Brethren bits

— The Church of the Brethren seeks candidates for the fulltime salaried position of director of Ministry, reporting to the executive director of Discipleship and Leadership Formation. The director of Ministry leads and administers the Church of the Brethren’s Ministry Office; oversees systems for calling, credentialing, placing, and supporting ministerial leaders; is a custodian of ministry polity and documents; and collaborates with the Council of District Executives, providing consultation to districts on leadership and organizational matters. Required skills and knowledge include grounding in Church of the Brethren heritage, theology, and polity; ability to articulate and support the core values of the Church of the Brethren and to operate out of the vision of the Church of the Brethren and the Mission and Ministry Board; ability to support Annual Conference polity, policies, statements, and positions relating to calling, credentialing, and sustaining of credentialed ministers; ability to articulate a personal Christian faith; organizational and administrative skills; expertise in group dynamics and process, including networking with diverse groups of people; oral and written communication skills; good listening skills; knowledge and experience of budget development and management; ability to understand and direct implementation of the Ministerial Leadership and Ethics in Ministry Relations polity of the Church of the Brethren; interpersonal skills contributing to effective work with numerous other bodies across the denomination: Council of District Executives, Bethany Theological Seminary, Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership, Ministry Advisory Council, Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee, Brethren Chaplains Network, Ministry Issues Committee, Ministers’ Association, and others. Required experience and education include 15 years of pastoral ministry including administration; 5 years of district leadership preferred; bilingual abilities preferred; current ordination and active membership in the Church of the Brethren; bachelor’s degree and a master of divinity or equivalent. Pay: $75,000 to $80,000 per year. Benefits: health insurance and other insurance, health savings account, retirement plan, employee assistance program, paid time off, parental leave, professional development assistance, flexible schedule. Location: Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill., or remote in the United States. Applications are being received and will be reviewed until the position is filled. Apply by sending a cover letter and resume to COBApply@brethren.org; Church of the Brethren Human Resources, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120. The Church of the Brethren is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Andrew Hamilton, district executive minister of the Church of the Brethren’s Southeastern District, will be representing the Church of the Brethren on the board of Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP). He has been engaging with CMEP for the last year. Nathan Hosler, director of the Office of Peacebuilding and Policy, will be stepping back from the CMEP board after serving on it for 14 years.

First Church of the Brethren in Chicago celebrates its 101st year in the building at the corner of Congress Parkway and Central Park Avenue. An open house is planned for Saturday, May 9, from 1 to 5 p.m. On Sunday, May 10, at 11 a.m., the congregation will celebrate a special worship with former pastor Orlando Redekopp as guest preacher. All are welcome to join the celebration. For more information, visit https://firstcob.org/100-years

“75 years at 7,500 feet—and counting. Camp Colorado turns 75!” said an announcement of the anniversary celebration planned for Sunday, May 23, at Camp Colorado in Sedalia, Colo. “Seventy-five summers. Seventy-five impactful years of campfires, late-night conversations and worship, and young people going home different than they arrived. Seventy-five years of volunteers giving their weekends, skills, and hearts so that something special can happen in the mountains. We don’t plan to let this milestone pass quietly!” A special giving campaign is part of the celebration, with a goal of identifying 75 people who will commit to donating $7.50 or more to camp each month. The “kick off celebration” on May 23 will inaugurate a year of marking the anniversary. A special Camp Colorado Reunion Weekend and Family Camp is planned for June 25–28 for all ages, with registration due by June 15. The camp also has a new logo and website. Find out more at www.campcolorado.org

— Camp Bethel in Fincastle, Va., is holding its 25th Sounds of the Mountains Festival on April 17-18. “This year, our Sounds of the Mountains festival brings the same joy and emotion, superb storytelling and comradery,” said an announcement. “But now there’s more!! To celebrate the 25th year of this amazing festival, there are SIX tellers and several new events.” Find out more and buy tickets at www.soundsofthemountains.org

— Peggy Reiff Miller delivered a presentation on March 21 at Heifer International’s “Heifer Intensive Weekend” at Heifer Ranch in Perryville, Ark. She is a Heifer historian and expert on the “seagoing cowboys” of Heifer Project, the Church of the Brethren program that got the organization its start. The event offered supporters the opportunity to learn in depth about Heifer’s work and roots. The presentation, “Heifer International’s Beginning: Rooted in a Passion for Peace,” was videotaped and may be viewed on Heifer’s YouTube channel under the title, “The Story Behind the Organization that Changed Development Work,” at www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfuEHVzHAX8

— A Joint Christian Advocacy Summit for the Middle East takes place May 5-7 hosted by Shiloh Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., with a coalition of sponsors including Churches for Middle Each Peace (CMEP). “Centered on the theme ‘Do Right; Seek Justice (Is. 1:17): Christians Uniting Against Oppression in Palestine/Israel,’ this gathering will equip and mobilize Christian advocates from across the country in support of U.S. policies that uphold dignity, human rights, and lasting security for all who call the region home,” said an announcement. “Attendees will learn from experts, gain advocacy skills, and have the opportunity to meet with their congressional offices to call for a just peace in the Holy Land.” Find out more and register at https://jointsummit2026.com