— The Church of the Brethren Office of Peacebuilding and Policy has provided a brief update on court cases related to immigration enforcement that involve the Church of the Brethren and other peace churches. Reported Marcia Sowles: “We still do not have any decision from the DC Circuit on our appeal in Mennonite USA v. DHS,” in which the Church of the Brethren is a plaintiff. “But we do have good news from the 4th Circuit in the Philadelphia Friends Yearly Meetinghouse v. DHS case. The 4th Circuit upheld the preliminary injunction issued by the district court. The court held that the plaintiffs had standing to bring the case—the primary issue in our appeal. The Institute of Constitutional Advocacy and Protection (ICAP) will be filing a notice of supplemental authority in our case attaching a copy of the 4th Cir. decision.”
She also recommended a Know Your Rights webinar on rights for congregations in which Kelsi Corkran, the lead ICAP attorney in Mennonite USA v. DHS, was one of the speakers. “Know Your Rights: ICE & Faith Communities with the ACLU, Democracy 2025, and ICAP” was recorded and is available on YouTube
Corkran’s office has received reports from some plaintiffs in Mennonite USA v. DHS about ICE activities at or near their congregations. Any Church of the Brethren congregations that have experienced such activities are requested to please report them to Sowles in order to help prepare supplemental declarations in the court case. Email Marcia Sowles at msowles@brethren.org
— Bethany Theological Seminary and its president, Jeff Carter, have received the David Rodgers Friend of the RSO Award in recognition of their service and generosity to the Richmond Symphony Orchestra. Said a Bethany release: “Established in 2025, the David Rodgers Friend of the RSO Award is named after the organization’s long-term board member and benefactor who died in May 2025…. Bethany Seminary and President Carter have a long association with the RSO, rooted in their shared commitment to excellence. Carter is a member of the symphony board and served as president of that group from 2021-24.” Read the full Bethany release
— “As we prepare to enter the Season of Creation, explore the resources below to learn how to celebrate this season, while supporting your congregation’s creation care ministry,” invited Creation Justice Ministries, a partner organization for the Church of the Brethren’s Office of Peacebuilding and Policy. The Season of Creation, a relatively new season of the ecumenical church year, starts Sept. 1 on the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation and ends Oct. 4 on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology. The Season of Creation toolkit offers free activities and worship resources, supported by an ecumenical steering committee and a coalition of partners from around the world. Download the toolkit
Also from Creation Justice Ministries is a Tree Equity Resource Hub with resources to equip congregations in tree-planting efforts. Now available are a Facilitator Guide: Exploring Tree Equity in Christian Communities in Worship, Prayer, and Spiritual Formation; Planting Sacred Seeds: A Spiritual Resource Guide for Branches of Faith; and The Canopy of Creation. Download these resources
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Find more Church of the Brethren news:
- Engage event offers opportunity to gather in support of global mission, resources are available
- Shine curriculum for Fall 2026 includes new features
- BFIA grants support congregations’ outreach to neighbors and a memorial to victims of violence, among other projects
- Volunteers rise up: New CWS outreach campaign draws refugee advocates to Elizabethtown Church
- Living Word bulletin series is a worship resource for congregations