitor, edited by Dinesh Suna, WCC program executive for Land, Water, and Food. Suna reported that “when racial justice and ecological justice are pursued together, they strengthen each other, creating pathways toward a more equitable and sustainable future for all.” Last year’s first edition focused on southern and eastern Africa. An Asia-focused edition is planned for 2026. “The data confirms what many communities already know,” the release said. “Black, Indigenous, and other marginalized groups live closest to toxic waste sites, polluting industries, and contaminated water. Indigenous lands face systematic targeting for resource extraction, nuclear testing, and waste disposal. From Flint’s water crisis to climate-driven displacement in island nations and the Global South, the pattern holds—racial injustice and ecological destruction advance together.” The Living Planet Monitor, Issue 2, is available at no cost at www.oikoumene.org/resources/publications/living-planet-monitor-volume-1-issue-2
— Harry Jarrett, pastor of Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren, has been producing a series of podcasts under the title “Faith in Process: Sunday’s Cool.” Recent guests have included Audri Svay, Angela Finet, and David Radcliff, with Annual Conference moderator Don Fitzkee in the line-up. “The authors are discussing the concepts in their writings published by Brethren Press,” Jarrett reported. Find out more at https://pastorharryjarrett.substack.com
#MissionAndMinistryBoard #StrategicPlan #RacialJustice #LoveOurNeighbors #Discipleship #NewTestamentGiving
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Find more Church of the Brethren news:
- Madalyn Metzger and Rhonda Pittman Gingrich to serve in new interim positions with the Church of the Brethren
- Global Church of the Brethren Communion meets in Spain
- Grant of $500,000 to the Church of the Brethren will support Brethren Disaster Ministries
- Discovering joys, challenges, and God at work with the churches in the Dominican Republic
- Global Mission executive visits Church of the Brethren in Burundi, meets with church leaders from Democratic Republic of Congo