Brethren bits

— Remembrance: Beverly Arlene (Laird) Minnich, 85, of Moundridge, Kan., passed away on Jan. 3. She was part of the Church of the Brethren community in Ecuador for three years, beginning in 1966 when her husband, Dale E. Minnich, worked as executive secretary of the United-Brethren Foundation (FBU). She was a committed member of the Church of the Brethren, serving in volunteer leadership roles at the local, district, and denominational levels. She served a term in Brethren Volunteer Service at Williamson Road Church of the Brethren in Roanoke, Va., half time with the church kindergarten and half time as secretary for Annual Conference moderator Earl K. Ziegler. During her three-month BVS training at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., she met Dale Minnich and they married on June 16, 1962. In addition to Ecuador, their ministry and life together took them to Ohio, Illinois, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Kansas. Throughout, they both were active in church work including on her part serving as a youth leader, child care organizer, Disaster Child Care worker, and Sunday school teacher. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Dale E. Minnich of Moundridge, Kan.; children David W. Minnich (Lynette) of Hendersonville, N.C., Susan I. Williams (Mark) of Hutchinson, Kan., and Paul D. Ullom-Minnich (Marla) of Moundridge, Kan.; and granddaughters. Find a full obituary at https://www.wigginsfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/Beverly-Arlene-Minnich?obId=46850221

A grant is now available for church employees losing ACA credit for their health insurance plans. The grants is available for active employees of a Church of the Brethren district, camp, or congregation through the Church of the Brethren’s Church Workers Assistance Plan via Eder Financial. For more details or to apply contact Diane at cwgrants@eder.org

The deadline to apply for the Church of the Brethren’s Health Care Education Scholarship in 2026 has been changed to May 22. This scholarship, made possible by the Health Education and Research Endowment, is available to members of the Church of the Brethren enrolled in degree programs for nursing, medicine, dentistry, physical and occupational therapy, and other health professions. Scholarships of between $5,000 and $10,000 are awarded to a limited number of applicants each year. For more information and to apply, go to www.brethren.org/healthcarescholarship

— “Adaptability in Leadership” led by Jeremy Ashworth, pastor of Circle of Peace Church of the Brethren in Arizona, is the next “Third Thursday” quarterly webinar from 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. “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. Register at www.brethren.org/thirdthursday

— Brethren Press has informed those customers with standing orders for the Church of the Brethren Yearbook that it will not be published for 2025 and their standing orders are suspended for the time being. The 2024 edition is still available to purchase from Brethren Press, go to www.brethrenpress.com/product_p/year2053.htm. The Yearbook office was moved from Brethren Press to Mission Advancement. More information about the Yearbook is expected to be made available by the Mission Advancement office.

— The Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center (SVMC) is hosting a Zoom continuing education event on “Identifying and Responding to Suicide Risk” on Jan. 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Led by Julie Guistwite, the event will address suicide as a rising public health concern and leading cause of death in the United States. “Suicidal persons often seek guidance from clergy over mental health professionals in times of crisis,” said the announcement. “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.” Said Audrey Hollenberg-Duffey, SVMC director, in a note to Newsline: “We have chosen this time of year intentionally, as winter can be a particularly difficult time for those who are struggling with depression. This will be a practical and potentially life-saving continuing education event.” Register at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/tgdvuwj/lp/9728b531-2346-472c-8454-ffc79a00d1b7. SVMC is a partnership that includes the districts of Atlantic Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Middle Pennsylvania, Southern Pennsylvania, and Western Pennsylvania, with the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership and Bethany Seminary, with offices hosted at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College. Find out more about SVMC at www.etown.edu/svmc

— The annual Clergy Tax Seminar will be led by Deb Oskin on Saturday, Jan. 31, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern time), sponsored by the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership. Seminary and academy students, clergy, and anyone who deals with clergy finances are invited to participate in this online Zoom seminar. Participants will learn how to prepare clergy taxes correctly and legally and how to comply with regulations while maximizing tax deductions. Credentialed minister may earn 0.3 continuing education credit for attending the first two sessions. Registration is $40 per person. Current academy and seminary students may attend at no cost, although registration is still required. More information and registration are at https://bethanyseminary.edu/brethren-academy/clergy-tax-seminar

— The Death Row Support Project (DRSP) is announcing another series of informational sessions for people who are interested in exploring the possibility of writing to a person on death row. Letter-writers are asked to commit to writing one letter per month to their pen pal. Writers can choose between mailing letters or messaging their pen pal through an electronic messaging app. The Zoom sessions will review basics of how the project works, introduce members of the team who are available to support letter writers, and talk about how to get started with writing. These sessions are for informational purposes only and potential writers will decide after the session whether they want to move forward with this commitment. DRSP invites: “Please join us to explore this opportunity to follow the call to minister to those in prison!” Next sessions are:

Monday, Jan. 12, 6-7 p.m. (Eastern time)
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89144532425
Meeting ID: 891 4453 2425

Thursday, Jan. 15, 3-4 p.m. (Eastern time)
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86358968027
Meeting ID: 863 5896 8027

Saturday, Jan. 17, 2-3 p.m. (Eastern time)
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83460350599
Meeting ID: 834 6035 0599

Thursday, Feb. 5, 2-3 p.m. (Eastern time)
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89719182132
Meeting ID: 897 1918 2132

Saturday, Feb. 7, 2-3 p.m. (Eastern time)
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89377720702
Meeting ID: 893 7772 0702

Monday, Feb. 9, 6-7 p.m. (Eastern time)
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88475465178
Meeting ID: 884 7546 5178

Contact drsp@brethren.org with any questions.

— Registration for Song and Story Fest 2026 is now open for the event to be held July 5-11 at Inspiration Hills, a Church of the Brethren camp and outdoor ministry center in Burbank, Ohio. “This is the thirtieth summer in a row for these Song and Story Fests and our fourth visit to Inspiration Hills, the Church of the Brethren camp for northern Ohio,” said an announcement. Registration and all the information about this annual intergenerational camp for all ages is at www.onearthpeace.org/song_and_story_fest_2026. This year’s event, titled Ohio Valley Song & Story Fest, is focused on the theme, “Can We See a New World Coming?” Inspiration for the theme comes from a hymn by Steve Engle titled “Beyond a Dying Sun’: “I see a new world coming when everyone is free! And all shall be God’s people in justice, love and peace!” At the On Earth Peace event page are the brochure, the registration form, and a poster with all the leaders’ names. The Song and Story Fest planning committee includes Ken Kline Smeltzer, Rhonda Baker, Hannah Button-Harrison, Chris Good, Rachel Long, Clara McGilly, Carolyn Neher, Mikah Overman, and Tina Rieman. To be added to the Song and Story Fest email list, send a request to songandstoryfest@gmail.com

— The Virlina District Discipleship and Reconciliation Committee and On Earth Peace will be sponsoring a “Matthew 18 Healthy Conflict and Communication Workshop” on Feb. 7 at Camp Bethel in Virginia. Led by Andrew Duffy, a conflict transformation expert, and Ewun Benjamin, the workshop is described as “a beginning or a first step or starting place toward understanding conflicts in our lives and how to work through them in healthy ways. The workshop will lead participants in considering conflict in biblical perspective; reflecting on individual approaches to conflict and communication; considering how power, reconciliation, and dignity help build healthy relationships; learning and practicing tools for healthy communication and conflict, immediately applicable in family, church, work, or community settings.” For more information go to https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfTEoj7FXhJh8D7esy22_fYpHIhY-njy83JniqCi01mDuCpEA/viewform

— A newly released report about Christians in the Holy Land has described escalating violence, economic hardship, and restrictions on worship, with churches, schools, and hospitals suffering damage, according to a release. The report is presented by the Council of Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem. “Threats to Christian heritage–particularly in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza alongside issues of unjustified taxation–are the source of ongoing concerns that threaten the existence of the community and the churches,” reads the executive summary of the report. “Urgent action is needed to bolster, support, and maintain the current ceasefire in Gaza, and uphold religious freedom, protect Christians as the living stones, and provide economic and diplomatic support to sustain their communities across the Holy Land.” The report includes recommendations to hold relevant actors to account to ensure the current ceasefire is bolstered, supported, and maintained, with an adequate flow of aid reaching local people. It also recommends exploring opportunities to offer economic support for rebuilding church-run hospitals, schools, and charities, among other recommendations. It underscores the “urgent need to protect Christian communities and our places of worship extend throughout the West Bank, where settler attacks increasingly target our churches, people and properties.” Download the full report from the link at www.oikoumene.org/news/report-describes-issues-facing-christians-in-the-holy-land

— The World Council of Churches (WCC) leadership has endorsed the “Green Investment Declaration” calling on churches and other faith institutions worldwide to significantly increase their investments in climate solutions in order to help build a greener, more just future. “The WCC strongly encourages churches to become signatories to the declaration as a tangible expression of their commitment to addressing the climate emergency,” said a release. “The impacts of climate change are already being felt across the globe, with more frequent and severe natural disasters, widespread displacement, food insecurity, and prolonged droughts.” It noted that scientists have warned that, once critical climate tipping points are crossed, the resulting damage to economies and societies will be irreversible and catastrophic. “The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has made clear that to limit global heating to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, and to avoid the worst consequences of the climate emergency, global greenhouse gas emissions must be halved by 2030. As documented in the Save Children’s Lives–Responsible Banking Survival Guide, money carries moral weight…. Churches and Christians therefore have both the opportunity and the responsibility to deploy their financial resources and influence in ways that accelerate the transition to a sustainable, fossil-fuel-free economy. Investing in climate solutions is a powerful act of faith and witness in this decisive moment.” Find the full text of the WCC Letter of Endorsement for the Green Investment Declaration at www.oikoumene.org/resources/documents/wcc-letter-of-endorsement-for-the-green-investment-declaration

#MissionAndMinistryBoard #StrategicPlan #RacialJustice #LoveOurNeighbors #Discipleship #NewTestamentGiving

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