Brethren bits

— Remembrance: Wendell Cline Eller, 99, of Bridgewater, Va., who served for a time on the denominational staff of the Church of the Brethren, passed away on Monday, April 6. He worked as director of Audio-Visual Education for the Church of the Brethren for seven years from June 1, 1955, through Aug. 31, 1962. Prior to that, starting in 1953, he was on the staff of the Department of Audio-Visual and Broadcast Education of the National Council of Churches, working in Chicago as evaluation assistant. He was born on April 22, 1926, in Lynchburg, Va., to Henry Cline Eller and Effie Mae Naff. He held degrees from Bridgewater (Va.) College (1948) and Bethany Biblical Seminary (1953) in Chicago. As a Brethren Volunteer Service worker in his youth, he was one of those serving in placements at mental hospitals. He also volunteered in district youth work. He was an ordained minister for more than 60 years and his professional career included various pastorates in several different Church of the Brethren districts in Indiana, Virginia, Iowa, and Florida. His leadership roles in the denomination included service on the Standing Committee of Annual Conference. It was when he worked at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill., that he met Sonya Kaufman. They were married in 1957 and enjoyed 68 years of life together. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his sister Doris Eller Heisel and brother Galen Ross Eller. He is survived by his wife, Sonya; children Jerel Eller (Dawn), Denise Eller Saunders (Warren), Sheri Eller Bragg (Adrian), and Shawn Eller (Raquel); and grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, at Bridgewater Church of the Brethren. Memorial gifts are received for Bridgewater Church of the Brethren and Bridgewater College. Find a full obituary at www.johnsonfs.com/obituaries/Wendell-Cline-Eller?obId=48095632

— Applications for the Church of the Brethren’s Health Care Education Scholarship in 2026 are due by May 22. Find out more at www.brethren.org/healthcarescholarship where the application instructions give information about initial requirements, and the application checklist is available to guide applicants in getting a file in order so that an application can be considered. This scholarship is made possible by the Health Education and Research Endowment and is available to members of the Church of the Brethren who are 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. Apply at www.brethren.org/healthcarescholarship

The TPS for Haiti extension passed the House of Representatives on Thursday, April 16. As reported by Church World Service (CWS) in its “State of Play” newsletter: “The House passed H.R. 1689, legislation that would extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti for three years. All Democrats and 10 Republicans voted to pass the bill. This is a historic win in support of 350,000 Haitians living in the United States.”

An advocacy campaign by Faith in Action International calls on the US Senate also to pass this legislation. “This is only the 15th time in the past forty years that a discharge petition led to House passage, and the first time an immigration-related bill has advanced this way,” said an announcement about the campaign. “Now the Senate needs to act ASAP to pass this life-saving legislation.” The campaign is calling for supporters to take two steps: send messages to their senators via an online form at bit.ly/HaitiTPSnow and, if clergy, sign on to a clergy letter at https://secure.faithinactioninternational.org/a/clergy-letter-senate

CWS also is sharing an alert that the Supreme Court is to hear oral arguments on April 29 about the Trump administration’s planned termination of TPS for Haiti and for Syria. “The ruling, expected in June or July, could have implications for all 1.3 million people from the 17 countries currently designated for TPS. The Trump administration’s efforts to end TPS align with its larger campaign to strip legal status and work authorization for millions of people and place them at risk of deportation. TPS was first designated for Haiti after a devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake in 2010 and currently protects more than 350,000 Haitians from being returned to dangerous conditions marked by widespread civil unrest, kidnapping, crime, terrorist activity, and limited health care.”

— Harrisburg (Pa.) First Church of the Brethren is holding its Second Annual Shalom Summit on April 25, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., on the theme, “Disciples Pursuing Racially Just Neighborhoods.” Registration is now open, said an announcement. “Speakers and authors Dominique Gilliard, Isaac Villegas, & Sheila Wise Rowe will address this year’s theme of Prophetic Resistance through topics of racial reconciliation, immigrant justice, and healing racial trauma…. This is a can’t-miss opportunity to grow in your faith and your understanding of racial justice.” The cost of $20 includes a continental breakfast. Learn more and register at https://thejourneyharrisburg.org/shalom-summit

— Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD) is an annual Christian advocacy gathering taking place in Washington, D.C. Participants will meet on the theme, “Protecting People, Peace, and Planet” (Psalm 24). This year’s advocacy days are taking place next week from April 20-22 and include worship, workshops, building solidarity, and visits to members of Congress. Learn more and register at https://advocacydays.org