Brethren bits

— The Church of the Brethren seeks candidates for the fulltime salaried position of director of Brethren Disaster Ministries. The position is based at the Brethren Disaster Ministries office in New Windsor, Md., and reports to the executive director of Service Ministries. Major responsibilities include providing oversight and administration of Brethren Disaster Ministries with a focus on the home rebuilding program. This includes identifying and opening new home rebuilding sites as necessary, managing longterm and weekly rebuilding volunteers, and leading the training of volunteer leaders. Required skills and knowledge include ability to manage staff and volunteers and in-house construction and repair; strong interpersonal skills; ability to articulate, support, and operate out of the vision, mission, and core values of the Church of the Brethren as determined by the Mission and Ministry Board; ability to uphold and support the basic beliefs and practices of the Church of the Brethren as determined by Annual Conference; ability to act within a multicultural and multigenerational team environment; training or experience with making effective presentations and providing adult education, especially in conducting skill training workshops preferred; knowledge of International Building Codes preferred. Required education includes a bachelor’s degree, with an advanced degree in a related field preferred. Applications are being received immediately and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Apply by sending a cover letter and resume to COBApply@brethren.org; Human Resources Office, Church of the Brethren, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120. The Church of the Brethren is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

— The Church of the Brethren seeks candidates for the fulltime hourly position of program assistant for Children’s Disaster Service (CDS), in the Brethren Disaster Ministries team based at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. Major responsibilities are to support programing and administration of CDS including 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; ability to keep information and records confidential; excellent written and oral communication skills; excellent 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 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, or work experience required. Applications are received and reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Apply by sending a cover letter and resume 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.

“Adaptability in Leadership” with Jeremy Ashworth, pastor of Circle of Peace Church of the Brethren in Arizona, is the next in the series of “Third Thursday” quarterly webinars offered by the L.E.A.D. (Listen – Equip – Adapt – Disciple) Conference Planning Team. Ashworth “recently led his church through a multi-million dollar building campaign,” said an announcement of the event. “That adaptation was full of challenge, promise, problems and opportunities. Most of us are probably not planning to build new buildings, but all of us find ourselves in a shifting environment. Ministry strategies need to be adapted to share the unchanging Gospel in a constantly changing world. This webinar will deliver principles you can use to help your church evaluate why, what and how to change structures or programs.” The webinar is planned for 7 p.m. (Eastern time) on Jan. 15, 2026. Learn more and register at www.brethren.org/thirdthursday

In a “save the date” announcement, the L.E.A.D. Planning Team has scheduled the next in-person denominational L.E.A.D. Conference for May 1-3, 2026, at Ephrata (Pa.) Church of the Brethren. The keynote speaker will be Tod Bolsinger of Sloan Leadership Inc. and executive director of Fuller’s De Pree Center Church Leadership Institute. Learn more at www.brethren.org/dlf/lead-conference

The Global Mission office of the Church of the Brethren is announcing a request from Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) for a medical doctor or other medical personnel to assist for a few weeks to a few months at the EYN health clinic in Kwarhi, the location of the EYN headquarters in northeast Nigeria. “Please pray for this to come to pass,” said the announcement. If you are interested or know of someone might be, please contact Sharon Norton at sbnorton@brethren.org

— The Anabaptist Disabilities Network and Herald Press have announced a webinar with Tatum Tricarico, author of Blessed Is the Body, a Lenten devotional centered around disability justice. The webinar is scheduled for Jan. 15, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. (Eastern time). Said the announcement: “During Lent, we often reflect on our limits—from dust we are, and to dust we will return. We remember that we will never be able to do everything we want to do, even and especially when what we want to do is love our neighbor well. In this daily devotional, disability rights activist Tatum Tricarico helps us turn the tables on Lent. Rather than a time of feeling condemned or guilty beyond help, Lent is when we can take a breath and finally say what we have been trying to hide all year: I am human. I can’t do it all. And still, I am beloved by God.” Tricarico is an activist, theologian, and director of Christian education at Wesley Memorial UMC in Charlottesville, Va. She is a disability rights activist on Instagram (@blind_person_in_area), where she has curated a disability cultural calendar. During the webinar Tricarico will share insights from her book and have time to answer questions. Join the webinar via Zoom at https://MCUSA.zoom.us/j/89439571091

— The National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) is sharing an invitation for a nationwide “Just Like Selma” Hymn-sing Project in February 2026. Led by NEWorks, congregations and choirs across the country are invited to sing a new social justice hymn in commemoration of key anniversaries next year: the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, founded in 1926 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, and the 250th anniversary of the United States. This new hymn “spotlights the Civil Rights Movement’s power to reshape the nation: Just Like Selma,” said an announcement. “On ‘Bloody Sunday,’ March 7, 1965, the nation recoiled in horror as state troopers brutally attacked peaceful protestors on Selma’s Edmund Pettus Bridge. This history will be illumined anew through Just Like Selma, a stirring new social justice hymn inspired by King’s ‘How Long, Not Long’ speech delivered on the steps of the Alabama State Capitol 60 years ago. Composed by Nolan Williams, Jr, the hymn echoes the sounds of Black church devotional songs and Civil Rights anthems. It will be released in time for the MLK national holiday in January 2026.” Find out more and register to participate at https://neworksproductions.com/just-like-selma-1. Listen to a sound clip at https://soundcloud.com/nolanwilliamsjr/just-like-selma-nolan-williams-1/s-aETdEzYlDGq